My name is Musab Al Ahdab. I am 42 years old and originally from Syria. I came to the Netherlands in 2014 and became a Dutch citizen in 2020. Since I arrived, I have dedicated myself to helping those around me, always lending a hand, never hesitating, never expecting anything in return. And now, after all these years, I believe it is my time to ask for your support as I face this life-threatening battle.

In 2017, I was diagnosed with Essential Thrombocythemia (ET), a rare blood cancer that almost exclusively affects those over 65. My case was extraordinarily rare, with a probability of about one in 200,000, beside that i was diagnosed with another rare blood disorder called von Willebrand (or von Felbrand) disorder, compounding my condition, and that affected the the treatment plans completely, yet it didn’t initially pose a life-threatening risk. I began a mild oral chemotherapy regimen, just pills, not aggressive IV chemo, and i was like a lab rat for them for years with changing medicines and doses all the time.

At that time, I was starting my university studies (International Business School), fully focused on my studies.

My life took a new direction in 2020 becuase of the Covid-19 pandemic as i had to postpone my studies becuase of my first son pregnancy and he was born in December 2020, he became my greatest joy and source of strength. After my divorce in 2022, as I was rebuilding my life, but my symptoms like (lack of focus, always fatigue and tiredness) was affecting me severally, and it was decided to be tested again (bone marrow biopsy) and they found that my previous ET was progressed and i was diagnosed with new disease called Myelofibrosis, a rare and life-threatening cancer of the bone marrow. At that stage, the doctors informed me that, despite the risks, I would likely be in low risk for many years, with a median life time of about 10 years. They projected that, in five years, I might need a bone marrow transplant.

But just four months ago, everything changed, my disease began advancing rapidly, showing early signs of acute leukemia, though it wasn’t fully transformed yet. And i jumped from low risk category to high risk at once. Now, the medical team is rushing the transplant before it progresses further.

My son, despite being only five and a half, has been a pillar of support, his love and resilience give me the will to keep going. I haven’t seen my step-mother, sister, or half-brother since 2012, when I fled Syria because of the war. Now, I desperately need them to come to the Netherlands, to support me. The costs are overwhelming: travels back and forth to Jordan to apply and obtain the Dutch Visa (as the Dutch embassy in Damascus is closed since 2011), visas' costs and travel costs to the Netherlands, then their living expenses here during my critical treatment period.

Also, I’ve reached out to my mother, who lives in the UK, and I haven’t seen her since the late 1990s. I asked for her blessings and hope to briefly visit her before the operation, as she’s not well enough to travel, and I want to see her one last time before this critical moment.

The bone marrow transplant will require me to go into full isolation and quarantine in the hospital. I will undergo two sessions of intensive chemotherapy over about one and a half to two months. After that, I will have the transplant procedure and then be placed in intensive care and observation for another month or two. All of this may keep me in the hospital for three to four months or more. During this time, I will be in a fully isolated, clean room with no physical contact. The risks are immense, my immune system will be severely weakened to 0, and I will be swinging between life and death as my body fights to recover. This is the hardest part, not being able to touch or hold or play with my son, as I always do.

Three days ago, the hospital informed me that a bone marrow donor has been identified and is undergoing final tests. As a result, I am now scheduled to be admitted on June 2nd to begin the transplant procedure. This means everything is imminent, and we are approaching the critical stage.

I humbly ask for your support, every donation helps keep them by my side, giving me the strength to fight for my life.

Transparency and Fund Management

To ensure transparency and proper management of the collected funds, the donations will be managed by my trusted friend, Abdulrahman. He will oversee all arrangements related to bringing my family to the Netherlands, including travel planning, visa applications, and coordination of their stay during my treatment period.

The reason Abdulrahman will manage these funds on my behalf is because during my treatment and hospitalization, I will be in full isolation and physically unable to manage these matters myself. He is my closest and most trusted friend here, and he will act on my behalf to ensure everything is handled properly and responsibly.

A portion of the collected funds may also be used to cover essential medical-related and living expenses that have accumulated over the past year due to my illness and reduced ability to maintain normal work and income.

This campaign will also provide essential updates from time to time about my situation. Abdulrahman will share updates regarding the process of bringing my family to the Netherlands, as well as updates about my health condition and treatment progress during my hospitalization.

I remain fully committed to using all support responsibly and only for essential needs related to my treatment, family support, and survival during this critical period.