Support for Reema’s Recovery and Care

Product Description

Canada

Supporters

I am raising money for Reema Alwan. Please read her story and contribute as much as you can. -Adrienne

Reema’s Story

A helpless, innocent child—my dreams were shattered by a violent bombing that pushed my life into the abyss. I went from being a healthy little girl to an injured and displaced one, wandering between hospital walls and clinics.

On January 8, 2024, without warning, a violent airstrike shook us and led to a direct head injury that shattered my skull and caused severe internal bleeding in my brain. This plunged me into a coma. I was carried on the shoulders of those around me to “Kamal Adwan” Hospital, as there were no civil defense teams available at that stage of the war. The hospital itself was out of service, and there were no specialized brain doctors, which only worsened my condition. It was around sunset at that time.

A helpless child, not yet ten years old, lay on the hospital floor—no care, no services, not even a bed, and no available medical equipment. Suddenly, as they desperately searched for any available doctor, we managed to find a specialist who came from a distant location. He performed a complex brain surgery without any equipment—no imaging or tests due to the hospital being out of service, and no electricity. The doctor completed the surgery using the light from a mobile phone.

Shells and missiles surrounded the hospital from every direction, and fear grew by the minute. After several days, I began to recover from the operation and the injury. But then I was shocked to find my facial features had changed, and I had lost parts of my hair and skin. I continued on a long, painful, and ongoing journey of treatment to this very day. Later, I underwent another operation to stop the internal bleeding completely, followed by a nerve surgery, and then another to patch the shattered bone. This is my reality.

And this is my message to every person of conscience around the world who comes across my story: I am in desperate need of your help. My injury has placed a heavy burden on my family. Since I was wounded, I have undergone three major surgeries.

The first was to return my brain to its proper position, followed by a procedure to stop the internal bleeding. After that, I spent a month and a half in the ICU in a coma, under emergency treatments and strong painkillers. The cost of this stage reached around $5,000, covering hospital stay, medication, and doctors’ fees.

Even before the second surgery—which came after a full year of treatment—we had spent nearly $3,000 on medications, painkillers, and antibiotics. To ensure the success of the first operation, a third surgery was necessary—to implant a part of the skull that had been shattered into tiny fragments. The success rate of this surgery was only 5%, and the recovery rate was 45%. I am still suffering from occasional comas, nerve damage, and vision problems.

This complex surgery cost us a total of approximately $25,000. It included reconstruction of the skull with artificial bone implants and medical-grade platinum screws to stabilize the crushed bones.

Even now, I require ongoing treatments for several years, costing around $500 a month.

You are my only hope. Please help me reclaim my childhood and dreams from destruction—so that maybe, one day, I can see the world again.

Reema’s brother sends his deep thanks and love to everyone who has supported this campaign and brought his family to this day when he can share remarkably good news.

Reema is recovering in a hospital bed, bright-eyed, speaking clearly even over the sounds of drones in the background, responding to her family’s questions, and fully participating in conversation! Furthermore, she has no signs of neurological or cognitive disability!

The operation mentioned in the previous update was successful, and it gave her back her memory and removed the clots in her brain. She still has a lot of procedures ahead – including a bone graft and plastic surgery, so let’s keep sharing and supporting her campaign! Tell others about this amazing girl who is truly defying the odds!

Thank you!

Two days ago we were able to send all of the donations raised so far to Reema’s family. Thank you to everyone who donated and made that possible.

Reema has been in the intensive care unit at the Baptist Hospital for a week. She has sepsis resulting from an artificial bone implant. The bone implanted in her second surgery deteriorated. Her family is trying to get her a medical evacuation, but so far no one is willing to transfer her out of Gaza. The situation is very serious.

Please continue to share and support this campaign, and please send your prayers.

Sumi Hasegawa

14 days ago

$100

Anonymous

6 weeks ago

$50

Anonymous

2 months ago

$25

Anonymous

2 months ago

$20

Anonymous

3 months ago

$20

Anonymous

3 months ago

$20

Anonymous

3 months ago

$50

Anonymous

4 months ago

$100

Anonymous

4 months ago

$100

Anonymous

4 months ago

$20

Anonymous

4 months ago

$50

Anonymous

4 months ago

$20

Anonymous

4 months ago

$25

Anonymous

4 months ago

$50

Franklin Lopez

4 months ago

$20

Sumi Hasegawa

4 months ago

$100

Mubeenah Mughal

4 months ago

$25

Anonymous

4 months ago

$70

Anonymous

4 months ago

$100

Anonymous

4 months ago

$100

Adrienne Hurley

Jane Shi