3-year refugee needs help to receive life-changing surgery

Our daughter, 3-year-old Malak is a bright, and friendly child. Malak, was born while we were living in a Jordanian refugee camp after her father and I fled our homeland of Syria. Since a pro-democracy uprising in 2011, more than 500,000 Syrians have been killed in my country, more than 27,000 of which were children.

Finally, our family obtained the necessary refugee documents and were approved to immigrate to the United States. We are working hard to settle into our new home in Billings, Montana, as we struggle to adapt to an entirely different culture and language.

This integration has been complicated by Malak’s serious illness. She suffers from a rare inherited disease called involuntary fecal incontinence. Her father is also afflicted with this unfortunate disease, and it has caused many painful challenges in his life.

Malak underwent three surgeries in Jordan on her intestines at the age of two months, but she needs another surgery and was referred by doctors and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for treatment outside the State of Jordan.

Luckily, because she is young, there is hope for Malak! However, she must travel to a more advanced medical facility in Denver for the surgery, where there are pediatric specialists not available in Montana. The longer Malak’s treatment is delayed, the chances for her full recovery decline.

The treatment and travel costs will be very expensive. Desperate to get our lively 3-year-old help as soon as possible, we decided to turn to GoFundMe in an attempt to raise the money to pay for Malak’s hospitalization, care and expenses we will incur while accompanying her.

Even a small donation, if contributed by many generous people, will put us a step closer to helping Malak receive this important surgery. We want to make a better life for Malak, and our family. Thank you for taking the time to consider our plea, and God bless all of those who help.