My dear friend Shalom Shewangzaw is a 24-year-old nursing student living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She is currently facing a serious medical condition that requires urgent surgery within the next 3 weeks.

Shalom has been diagnosed with a spinal lesion near her neck that is compressing a nerve and must be surgically removed. A possible brain lesion was also found and will require further imaging. Without timely surgery, her condition could worsen quickly and put her health—and future—in danger.

Shalom used to work hard every day selling traditional dresses and baking injera and bread for sale to help pay for her nursing education and support her mother. But now, her condition has worsened to the point where she can barely move. She’s in constant pain, and even eating has become a struggle—her body can’t hold down food, and it comes back up shortly after. She urgently needs surgery to regain her health and continue her education.

Because GoFundMe does not support direct transfers to Ethiopia, I (her friend in the U.S.) am organizing this fundraiser. All donations will be withdrawn here and safely sent to Shalom through a trusted and secure channel to cover her first surgery and related care.

We are asking for your urgent support. Any amount helps. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this with others.

Thank you so much for your kindness and support.