Help Zaid Fight Disease Amid Gaza War Crisis

Dear kind-hearted supporters,

My name is Zaid Emad Shehada, a 15-year-old boy from Al-Shati Refugee Camp in Gaza. I was born with a rare and painful condition called muscular atrophy, which has severely weakened my arms and legs since birth.

I have undergone over ten surgeries on my limbs to help me walk and function, but life remains a daily struggle. At age 7, I managed to take my first steps — but every step still hurts. The real prison is my arms, which I cannot move well enough to feed myself, dress, or go to the bathroom. I rely completely on my mother and siblings for everything. I live every day feeling helpless, embarrassed, and like a burden.

Recently, doctors in Gaza told us there is only one way to restore my independence — I need a muscle transplant surgery in both shoulders. This would allow me to finally move my arms, eat by myself, and do the basic things that every child should be able to do. But this surgery is not available in Gaza. It must be done abroad and in multiple costly stages.

Why I’m Asking for Your Help:

• To travel abroad for the specialized muscle transplant surgeries

• To cover the medical costs, rehabilitation, and post-operative care

• To finally gain control of my body and live with dignity and independence

My life became even harder after the war began in Gaza in October 2023. Our home was completely destroyed, and we were displaced multiple times. We have now returned to Gaza and live in a fragile tent near the ruins of our home. But even in these harsh conditions, my biggest pain remains my disease.

We live in extreme poverty, surviving on almost nothing. My father is a low-paid employee, and my mother stays home to care for us. With the cost of living soaring and food supplies vanishing, I have already lost one-third of my body weight, and my health is getting worse every day.

I don’t want to live the rest of my life like this — unable to move, always needing help, and watching the world pass me by.

Please help me:

• Take back control of my body

• Stand on my own two feet

• Use my hands to live, eat, write, and hug

• Be a boy again, not a burden

Even the smallest donation can bring me closer to treatment — closer to a life where I’m not defined by this disease.

From the bottom of my heart,

Zaid Emad Shehada

Gaza Strip