Aya Is Thirteen: My Notes About Her Were Getting Suppressed, So I’m Putting This Into An Article Instead

I haven’t written a full article for Palestinians in a long time. I’ve mostly been doing notes, and that was enough. But this case pushed me back into writing something longer. Aya’s situation broke my heart, and when the notes I posted about her kept getting buried, I realized I needed to put this out in a way that can’t be pushed down so easily.

Aya is thirteen. A child. She was injured in this genocide, and she’s living with pain every day. She needs medical care her family can’t afford. That’s the entire story. A child was hurt, and now she needs help. That's my focus.

The children of Gaza are forced to grow up long before their time. They don’t get a childhood. They don’t get safety. They don’t get the space to be kids. The world couldn’t stop the violence, and the cost of that failure landed on them. They carry fears and responsibilities no child should ever have to carry. Aya is one of them.

These are her own words:

"What I yearn for most is a chance to heal, to live without constant pain, and to return to the simple joys of childhood—with hope instead of fear guiding my steps."

Her campaign has been open for a month and has barely moved. She is the youngest person I’ve ever tried to help. The idea that a thirteen-year-old has to go online and ask strangers for help just to get basic medical care should bother everyone.

She also wrote this:

"The chance to receive weekly medical care wouldn’t just ease my pain — it would help me feel whole again. It would give my body relief and give my spirit room to breathe, letting me imagine a future bigger than the limits I live with today. Your support would mean safety right now, and the possibility of a future where I can grow, learn, and smile without fear. It would ease the heavy worry my family carries over medical bills, and it would remind me that I am not alone — that there are people in this world who still choose compassion, who stand with me in this moment of need."

That is a thirteen-year-old speaking about pain, fear, and medical bills. No child should have to think like this.

If people want to reach out to her directly — to give her a word of encouragement or just speak to her as a human being — she is on Twitter at @mmdzm132100. You can DM her there.

If you want to donate, her campaign is here:

https://chuffed.org/project/170878-hope-for-healing-gaza-childs-courage-to-endure

And because people always worry about whether a campaign is real, I want to make this clear so the focus stays on helping her:

This campaign is managed by One Palestine, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 39-3059481). Donations go directly to verified beneficiaries in Gaza. Every recipient is identity-verified. All transfers follow U.S. charity and anti–money laundering regulations. You can read more at one-palestine.org.

I’m including this so people don’t get stuck on doubts. This is legitimate. Aya is real. Her injuries are real. Her need is real.

She is thirteen.

Please share her campaign. Re‑stack this with your own words. Center her. Center her need. If you can donate, even a small amount helps. Let’s try to get her the care she needs.