Flowers, candy, dinner at a restaurant … these are all common ways to honor the most important person in your life, your Mom.  Mother’s Day in the United States this year is May 12.  Although the above gifts are very nice, we at Egypt Cancer Network have a better idea.

There is another way to honor your mom on her most special day.  Egypt Cancer Network has developed a program with your mom in mind.  A special donation to ECN in her name, either living or deceased, will not only honor her, but will also help the children of hospital 57357.

With each donation, whether it be in memory of, or in honor of, your loved one’s name will be attached to the donation.  If it is in honor of, we will send her a special card letting her know about this donation, to the address that you specify on the donation page.

Everyone has a special woman in their life that was a great influence to them, whether it be your mom, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, sister or daughter.  What better way to honor her than to make this everlasting donation in her name.  Please click on the link below to start your donation now.  If you request a card to be sent, it will arrive in plenty of time for Mother’s day.

 Built thanks to small and big donations, 57357 continues to expand and be sustained by them

There is a certain aura to the Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt (CCHE), alias Hospital 57357 that rallies people around it regardless of their race, creed or social background. Whether in Cairo , Egypt where it is located for the  purpose of giving hope in cure to  children with cancer,   or in New York where fundraisers are initiated to sustain it, the 187bed charitable pediatric cancer center  is continuously blessed with the support of Egyptians from all walks of life around the globe.

Just last week, upon his return from New York where he was attending Egypt Cancer Network (ECN)’s 2^nd  fundraiser in favor of 57357, Dr. Sherif Abou Elnaga, VP of the Hospital was eager to share stories from his trip. During his short stay in the city, Dr Abou Elnaga, reveals that he was particularly moved by two encounters:  the first with Mr.Elias Debbas, an immigrant of Lebanese origin, head of a financing corporation, winner of ECN New York chapter highest recognition for charitable giving, the caring Heart Award; and the second with Mr. Saad Ibrahim Hegazy, owner of a hot dog stand near Times Square , an Egyptian immigrant of modest background coming from Kafr Abou Zekry, Benha, a small town in Kalyoubelia governorate in Egypt’s Delta.

 Though worlds apart, both Mr. Debbas and Mr Hegazy carry the love of Egypt in their hearts. At the gala event which gathered a stellar group of Egyptian immigrants living in New York, Dr. Abouel Naga met with Mr. Debbas for the first time. He was puzzled by how a Lebanese philanthropist would donate $ 40000 for the cause of Egyptian children with cancer.

He found out that Mr. Debbas grew up in Egypt, going to the English mission college then later to the American University in Cairo. He was 4 years old when his father settled in Egypt and it was not before 1968 that Mr. Debbas moved to the U.S

Mr. Debbas’ attachment to Egypt is so great that he dreams to move back with his family and to be granted the Egyptian nationality.

“ It was around 3 am in the morning , I was heading to my hotel with after a successful fundraising  gala event,” tells me Dr. Abouelnaga, “ when I suddenly realized that I was very hungry and had not eaten all day, so we stopped at a hot dog stand owned by an Egyptian, Mr. Hegazy. Of course, we chat about Egypt and he asks me about my profession. I tell him that I work at hospital 57357 and he answers me: Oh! That wonderful Hospital that treats children with cancer for free! Please receive this $100 bill as a modest donation for the hospital and he calls his uncle who owns another stand two streets away who hurries to meet us to also give us a donation”.

What is the secret behind Hospital 57357’s aura? Is it its delivery of world quality care for children with cancer for free and its high levels of cure?  Is it the vision and passion of its founders and the dedication of its staff? Or is the generous nature of its supporters from all walks of life? What draws a Lebanese business man, an Eminent Egyptian American Economist & CEO of PIMCO such as Mr. Mohamed  El Eryan[1] and  a hot dog vendor in New York  to Hospital 57357? Whatever it is, one thing is certain: Hospital 57357 is truly blessed with big hearted supporters in Egypt and all across the globe!

Mr. Mohamed el Eryan donated one million $ in a previous ECN fundraiser in Los Angeles

ECN is a U.S. based 501C3 tax deductible non- profit organization in operation for nearly 2 years now with the mission of supporting and providing resources to Egyptian hospitals and non-profit organizations focused on cancer. Among the organizations ECN sponsors is Hospital 57357, recognized as a role model charitable institution offering free quality healthcare services to children with cancer in Egypt and the surrounding region.

