My name is Emma, and I'm organizing this campaign for my friend Haneen Al Aydi, a 32 year old woman living in Gaza.
Haneen has Ankylosing Spondylitis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the spine and joints. It means constant pain and stiffness, and over time it can fuse parts of the spine. Before October 2023, her condition got so bad that she needed spinal surgery.
Haneen depends on several medications to manage her illness. The most important one is Humira, an injection that treats her Ankylosing Spondylitis. In Gaza, she needs a Humira injection every month, and each one costs about $1,000. When she can't afford it or get it consistently, her other symptoms get worse. For the past three years, keeping up with this treatment has been a constant struggle.
Her parents are both sick and were evacuated to Egypt. Her father has prostate cancer and needed treatment he couldn't get in Gaza. Haneen stayed behind and now lives with her brother, trying to manage a serious illness through war and severe shortages.
Haneen is one of the most resilient people I know, she is the one providing for herself and her brother, and she has kept going through more than most of us will ever have to face. Her brother was recently injured in his shoulder, which has made things even harder for both of them. She has overcome so much already, and she shouldn't have to fight this hard just to get the medicine she needs.
Since I've known Haneen, she has faced one obstacle after another just trying to ask for help. Her Instagram account was shut down, and her previous fundraising campaign was closed. This new campaign is a fresh start so people can keep supporting her.
Your donation will help Haneen:
- Buy her monthly Humira injections, which cost about $1,000 each
- Pay for her other medications and medical care
- Cover daily living expenses like food and shelter
After three years of severe suffering, trauma and medical hardship, Haneen needs steady treatment so she can live with less pain. Every donation helps, no matter the size. If you can't give, please share this campaign so it reaches more people.
Thank you for standing with Haneen.
Here are some of the medication prescribed to Haneen over the years:
