GIVE A CHILD A TOY NEWSLETTER

Letter from Professor Chebl Mourani
Head of Paediatric Nephrology

     Our story began in May of 1997 when Give a Child a Toy donated three haemodialysis machines to Hotel Dieu de France and gave birth to the very first Lebanese paediatric unit, which is named after the charity in honour of its support. 
Equipped with machines that were desperately needed, the new unit has managed to save the lives of over 120 children, some of whom have regained perfect health, whilst more than 50 have been provided with successful kidney transplants, and others continue dialysis.  The Give a Child a Toy charity has

also donated four home dialysis machines, allowing parents to care for their children without having to make lengthy trips to and from the clinic. 
     Through its association with the Child with Renal Disease, Give a Child a Toy has been successively providing assistance to other children of great need.  After undertaking serious investigations on the social situation of patients and their parents, six children have been able to undergo surgical procedures, while others have been granted indispensable medicines, critical to their survival. 

      The reward of these efforts are not only factual but also psychological in that children and their families can now rest assured in the knowledge that there are treatments and even cures available to them, and feel comforted by the fact that Give a Child a Toy will always be there for them. 
     I would like to highlight this message by leaving you with just two of our many success stories thus far:

     Basma N. is a fourteen-month-old little girl whose kidneys no longer function, and whose survival depends on dialysis. Until now, Basma's parents were not able to afford treatment.  With the help of Give a Child a Toy, Basma was admitted to the emergency room in very critical condition.  She was hospitalised and is currently undergoing dialy

sis.  Her father would like to extend his gratitude to all involved in saving his daughter's life.   
   Youssef R., a five year old boy, has suffered with renal disease since the age of two. 
Thanks to the supporters of Give a Child a Toy, two critical surgical procedures were carried out, enabling his dialysis to begin.