Support Khamis: Medical Care for Spine Injury After Bombing

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I am reaching out for help on behalf of my dear cousin, Khamis, and his family who have faced unimaginable tragedy amidst the ongoing war in Gaza. Khamis, only 26 years old, is in urgent need of medical attention after enduring severe injuries to his back following the bombing of his shelter. Trapped under cement rubble for hours before rescue, his condition requires pain management, a back brace and immediate intervention not available in Gaza.

This is his story:

My cousin Khamis, his mom (my aunt) and his five siblings lived in Tel El Hawa. About a week into the conflict, neighboring houses were suddenly targeted without any warning. Khamis, along with his family, made the difficult decision to leave their home in Tel El Hawa and seek refuge at the Red Crescent Hospital (Al-Quds Hospital).

As the sun rose, the Red Cross informed them that the hospital was being evacuated. With no other options, they headed south to the Nuseirat Camp. The journey was exhausting, but they were hopeful they would be safe. After just 17 days, in the dead of night, their temporary shelter, shared with multiple families, became a target of bombing. Khamis became trapped under the rubble for hours.

Miraculously, Khamis was rescued, but not without sustaining severe injuries to his spine. Emergency surgery in Gaza was necessary, resulting in the insertion of a metal plate and pins to stabilize his spine. Now, Khamis faces a long road to recovery, requiring ongoing medical care and a back brace that is not readily available in Gaza.

The ordeal didn't end there. After he was discharged from the hospital, they discovered that their home in Tel El Hawa was demolished soon after they evacuated. Khamis and his family found themselves displaced once again. Currently, Khamis, his mother, his brother, and four sisters are living in a tent in Rafah, facing harsh conditions and uncertain futures.

They have exhausted all their savings at this point. They will be using funds from this campaign to eat, access drinking water and pay rent for their tent.

We are reaching out to you, our community, for support in helping Khamis and his family rebuild their shattered lives. Our immediate goal is to provide Khamis with the specialized medical care he urgently needs and to facilitate their relocation out of Gaza to a place where he can receive the treatment and support necessary for his recovery.

Please donate whatever you can and share this campaign with your networks. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in their lives and show solidarity in the face of adversity.

Where Khamis was rescued in Nuseirat Camp following the bombing of his shelter.

Khamis' spine Xray, 2-3rd vertebrae and had 2 metal plates and 4 pins put in.

What's left of their home in Tel El Hawa

Currently living in a tent with his mother and 5 siblings.