Rayen Bekri 13-year old Turkey Earthquake Victim

My name is Rasha, and I am the aunt of a hero and angel named Rayen. My 13-year-old niece is an angel because she survived under the rubble of the earthquake in Turkey for six days, and she is what is left for me after my sister passed away from that same Earthquake. She is a hero because she held on tight to her 10-year-old brother while they were under six floors of a collapsed building to protect him, but unfortunately, he did not come out alive. When we found out about the earthquake on February 6th, we tried to reach my sister, but to no avail. Hours turned into days, and eventually, we were told by a neighbor that the building my sister lived in had collapsed and that a search and rescue operation was soon in progress. On day six after the earthquake, a man on the ground face timed me to identify family, and there was Rayen. She was alive but very weak. He had informed me that they had to amputate her leg on location since it was already dead. They were surprised that she was still alive. Two hours later, I had to identify another possible family member that was apparently deceased, and there she was: my sister. Rayen's dad passed away eight years prior due to the war in Syria. That's when I decided to pack my bags and go to Turkey to be with my niece since she had no one left. I stayed there with Rayen for five and a half months. Ten surgeries later, I am now back in New Jersey, and Rayen is living with my husband and I, along with our three children.

We ask for your help in situating Rayen in her new home and to cover expenses related to her rehab, recovery, and adaptation. I am so grateful that my hero and angel have survived, but sadly, losing my sister and her kid took a toll on us all. Over fifty thousand lives were lost due to the earthquake, and over 15 million people were affected. May the lost Rest In Peace, and may the survivors find peace and tranquility.

Thank you tremendously for your consideration, support, and sharing this campaign.