LAST UPDATED: April 7, 2025

Please scroll to the bottom to see updates

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Khaled Jehad Shbair is a 28-year-old severely injured Palestinian who escaped Gaza. Khaled is suffering from fractures of his left femur bone, right tibia bone, three hand bones, and left middle finger.

He is also faced with severe skin and soft tissue loss on his buttocks and left leg, major injury to the left hand tendons and nerves, and a possible need for amputation of his left leg.

Khaled will need numerous surgeries, extensive and ongoing physiotherapy, and psychotherapy to address extreme and lasting trauma.

This is Khaled's story:

Nearly all of Khaled's family was murdered when the occupation forces bombed their home on December 4th, 2023. He lost his mother, father, several siblings, and extended family. Only his brother, Ahmad, survived. The photo below shows Khaled's mother and father:

After being pulled from under the rubble, Khaled and his brother Ahmad began treatment at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, were they received multiple emergency operations for severe injuries, amid horrific conditions inside the hospital.

While there, occupation soldiers broke into the hospital, took control of it, and brutally beat many of the men, women and children who were patients - including Khaled and his brother, who was then kidnapped by the soldiers.

Until today, Khaled does not know where his brother is or if he is still alive. The photo below shows Khaled (right) and his brother Ahmad (left) before the genocide.

Currently, Khaled’s only remaining family connection is with his fiancé who is still in Gaza. Both were in the midst of planning their wedding when the genocide escalated in October. The photo below shows Khaled on the day of his engagement to his fiancé.

As Khaled's medical situation deteriorated, he was evacuated to a hospital in Zagazig, Egypt - about two hours outside of Cairo. He faces months of intensive and costly medical treatments, including possible amputation of his left leg.

There is a 3-person team on the ground in Egypt who are trying their best to help support Khaled; two Palestinian doctors who also escaped Gaza with lasting injuries - one of whom has been the sole and full-time caretaker of Khaled for several months - and one person from San Francisco, California, who is also the organizer of this campaign.

More details on Khaled’s medical situation:

‏As previously mention, Khaled was admitted to the hospital suffering from a fractures of the left femur, right tibia, right 2nd, 3rd, and 4th metacarpal bones, and the proximal phalanx of left middle finger.

In addition, he has severe skin and soft tissue loss on the buttocks and left leg, and major injury to the left hand tendons and nerves. On May 14th, Khaled had the following operations:

1) Shortening and external stabilization of the left femur;

2) Direct primary repair of the sciatic nerve;

3) Skin grafts on the heel and raw areas on the left lower limb and the gluteal area and infragluteal crease (unfortunately his body rejected the last two grafts); ‏

4) Above knee cast of his right lower limb.

How will your donations be used?

Your donations will allow Khaled to stay in the hospital and continue receiving care (if he runs out of funds, he will be forced to leave the hospital). His medical bills and long-term rehabilitation will cost upwards of 20,000+ USD, and include:

‏1. Ongoing orthopedic monitoring of the fracture and possible elongation of the left leg

‏2. Consultations and surgery for the raw areas for the gluteal and infragluteal crease

‏3. Further reconstruction of his hand

‏4. Monitoring of the condition of the sciatic nerve after primary repair

‏5. Extensive and ongoing physiotherapy

6. Psychotherapy related to the past and on-going trauma

7. The hopeful evacuation of his fiancé when the Rafah border reopens.

Thank you for supporting Khaled, his recovery, the possibility of him rebuilding his life, and the hope of reuniting with his fiancé.

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UPDATE - April 7, 2025

"As for Khaled, he’s in good health overall, but he’s still undergoing physical therapy. He’ll need about three more weeks until both legs are the same length again. We bought a device to help him move his injured leg more easily.

In about three weeks, we’ll do new X-rays and have a follow-up appointment with the doctor to check on his progress and see how things are developing."

UPDATE - March 15, 2025

From Khaled's caretaker: "Today, we performed an electromyography (EMG) test to assess the injured nerve. There has been slight progress, as the nerve has reached just below the knee. However, it will still take a long time—possibly a year or more—to fully regenerate and reach the foot.We remain patient and hopeful for a full and smooth recovery."

UPDATE - March 8, 2025

From Khaled's caretaker: "Khaled is in good health. Four days ago, we visited the doctor for a check-up and had an X-ray to assess the difference in his leg length. It seems that he will need about 20 more days for both legs to become equal in length.

He is still undergoing physiotherapy, but there hasn’t been any improvement in the nerve yet. However, we remain hopeful that he will regain sensation in his foot in the coming months."

UPDATE - Feb 1, 2025

From Khaled: "I can never thank you all of you enough for the incredible support you’ve given me. Because of your kindness and generosity, I was able to undergo several surgeries that were once just a distant hope. You gave me the strength to believe in a brighter tomorrow and the courage to keep moving forward despite the challenges.

While the road to full recovery is still ahead, I am optimistic that, with your continued support and encouragement, I will soon be able to reunite with my beloved wife. Together, we dream of building a life filled with love, laughter, and, hopefully, many beautiful children."

UPDATE - Jan 21, 2025

From Khaled's caretaker: "Khaled has just successfully come out of a bone graft and limb lightening surgery and is now in good health. However, he is experiencing intense pain and is currently taking painkillers and antibiotics."

UPDATE - Nov 30, 2024

Khaled is slowly improving, and he has faith that he will recover and come back stronger.

Khaled and his caretaker went to the neurologist a few weeks ago, and were told: “The nerve conduction is improving and is growing at its natural rate of 1mm per day. It has now reached just below the knee and will need another 7 months to reach the toes.

They also did X-rays for his thigh, and unfortunately, the healing is only 70% complete. It still needs more time, or Khaled might have to undergo surgery for a bone graft. The doctor will have to decide next week.

For now, he will continue with his physical therapy and rehabilitation to gradually get used to standing and walking again."

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About the organizer:

Hello, my name is C.J Thomas. I've created this fundraiser on behalf of Khaled shortly after taking a trip to Zagaziq to meet and speak with him and his caretaker in the hospital.

All funds will be given to Khaled in EGP via Western Union or delivered physically to him in Zagaziq. For any questions, or requests for proof of transfer, do not hesitate to send me an email via Gofundme's platform. If needed, I'm available for a phone call or Zoom call.