After nearly 6 years of operation the CCHE was able to achieve a 70% over-all survival rate in the average and to get closer to the 80-85% rates achieved in the developed world. As a result, and for the sake of not having to turn away any child seeking  its free quality services, the CCHE is committed to a number of capacity expansion projects namely a 60 bed extension within its premises and a 300 bed green LEED building to be joined to the main Hospital

Mahmoud ElAwady is an Egyptian American immigrant working as Vice President and financial Advisor for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Orlando, Florida. Mahmoud’s kid Mohamed developed Acute Myeloid leukemia some 15 months ago, received care at Florida Children’s Hospital and successfully completed his treatment, thanks be to God . Few days ago, he visited Hospital 57357 for the first time after his return from Umrah (visit to the Holy Land) and sent us this poignant testimonial:

” Salam Alikm, I was very touched by the work you all guys had put into this project , the level of care , cleanliness, technology and staff education was beyond what I thought the hospital had to offer to the Egyptians kids with cancer. As you all know my only son Mohamed went through this last year when his chances was only 30% , ironically we found about it only 2 days after we had just came back from Egypt and I was scared of the fact if we had found out while we were there. But after my visit to 57357, I knew that he would have received the same level of care but not with the cost we paid here between me and insurance which was $ 1,306,000.00 only in 7 month.
When we had met the day before, we had just come back from Umrah as this was my promise to Allah to visit the 3 holy mosques and we did at Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem to pay our debt back to Allah. And now you guys have given me another great opportunity to help with the kids with cancer who can’t afford it. I will start talking to Morgan Stanley charity department as well as other organizations. You can ask me for anything cause you will be doing me and Mohamed a favor helping other children. I have been also a board member with kids beating cancer in Orlando here for the last 5 years so I have some experience dealing with non-profits. I also just got off the phone with Hassan to arrange for this weekend festival, like I said before no one can understand what the kids and their parents are going through like I do and this is why I will do my best to be an asset for you.”

Upon his return to the U.S., after visiting  Hospital 57357 and making a donation , Mahmoud was prompt to contact the Hospital’s affiliate in the U.S. , Egypt Cancer Network  57357 & AFNCI,  a U.S. based 501C3 tax-deductible non-profit  organization committed to providing support and resources to Egyptian hospitals and non -profit institutions  focused on cancer. In the picture, he is already promoting ECN through a Morgan Stanley booth in Orlando, Florida.

57357 was just a  set of numbers to me seen on a few ads on TV. Friends and family were always advising me to donate  but I was reluctant to do so. The TV ad of Bob Bradley attracted my attention to the tax deduction in the US and as I am an Egyptian living abroad the idea appealed to me. Sending my Zakat to my home country and getting a tax break would allow me to donate even more.
However, everything changed when I came to Cairo and paid a visit to the hospital.  This is a project built according to the most advanced standards in the world in terms of technology and materials.  All their staff is highly qualified as they also invest in their education. They are human, with compassion and a volunteering attitude ,seeing children ranging from babies to the age of eighteen coming from different  urban and rural parts of the Egypt and the Middle East. Common people who are trying to save their children and would have never been able to afford this kind of treatment. During my visit I spoke with many parents and they were all very appreciative and thankful for the existence of this hospital.
Apart from the sentimental emotions that brought tears to my eyes during the visit was a feeling of pride and happiness. Proud to be a small part of a revolutionary organization which is progressing in terms of research, highest level of technology and  administration. Building new research department , adding more beds to accommodate the huge number of in-flowing demand and contributing to local hospitals.
I would encourage all Arabs living abroad to consider helping the Children Cancer Hospital and where they benefit from a tax deduction, give more as an opportunity to help those in great need.

Nahed Hallaba

Among the students participating in 57537’s annual competition event for school children ,was 12 year old boy “Yussuf “ , who received treatment at 57357 and is on his way to recovery from cancer. In spite of his disease, Yussuf enjoys a healthy appearance, and as such many of his school mates didn’t know about his illness.

They were informed for the first time about his disease during the event when he revealed on stage” I came here to donate and to encourage my friends with cancer at 57357 to bravely fight the disease as I did. My case was so serious but now I am on the verge of recovery and have returned back to my school and friends”. Yussuf will have his last 2 chemotherapy sessions next month and then he will just come for follow-up.

Since Yussuf was 8 years old, he was hit with a rare kind of tumor growing slowly under his skull bones causing jaw bone erosion. In 2011 he was admitted at 57357, where a sample of the tumor was taken to identify its kind and the proper treatment plan. Two types of chemotherapy treatment were applied. He finished the first type within 34 weeks. At the end of next May he will finish the 2nd type which takes 40 weeks. His body responded well to the chemotherapy and he was able to defeat the disease.

“I was shaking in fear when I came to the Hospital for the first time and was told that I had to have brain surgery. But I was reassured by my physician Emad Mousa who was always encouraging me and giving me hope .It was expected that I would never hear again after the surgery but thanks to God, these expectations failed. I can hear, and now I am on the road of complete recovery and have returned back to my school life.” added Yussuf, describing briefly his experience at the Hospital.

After finishing completely his chemotherapy, an evaluation will be made as a final confirmation to start the follow-up phase. Fortunately, his jaw bones will naturally start to reform again as he is still under seventeen.

Yussuf’s mother reveals,” After a7 months journey of consultations with physician to no avail, I lost the hope in my son’s cure. The last physician we went to advised me to take him to Hospital 57357 and there we met with Dr. Emad who is following my son’s case. With the expertise and physical and mental care provided by every one working here, day by day my son’s case is in continuous improvement,. Finally, I could also restore my joy of living.”

With the donations and support of all charitable people, the average over-all survival rate at 57357 has reached 70% . Continue to support us so that many other children and their families like Yussuf and his mother would have the same opportunity of receiving quality healthcare ,cure (God Willing) and hope in a brighter future!