CHICAGO - s4story -- Haitham had just become a new father when his world was turned upside down. While battling unexplained fatigue and joint pain, red spots suddenly appeared on his skin. When his gums became swollen and started bleeding, his wife Nicole, a dental hygienist, insisted he get blood work. That urgent visit led to a devastating diagnosis: acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Haitham was told he needed a bone marrow transplant to survive.

With a newborn baby at home, the physical, emotional, and financial toll was staggering. Haitham could no longer work, and Nicole, just returning from maternity leave, had to reduce her hours to care for him. As medical bills mounted and income vanished, they feared losing their home and their only vehicle.

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That's when a social worker at Northwestern Memorial Hospital referred them to the Icla da Silva Foundation. Through its Patient Care program, the Foundation provided critical funding for housing and transportation, removing key barriers during Haitham's treatment.

"It gave me peace of mind," Haitham said. "Knowing we wouldn't lose everything made it easier to focus on getting well."

The transplant was a success. Haitham is now in remission and recovering at home with his wife and baby.

Watch Haitham's story: https://youtu.be/10miNqlrHro?si=ZIow6IziPn46OwQT



The Icla da Silva Foundation continues to provide hope to families in crisis. For patients battling blood cancer, a bone marrow transplant can be the only cure, but the journey is filled with obstacles. The Foundation offers financial, emotional, and logistical support for patients navigating the difficult journey to receive a bone marrow transplant. Neither the disease nor the type of transplant is a determining factor when awarding care. The Foundation focuses specifically on low-income patients who are scheduled to receive a bone marrow transplant in a U.S. medical center.

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Support from the foundation is based on donations from generous companies and individuals.

You can donate at https://bit.ly/4lvXRcm

About the Icla da Silva Foundation

The Icla da Silva Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping patients in need receive bone marrow transplants. Founded in memory of Icla da Silva, a 13-year-old girl who lost her life to leukemia, the Foundation has supported over 1,900 patients since 2022. Focused on underserved communities, they remove barriers to care by providing financial, emotional, and logistical support from diagnosis to recovery.

Learn more at www.icla.org.