Support Azouz's Life-Saving Surgery

Dear Friends,

My heart goes out to the people of Gaza who have endured immense hardship. I am Shafek Kalamadeen, a Realtor and a parent of 4 in Brooklyn, New York. I can't imagine the pain of losing everything. Almost everyone in Gaza has lost their homes, all of their possessions, and livelihoods. Basic necessities are nearly impossible, and the costs of things like water are astronomical. A small pack of water can cost $50 or more. The evacuation fees cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 per person. Tents can cost $3,000, and essential medicine and food costs rise daily. Everyone in Gaza has become ill or injured, and everyone is starving. I urge you to be a part of it because giving to them is giving back to yourself 100 times if you truly understand. One day, we may find ourselves in a similar situation or even worse because nothing is guaranteed in life except death. Let's unite and do everything possible to support these families during this difficult time. The mother and her baby will receive 100% of the money you donate, except the bank fees. In Sahar's own words, please read her story.

Funds raised will be used for :

-Surgery for baby Azouz

-Everyday things like diapers, food, menstrual pads, etc.

-Medical Expenses

-Evacuation for 8 adults + 1 child when the borders open

-Immediate expenses upon exit into Egypt

I am Sahar, a 27-year-old mother of baby Azouz from Gaza. For eight long years, my husband and I prayed for a miracle, and finally, our prayers and God answered them with the birth of our beautiful son, Azouz. He brought light and hope into our lives, a symbol of all that is pure and innocent. I write to you with a heavy heart and ask for your urgent help.

Azouz is now a year and a half old, but his short life has been anything but easy. Just when we thought our lives were beginning to blossom, the war shattered our dreams. Azouz was only eight months old when the bombs started to fall. In the chaos, we were forced to flee our home, leaving behind everything—our bed, clothes, and the simple comforts of life that any baby deserves—that Azouz deserves to enjoy. His crib, once a safe haven, now lies in ruins, a painful reminder of the life we lost.

But the war took more than just our home. It separated us from my husband, Azouz's father, who is now stranded in the north of Gaza. He was injured, suffering from severe tendon damage in his foot and hands. His ability to work and provide for us has been taken away and, with it, our only source of livelihood. Despite the pain, he continues to fight for our family, but the barriers between us are too significant for him to overcome alone.

Azouz has been deprived of the joy of having his father by his side during these crucial months of his life. The laughter and playfulness that should fill our days have been replaced with worry and uncertainty. My husband has not had the chance to hold his son, to see him take his first steps, or to hear him say "Baba" for the first time. Instead, he suffers alone, unable to reunite with us or support us in our time of need.

As if these hardships weren't enough, Azouz was born with a congenital disability that required immediate surgery. The destruction of hospitals in Gaza means that we cannot get the medical care he so desperately needs here. The only option is to seek surgery outside of Gaza, in Egypt, but the cost is overwhelming. We are struggling to find a way to make this life-saving operation possible for our son and, at the same time, provide the basic needs of a baby and his mother.

My husband also needs urgent surgery to repair the damaged tendons in his hands. His injury has not only taken away his ability to work but also his hope of being a provider for his family. Every day without treatment is a day where the chance of him fully recovering diminishes. Our future hangs in the balance, and we need your help to save it.

I am reaching out to you to find it in your heart to help my family during this dark time. Every dollar you contribute will not just be a donation but a lifeline. Your support will bring my husband closer to reuniting with us, give our baby Azouz a chance at a healthy life, and help us rebuild the shattered pieces of our lives.

We have lost so much, but with your kindness and generosity, we can gain the most essential thing: a future together. Please help us give Azouz the life he deserves and restore hope to our family. Every bit of help brings us closer to that dream.

Thank you for opening your heart to our story.

Sahar Olwan