On January 26th, 2012 our daughter Zaynab was diagnosed with Leukemia. Although we were initially shocked, we realized that we were not alone. So many friends and family immediately stepped up and are supporting us in so many different ways. We feel truly blessed. In light of how blessed we are we wanted to accomplish a few things with this blog. One is to keep everyone informed of Zaynab's recovery. A second is to help those who are less fortunate.

As we thought about what charities to support we thought of a few and couldnt decide on one, so we thought we would give people a choice.

1) Something as simple as water for those who are less fortunate. No one in this world should be without water. Nancy helped setup this initiative here: http://bit.ly/xfXbRS and we have a goal of $20,000 which will provide over 1000 people with water.

2) What a wonderful world this would be if we were able to wipe cancers like Leukemia / Lymphoma from the face of the world. Nancy has mobilized a team to participate in the Light the Night walk on October 20th 2012 and we have a goal of $50,000! To donate to LLS and join the effort go here: http://bit.ly/yZwbt7

3) Who better to receive support than orphans. GiveLight has been great organization for supporting orphans worldwide. While we have no goal set, we recognize that it does not take very much money to save a child: http://bit.ly/xKpWv2


Thanks for continuing to keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Thanks,
Zaynab and Family

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Day 14 - What is normal?

Salaamu alaikum.  Our apologies for not posting in the last few days.  The past few days have been very hectic.

I am writing this post as I am waiting for my mom to arrive from Sudan, I can actually hear the clock ticking ... :).   We are excited to have both grandmothers here!

Alhamdulilah, Zaynab is slowly improving.  She still has sporadic pain and some nausea.  Since being discharged we have been trying to re-establish a sense of normal.  That has been really difficult to achieve.  Despite all the help and prayers, I would be lying if I said it was easy.  Alhamdulilah.  Sleep is still a luxury ... :).  Between Zaynab and Yusuf its not easy to get more than 2 hours of sleep at a time.

Zaynab's vacation from school is about to end.  She will be starting this coming week with a teacher who will be coming to the house three times a week for a couple of hours at a time.  She is only partly excited about that of course.

Zaynab just had another chemo treatment today.  Alhamdulilah it went well.  She is beginning to have some nausea and fatigue and that should last a couple of days.  Hopefully it will be over by the end of the weekend.  She continues to be prone to infection so we have her walking around the house in a mask ... :). 

Thats all for now, we will try and make sure to update the blog more frequently.


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9 comments:

  1. Tarig AbualhassanFebruary 11, 2012 at 4:51 AM

    Alhamdulilah Zaynab did well on her chemo treatment.It's great to hear that she is improving.It will be wonderful for her to have two grandmother's to take care of her,that's lucky.
    From,
    Ahmed,Amar,Noon,Madanie,and Omer

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2012 at 6:10 AM

    I am so happy to hear that your Mom is on her way (there by now?)!! I know that with both grandmothers life will become easier. The sleep disruption is a tough thing. When you are feeling a lack of energy--think of me and I will send you some! It is good that Zaynab will be "back in school"--it will help her and how great that the school system sends someone out. I thought that you would have to do it all on your own!

    Zaynab: you are my heroine!

    Love and hugs to all
    Pauline

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousFebruary 11, 2012 at 7:11 AM

    hi Zaynab,
    you are so lucky that both grandmas are there by now with you. I am so happy that the chemo treatment did well. Hows everybody, are you guys okay.bye
    love you
    sarrah

    ReplyDelete
  4. mengerinFebruary 11, 2012 at 11:13 PM

    Zaynab, it'll be great to see you back to "normal." Doing school work is a great way to pass the time and to keep on learning. I'm so glad to see people worrying about the ordinary things like getting you educated! :-)

    I hope you still have some of that secret stash to enjoy.

    We miss you. Hope we can see you soon!

    Love & Salaam,
    Matthew, Alaine & the Mengerink Clan

    ReplyDelete
  5. NaveedFebruary 12, 2012 at 8:34 PM

    Good to hear the update... I was getting worried that dad is getting lazy. Zaynab... good to also know that you can do some school work as well. That should be fun :-)

    Hope to see you soon...

    Love,

    The Anwars...

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  6. Ammar EltilibFebruary 13, 2012 at 3:47 AM

    Alhmdulillah ....Salam to both grandmother,we all appreciate all the love and support their giving,very delighted to hear that Zaynab is getting on with her studies,I could only imagine the degree of difficulty of restoring any sense of normalcy right now,but I'm sure both of you Eyman &Musaab are up to the task.
    May ALLAH give all the strength and support you need,Ameen ya ALLAH.
    LOVE and lots of hugs from all of us here

    Mohammed, Shiraz& Ammar
    Always making Duaa for you

    ReplyDelete
  7. AmyA.February 13, 2012 at 9:07 AM

    Hello Zaynab Sweetie,
    I miss not seeing you and your family for the last several days. But, I have been thinking and praying for you. Unfortunately we've had a mild cold going on around the family, so I won't be able to come for several more days (I dont want to risk bringing even 1 bad germ into your home).
    I was so happy to have met your dad's mom on Sat. evening, and I look fwd to seeing your mom's mom soon too. I hope you get a wonderful, easy-going teacher as well. I am praying for your nausea and pain to stay away as well.
    Lots of love,
    Auntie Amy:)

    Salaams Eyman,
    I can only imagine how exhausted you must feel. InshAllah may your moms' help allow you to catch up on a little extra sleep. I dont want to hog up your phone line, but please call me anytime if there is anything I can help with. I heard Esra is leaving soon, so please dont hesistate to call/text/email me for anything! (I can't stick around your home this wk since we had a cold going around the house last wk, but I can pick up/drop things for you if you need anything.)
    Lots of love and daily duas,
    Amy:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. AmatullahFebruary 13, 2012 at 9:48 AM

    Asalaamu alaikum,Zaynab and Eman, This is Lamia, Nada's mom

    Alf salamah to you Zaynab. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May Allah grant you shifaa and make you stronger. Nada really misses you and wanted to visit, but we'll wait a little insha'Allah until the doctors say it's ok. Insha'Allah I'll let her write to you when she gets back from school.
    We hope to see your lovely smiling face back at the masjid very soon insha'Allah :) <3

    ReplyDelete
  9. SabuMarch 9, 2012 at 11:07 AM

    Zaynoooba Zaynoooba I am so happy to hear that you are taking short walks outside Al Hamdulillah... the weather has been really beautiful for the past couple of days.....
    I miss you very much =).... MashAllah you are a very smart girl so i am sure catching up with school work won't be hard... Ya Rab on this blessed Friday May Allah SWT give you the strength and health.... I love you and if you need anything i am here....

    Rabana yashfeeha InshAllah... Rabana yakathir min al akhbar al zay dy InshAllah....

    We are all here for you.... da3watna ma3akum dayman....

    With Lots of Love,

    Sabu and Family

    ReplyDelete

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