Family
Canada
Hala & Family: Support a New Life Outside of Gaza
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(My name is Tareq Saba, I am organizing this fundraiser on behalf of my fiancée Hala and her family. Please read her story below. Thank you.)
My name is Hala Saba, a 23-year-old Palestinian Christian from Gaza. My family includes my father Salam, my mother Rania, and my brother Haytham; this is our heartbreaking story as survivors of the war in Gaza.
Before the 7th of October, we were living a beautiful life that we were grateful for. We had a comfortable house where we loved every single detail. Our days were full of family and friends, and despite the hardships we encountered, we were happy. My parents provided everything we needed to make our life as best as it could be.
I earned my bachelor’s degree and graduated as a Nutritionist from Al-Azhar University in June 2022. I had recently started a new job with Caritas Jerusalem before the war. My brother Haytham was studying software engineering at Al-Azhar University - now completely destroyed. He had just begun his fourth year and final year before graduation.
Nothing remained the same after the 7th of October 2023, our life was turned upside down. Each day after that dreadful day was full of nonstop bombing and constant fear and anxiety. Damaged homes and rubble were all we could see around us, there was no safe space for anyone anywhere. A few days after the beginning of the war, we took shelter at a friend’s house. We were forced to leave our home and the surrounding area because it was in the vicinity that received bomb threats. Quickly after that, our house was partially damaged due to the heavy bombing. Now, our home has become uninhabitable. We can no longer live in it and we need to rebuild it again.
Soon after our first displacement, we were displaced once again. We sought shelter at Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church with the rest of the Christian community. We thought that this would be a safe place to stay. Then came the 19th of October.
On the 19th of October, one of the buildings of Saint Porphyrios Church was bombed. My family and I were sheltering in that very building. My memory of that day is blurry - all I can remember is the building falling, me being thrown due to the force, heavy rubble falling on me, excruciating pain in my chest, complete darkness, and screaming everywhere. 18 people were martyred in the bombing, of which 8 were children, one as young as 6 months old. Some 80 people were injured. My mother and I included.
After being pulled out of the rubble, my mother and I were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital. My mother’s injuries left her needing 30 stitches on her forehead. She also had a mild pelvic bone fracture. As for me, I was severely injured. My ribs were broken, and I had to have emergency surgery to fix them. I also sustained a severe fracture in my pelvic bone where my spine was disconnected from my pelvis. I needed additional urgent surgeries to fix both, but because of the situation in Gaza, there was no equipment for the operation. I had to wait a month full of painful days until I could get out of Gaza to finally receive treatment in Egypt. In Egypt, I underwent two major surgical operations to fix the fractures, and I spent three months undergoing treatment and physical therapy in order to recover and learn how to walk again.
My uncle, who lives in Slovenia, helped us leave Gaza. After finishing my treatment in Egypt, he brought us to Slovenia. As new residents of Slovenia, we are doing our best to adjust to our new life far away from the life we knew before. We know our new life won't be easy, we are trying to learn the language, find work, settle in, and find a way for my brother to continue his education.
We truly appreciate the time you spent reading our story, and thank you kindly for any donation you're able to give, no matter how small you may think it is. Any amount of help is appreciated more than you know, especially as we try to come to terms with what we experienced while also trying to rebuild our lives. Despite everything that has happened, we still believe in the good in people.
Sincerely,
Hala and Family
My name is Hala Saba, a 23-year-old Palestinian Christian from Gaza. My family includes my father Salam, my mother Rania, and my brother Haytham; this is our heartbreaking story as survivors of the war in Gaza.
Before the 7th of October, we were living a beautiful life that we were grateful for. We had a comfortable house where we loved every single detail. Our days were full of family and friends, and despite the hardships we encountered, we were happy. My parents provided everything we needed to make our life as best as it could be.
I earned my bachelor’s degree and graduated as a Nutritionist from Al-Azhar University in June 2022. I had recently started a new job with Caritas Jerusalem before the war. My brother Haytham was studying software engineering at Al-Azhar University - now completely destroyed. He had just begun his fourth year and final year before graduation.
Nothing remained the same after the 7th of October 2023, our life was turned upside down. Each day after that dreadful day was full of nonstop bombing and constant fear and anxiety. Damaged homes and rubble were all we could see around us, there was no safe space for anyone anywhere. A few days after the beginning of the war, we took shelter at a friend’s house. We were forced to leave our home and the surrounding area because it was in the vicinity that received bomb threats. Quickly after that, our house was partially damaged due to the heavy bombing. Now, our home has become uninhabitable. We can no longer live in it and we need to rebuild it again.
- Our home:
- Our building:
Soon after our first displacement, we were displaced once again. We sought shelter at Saint Porphyrios Orthodox Church with the rest of the Christian community. We thought that this would be a safe place to stay. Then came the 19th of October.
On the 19th of October, one of the buildings of Saint Porphyrios Church was bombed. My family and I were sheltering in that very building. My memory of that day is blurry - all I can remember is the building falling, me being thrown due to the force, heavy rubble falling on me, excruciating pain in my chest, complete darkness, and screaming everywhere. 18 people were martyred in the bombing, of which 8 were children, one as young as 6 months old. Some 80 people were injured. My mother and I included.
- The building we were sheltering in, within St Porphyrios Church grounds:
After being pulled out of the rubble, my mother and I were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital. My mother’s injuries left her needing 30 stitches on her forehead. She also had a mild pelvic bone fracture. As for me, I was severely injured. My ribs were broken, and I had to have emergency surgery to fix them. I also sustained a severe fracture in my pelvic bone where my spine was disconnected from my pelvis. I needed additional urgent surgeries to fix both, but because of the situation in Gaza, there was no equipment for the operation. I had to wait a month full of painful days until I could get out of Gaza to finally receive treatment in Egypt. In Egypt, I underwent two major surgical operations to fix the fractures, and I spent three months undergoing treatment and physical therapy in order to recover and learn how to walk again.
My uncle, who lives in Slovenia, helped us leave Gaza. After finishing my treatment in Egypt, he brought us to Slovenia. As new residents of Slovenia, we are doing our best to adjust to our new life far away from the life we knew before. We know our new life won't be easy, we are trying to learn the language, find work, settle in, and find a way for my brother to continue his education.
We truly appreciate the time you spent reading our story, and thank you kindly for any donation you're able to give, no matter how small you may think it is. Any amount of help is appreciated more than you know, especially as we try to come to terms with what we experienced while also trying to rebuild our lives. Despite everything that has happened, we still believe in the good in people.
Sincerely,
Hala and Family
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AP
ANA Peixoto Recent Donation
Support Amount $100
-
El
Elsa
Support Amount $200
-
AK
Avery Kohler
Support Amount $45
-
AD
Anonymous Donor
Support Amount $5,000
-
LJ
Lorena Jablonka
Support Amount $998
Organizer
Donors List
-
AP
ANA Peixoto Recent Donation
Support Amount $100
-
El
Elsa
Support Amount $200
-
AK
Avery Kohler
Support Amount $45
-
AD
Anonymous Donor
Support Amount $5,000
-
LJ
Lorena Jablonka
Support Amount $998
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