Oday’s Condition

Oday is a 3 year old boy with severe Sickle Cell Disease. Born to a Syrian refugee family in Lebanon, he lacks access to medical treatments that his condition requires. 

Since his diagnosis at 1 year and 3 months of age, Oday’s case has gotten more and more acute. During this period, Oday had to undergo a splenectomy to remove his spleen and gets blood transfusions regularly since.

Oday’s immune system is growing weaker by the day, and he is admitted to hospital every couple of months as a result of both his deteriorating health and the tough living conditions of his family.

Oday now requires an urgent bone marrow transplant, and is lucky enough to find a 100% match in his eldest sister, Shahd.

The operation costs $70,000, and needless to say, it is absolutely impossible for Oday’s family to afford giving him a better life.

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Let’s help Oday’s sister save her little bother’s life, and let’s give Oday a new lease on life as a gift for his fourth birthday.

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What is Sickle Cell Disease?

Signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease usually begin in early childhood. Characteristic features of this disorder include a low number of red blood cells (anemia), repeated infections, and periodic episodes of pain. Some people have mild symptoms, while others are frequently hospitalized for more serious complications.

The signs and symptoms of sickle cell disease are caused by the sickling of red blood cells. When red blood cells sickle, they break down prematurely, which can lead to anemia. Anemia can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and delayed growth and development in children. 

The rapid breakdown of red blood cells may also cause yellowing of the eyes and skin, which are signs of jaundice. Painful episodes can occur when sickled red blood cells, which are stiff and inflexible, get stuck in small blood vessels. These episodes deprive tissues and organs of oxygen-rich blood and can lead to organ damage, especially in the lungs, kidneys, spleen, and brain. 

A particularly serious complication of sickle cell disease is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that supply the lungs (pulmonary hypertension). Pulmonary hypertension occurs in about one-third of adults with sickle cell disease and can lead to heart failure.

https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/sickle-cell-disease

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A Few Words From Oday’s Doctor

‘While many of these patients respond to treatment, Oday urgently requires a bone marrow transplant. Oday currently a healthy child, which means that his odds of surviving the transplant stand at above 90% if carried out as soon as possible.

Recovery is expected to be a period of 6 months, after which Oday is expected to be on a path towards a normal and healthy life inshAllah.

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AUBMC is already supporting more than 350 out of the 600 sickle cell disease patients in Lebanon. However, most of them don't require the same level of treatment as Oday. For such cases, financial support for bone marrow transplants for Sickle Cell Disease patients is scarce, meaning that without your support, Oday will not be able to have the operation.’

Dr. Miguel Aboud arrived in Lebanon in 2002 after 18 years in America where he specialised in Sickle Cell Disease. In 2002, Dr. Abboud became the Medical Director of the Children's Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL). 

Dr. Miguel has offered Oday and the family tremendous support in both his time, effort and attention, but he needs our help in order to carry this operation through. 

More on Dr. Miguel Aboud

Since assuming the leadership of CCCL, he has become involved in the development of a brain tumor program, a stem cell transplantation program as well as a limb salvage program in addition to the general oncology service and Sickle Cell program. 

Dr. Abboud has more than 80 publications in peer reviewed journals. He is a member of a numerous professional societies including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and American Society of Hematology (ASH). Recently, he was selected as an International Associate Member of the Children's Oncology Group (COG) - USA. 

His research focuses on Bone Marrow Transplantation, Hemoglobinopathies and treatment of children with cancer in countries with limited resources

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Why AUBMC?

AUBMC is one of the leading hospitals in Lebanon and the Middle East region. Located in Beirut, the hospital has been providing excellent service to all patients around the region in different specialties. For over 140 years, AUBMC is an academic medical centre dedicated to the passionate pursuit of improving the health of the community in Lebanon and the region through the delivery of exceptional and comprehensive quality care to our patients, excellence in education and training, and leadership in innovative research.

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Any level of support counts

Oday’s father has knocked on many, many doors to no avail, but we’re lucky enough to start the campaign with he support of two amazing contributions from organisations that wish to remain anonymous.

We know the amount is overwhelming, but we also know that there’s no monetary value to be put on a child’s life. Any donation, big or small, will bring Oday a chance at a healthier life. 

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Note: All additional funds collected will be transferred to AUBMC sickle cell disease program, to help more patients and support in their medications.