Dear friends, kind hearts, and compassionate souls,

I’m reaching out today with a heavy heart and a hopeful spirit to ask for your support for someone incredibly dear to me — my godmother, Aida.

Aida is 63 years old and lives alone in Antelias. She works tirelessly as a chef at a well-known restaurant in Jal El Dib, leaving her home at 5 AM and returning as late as 6 PM. Despite her long hours, she earns only minimum wage — and at her age, finding new work isn’t an option. But Aida never complains. She’s always been a strong, independent woman who gives her all, no matter how tough life gets.

Last year, Aida bravely beat cancer. But at the start of 2025, she received heartbreaking news: a lump in her upper abdomen was found — in the early stages of developing into stomach or gastric cancer. Since then, she’s endured painful symptoms: difficulty swallowing, severe stomach pain, bloating, constant nausea, weight loss, and overwhelming fatigue.

Her doctor immediately recommended a treatment plan, starting with 5 rounds of radiotherapy at Mgr. Cortbawi Institute And Rehabilitation Hospital in Adma w Dafneh. She completed these treatments, each one costing $540. Her employer generously covered a couple of the sessions — but deducted the cost from her salary, leaving her with even less to live on.

The next phase of her journey requires 6 critical Adjuvant Therapy injections, priced at $600 each, to prevent the cancer from returning. But Aida has no financial safety net, no insurance to rely on, and no one else to help her carry this burden.

My family and I have done everything we can — covering costs, arranging her first year of medical insurance (thanks to the kindness of friends who lent us money), and standing by her side every step of the way. But the financial weight is simply too much for us to bear alone.

We believe the best way to support Aida’s healing and ensure her future is to help her start a small business from home, preparing homemade meals and catering for events. It’s work she loves and can do at her own pace, giving her time to rest and recover without the exhausting schedule she’s endured for so long. We already have people willing to support her — she just needs the right equipment to make it happen: a 4 kg mixer, a small freezer, a dough preparation machine, and other essential tools.

With this fundraiser, we’re aiming to raise $8,050 to cover:

$2,700 for the 5 radiotherapy treatments ($540 each)

$3,600 for the 6 life-saving Adjuvant Therapy injections ($600 each)

$1,450 for necessary kitchen equipment and tools (prices sourced from Vresso, Dubizzle, and Facebook Marketplace)

$300 for any additional fees, future doctor visits, medications, and emergencies

This amount will allow Aida to focus on healing — without worrying about how she’ll afford her treatment or how she’ll survive financially after it’s done.

We will continue to support Aida, no matter what. Whether this fundraiser meets its goal or not, she will never face this journey alone. But with your kindness, we can ease her burden and give her a real chance at recovery — and a future filled with hope, comfort, and dignity.

If you can donate, even a little, it would mean the world to us. And if you’re unable to contribute, sharing this fundraiser is just as powerful.

Thank you for reading Aida’s story and for any support you can offer. We’re endlessly grateful for your love and generosity.

Much love and heartfelt gratitude,

Jean & Family