Dear Friend,
I first met 12-year-old Saabira when she was rushed to our clinic in Mosul, Iraq. An airstrike on her home killed everyone except Saabira and her father, who carried her out of the wreckage. She had a 20-centimeter shrapnel injury down her back—enormous for somebody so little.
It can be difficult to bear witness to the ways children experience the brunt of pain and trauma in conflicts and crises. But it’s empowering to see the impact of our generous donor community. You help ensure Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) can be there for children like Saabira with the lifesaving care they need.
Ahead of Child Health Day, will you make a gift to support our lifesaving care for people in need of medical care in more than 70 countries?
|
Saabira means “a patient woman,” something this sweet 12-year-old girl showed during her weekly visits. Now, she needed to get through her final appointment: Removal of the many stitches down her back.
Her father held her in his arms, trying to soothe her as she cried. The trauma team asked me to help because they thought a female face might comfort her. Whether we’re pediatricians or obstetricians, surgeons or psychiatrists, our goal is to do whatever it takes to most effectively treat our patients.
In this case, it meant singing Saabira a little song to calm her as I finished removing the stitches. She giggled as I sang, a welcome sound after her tears. I still remember her waving goodbye as she left, smiling and clutching a latex glove we’d blown into a balloon as a gift.
These are the moments that keep me going: Moments when we can offer a sense of restored well-being and normalcy to children and their families through medical care.
Committed supporters like you are the reason that MSF can offer these moments to the millions of patients we serve in more than 70 countries around the world. Will you make a gift to ensure we can reach the most vulnerable with the lifesaving care they urgently need?
|
Thank you for all you do to make this lifesaving response possible.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rasha Khoury, OB-GYN
President of the Board of Directors
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières USA
PS: Looking for a way to support MSF through your workplace? Many employers will match your donation and double the impact of your gift. Learn more here. |
|
|
|
