DIAGNOSIS WITH NO CURE: IRAQI CHILDREN WITH CANCER

DIAGNOSIS WITH NO CURE: IRAQI CHILDREN WITH CANCER

October - December 2024

At Iraqi Children's Hope, we believe that every child deserves a chance to live a healthy, happy, and dignified life, even in the face of life-threatening illnesses like cancer. Over the past three months, our organization has been deeply committed to supporting children suffering from cancer and their families. This report highlights the impactful work we have undertaken during this period.

Key Achievements

1-  Medical Support: We recognize that timely and accurate diagnostics are crucial in the fight against cancer. To this end:

• 5 Children Received PET and CT scans: We sponsored essential imaging tests, ensuring early detection and effective treatment planning for young patients. These scans are often unaffordable for low-income families, but our intervention provided them with hope and clarity.

2- Supporting Families with Basic Needs: Cancer treatment often imposes emotional and financial strain on families. We stepped in to alleviate some of these burdens:

• Provided Meals for Families: Recognizing that caregivers often prioritize medical expenses over basic needs, we distributed nutritious meals to families of cancer patients, ensuring that they stayed strong while supporting their children.

3- Brightening Children’s Lives: Childhood should be a time of joy and play, even during illness. To bring smiles to children undergoing treatment:

• Distributed Games and Gifts: We gifted toys, board games, and art supplies to children undergoing cancer treatments. These gifts provided moments of distraction and joy during long, challenging days in the hospital.

4- Collaboration with Specialized Hospitals: Our partnerships with hospitals have enabled us to devise effective strategies to assist children from families that cannot afford expensive medical supplies:

• Developed Individual Care Plans: We worked with pediatric oncology specialists to identify children in urgent need of financial and medical assistance, ensuring targeted and meaningful interventions.

Stories of Hope

Nesreen's Journey to Recovery

Nesreen, a 7-year-old girl, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. Her family struggled to afford the PET scan required to determine the extent of her illness. Through our support, Nesreen received the necessary scan, which enabled her doctors to develop an effective treatment plan. Today, Nesreen is undergoing chemotherapy with renewed hope for the future.

Ali Newfound Joy

Ali, a 10-year-old boy undergoing cancer treatment in Basra, spent most of his days in isolation due to a weakened immune system. When we gifted him a puzzle set and drawing materials, his mother shared that Ali now looks forward to his creative activities each day, making his hospital visits less daunting.

Zahra’s Family Reunited at Mealtime

Zahra’s parents were unable to afford daily meals while staying with her during her treatment. Our meal support program allowed her family to share warm, nutritious meals together, strengthening their bond and giving them the energy to stay resilient in Zahra’s fight against cancer.

Over the past three months, Iraqi Children's Hope has been privileged to make a difference in the lives of children battling cancer and their families. We remain committed to our mission of bringing hope and support to the most vulnerable members of our community.

Thank you to all our donors, partners, and volunteers who make this work possible. Together, we are building a future where no child fights cancer alone.