Meet Fayez! A sweet and spunky 5 year old boy from Gaza battling Stage 4 Lymphoma . Fayez was a child full of life always running around with his brothers and cousins. Now, things look much different for him.
Fayez began showing signs of illness in December of last year. What began as fatigue and weakness gradually worsened, until he could barely walk.
Access to healthcare in Gaza is nearly impossible. With most clinics and health centers destroyed, the only option was the sole remaining hospital in Deir al-Balah. But even there, only the war-injured are prioritized, and even they must wait, with the most severely wounded left to die if their injuries are deemed too critical. Fayez’s condition was initially dismissed as an infection from the filthy water they are forced to drink.
As the months dragged on, Fayez’s health deteriorated. Swellings appeared under his arms, and it was after FOUR agonizing months that a doctor finally suggested he might have cancer. They needed to take a sample from the tumor, but the results were expected to take 40 days. Imagine a child with cancer having to wait 40 days just to confirm the diagnosis. But the tragedy didn’t end there—treatment was practically impossible. Gaza’s healthcare system has collapsed to such an extent that even if cancer is diagnosed, the chances of receiving proper treatment are slim to none. For his family, this meant losing hope. Deep down, they were already saying their goodbyes to him, fearing they might lose him without any chance to save his life.
By some miracle, a medical organization from the United States, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), managed to arrange for the evacuation of 25 children to Egypt, and Fayez was among the lucky few. However, he could only travel with his grandmother, as his mother had to stay behind to care for her other two children and his father was not given the option. Now, Fayez is battling stage 4 lymphoma, fighting for his life in a foreign country, far from his parents and siblings , who remain trapped in Gaza.
Upon arrival to his treating hospital, he could not walk or use the restroom on his own and he was incredibly weak and was rapidly losing weight. Fayez’s cries for his mother and father echo through the hospital walls. He sometimes refuses to eat, overcome with sadness and loneliness. Even with his grand mother by his side, the pain of separation is unbearable for him. For all of them.
Fayez continues to fight the monster plaguing his little body, he remains steadfast and strong, despite the tremendous pain and grief he is experiencing.
I’ve been lucky enough to have video chatted with he and his grandmother and I am in close contact with his family. He is a child I hold so close to my heart and I am so honored to be able to dedicate our last rainbow to him 💚🎗️#FayezStrong
for more ways to donate / learn more about Fayez :
@Fayezstrong on IG
https://gofund.me/9807e77c
https://buymeacoffee.com/fayezstrong?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaJylg1HhbI0LnCSGlYVjcgXJ6lVlj9khWhSoZJhuMdoITKZeZIWGiuFys_aem_cAhFuG2q3nnO35efoEKBKA
💚 Please allow 5-7 business days for fulfillment
💚 We do not anticipate restocking these rainbows
💚 Shop discounts/credits cannot be applied to this item
💚 Returns/Chargebacks/Reversals WILL NOT be accepted for this item (this is especially important).
💚 All profits will be donated to Fayez’s family to use as they see fit. Permission to this release has been granted. All photos belong to the Abu Kwaik family.
