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Helping Doa'a
About Doa'a
Doa’a Al-Dalou is a young lady who lives in the Gaza Strip of Palestine.
She suffers from several medical maladies, including arthrogyrposis (a limited range of motion in her extremities) since birth, with muscle contraction and abnormal gait and back deformity that’s caused by Rt. scolios.
Doa’a needs to receive some highly specialized medical treatment so that she can live as normal of a life as she possibly can.
But unfortunately, she’s not able to receive the medical care she needs to have where she’s living in war-torn Gaza.
Doa’a needs to travel to Kansas City in the United States in order to receive the medical care she desperately needs to have.
And she needs our help to come here to KC!
Helping Doa'a in the Past (As Told by Joe)
I first had the honor of helping Doa’a while I was working for (at the time) US Representative Dennis Moore (KS-03).
While I was working with Congressman Moore, Elizabeth Alex (at the time, a news anchor for KSHB 41 News, a local tv news station in the Kansas City metro) reached out to the Representative’s office to ask for assistance with bringing Doa’a (who was then a small child, not yet two) and her mother and father to Kansas City so that Doa’a could receive some medical assistance that she really needed.
Elizabeth had become acquainted with Doa’a’s parents (Emad and Intisar, who are shown in the photo on the right, along with Doa'a) while she was accompanying a local medical relief agency, Heart to Heart International, on a medical mission to the Middle East.
While she was in Palestine, Doa’a’s parents asked Elizabeth to help bring their daughter to the United States so that she could be treated there. As Doa’a wasn’t able to receive the medical care she needed where she lived in war-torn Gaza.
When Elizabeth returned to Kansas City, she asked US Representative Dennis Moore’s office for assistance with bringing Doa’a to the US so that she could receive medical treatment here.
And I had the honor of working with Elizabeth, as I was then working as the Immigrations/State Department Specialist Constituent Services Aide within the Congressman’s office.
Working with Elizabeth was a wonderful experience, and it was truly something that I will always cherish.
As I will always cherish having the opportunity to be of service to Doa’a and her family once again.
Helping Doa'a In the Present (As Told By Joe)
Recently, Doa’a reached out to me on Facebook and asked me to help her return to Kansas City so that she can receive more medical treatments.
And I have also been contacted by Doa’a’s dad, Emad Al-Dalou, asking for assistance with bringing Doa’a back to Kansas City so that she can receive more medical care.
Shortly after receiving those requests for help, I began setting up a 501c3 tax-exempt charity (Joe’s Cowtown Foundation) and a special program within my not-for-profit (Super Heroes for Doa’a) so that I can better assist the sweet young lady who I lovingly refer to as my “little sister” and who affectionately calls me her “second father”.
I also decided that I would donate to my charity all of the profits I receive from selling my photos and photo related products so that I can raise some money that will be used to help pay for Doa’a’s medical care and for all other expenses (travel, lodging, food, etc.) that will be associated with Doa’a and members of her family staying in Kansas City while Doa’a is receiving her medical treatments.
And I created a special collection of some of my photos called “Flowers for Doa’a” to help raise money for Doa’a. As well as to help spread some love around the world- especially to Palestine where Doa’a is now living with her family.
Additionally, I started putting together an anthology of some of the songs I have written over the years (“Songs for Doa’a”) so that I can have something I can use to help raise funds for Doa’a and increase awareness for my “little sister” and her great need.
While I was putting together this collection of songs, I was inspired to write a few new tunes, including the title track for this book “A Song For Doa’a” which begins with the words:
"Doa’a is a lovely gal
Livin’ in Palestine
But unfortunately for her
Things aren't goin’ fine…"
Thanks in advance for helping provide assistance to Doa’a’. I really do appreciate all of your help, as does my “little sister”!
As-salamu alaykum (Peace be upon you),
Joe
Program Director of Super Heroes for Doa'a