A Heart in Need: Maysaa’s Journey from Gaza to Healing

Dear Friends and Supporters,

My name is Maysaa Abed, and I'm reaching out to share my deeply personal journey with you, a journey of survival, hope, and the dire need for medical intervention. In 2020, while the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, I faced my own battle: a medical complication arising from treatment led to heart failure, affecting 40% of my heart's function. This was only the beginning of a series of challenges that would test my resilience to its core.

Returning home to Gaza Strip from Dubai shortly before conflict erupted, I found myself in an escalating situation. The war intensified, transforming what was supposed to be a brief skirmish into months of relentless adversity. Amidst the chaos, my health deteriorated. Critical medicines were scarce, and the healthcare infrastructure was overwhelmed, leaving me and many others in a precarious state of vulnerability.

The constant displacement, moving from one shelter to another to escape the bombings, exacerbated my condition. Imagine, if you can, the terror of fleeing for safety with a heart that struggles with each beat, in an environment where the air itself became a toxic fume due to white phosphorus and other harmful gases.

My fight against heart failure soon included a battle with severe bronchitis, a direct consequence of the deplorable conditions we endured. Despite my father's Herculean efforts to secure minimal medical care, my condition requires more than what is left of our local resources.

This is where I find myself today, standing at a crossroads between life and death. Medical centers in Egypt and the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi have opened a glimmer of hope for me—a potential heart surgery and lung treatment that could restore my health. But to embark on this journey of healing, I need your support. Your generous donations can help cover the medical consultations, treatments, and travel necessary to receive this lifesaving care.

The reality of Gaza's plight may seem distant, but through my story, I hope to bridge that gap. Your kindness can literally save a life, offering a chance at a future that, for a moment, seemed out of reach. I extend my heartfelt gratitude for considering my appeal, for taking a moment to connect with my story, and for any support you can provide.

With deepest appreciation and hope,

Maysaa Abed