When my wife Hannah and I spoke with Leila, we found her full of life and hope. Leila works in the same disadvantaged city where she lives; she provides counselling, teaches, speaks English fluently, and is full of hope, purpose, and beautiful dreams for the future. Leila also has a very beautiful voice, and tonight she kindly sent me an old and memorable song, sung in her beautiful and pleasant voice, as a birthday gift.

Leila told me that she dreams of being able to see the colours of life again, but even more than that, she hopes to prevent, as far as possible, the progression of her brother’s illness. She told me how heavily the costs of living, treatment, and caring for their father have placed their family under pressure; even the cost of travelling to the central hospital in the nearest major city, Shiraz, has become almost impossible for her.

A few years ago she was told that gene therapy might, in the near future, provide a way of treating her condition. But even limited preliminary preparations, or access to a light-sensor device implanted in the eye to restore a degree of vision, would require several hundred million tomans. The truth is that, to the best of my medical knowledge and given current medical resources—especially in Iran—her condition and her brother’s probably have only a very limited prospect of treatment. Leila herself knows this, but she has not lost hope.

What troubles Leila more than anything, however, is that despite all her efforts, her limited income is insufficient for almost anything their family needs—even adequate care for their ill father.

Leila has never asked anyone for help in her life. But when I told her that for my birthday I wanted to wish for greater happiness and a better life for her and her family, and that I wanted to ask my friends in Iran, Australia, and around the world to join me in that wish, she told me: “I have a purpose in life, and in order to reach that purpose I do not shy away from receiving help. I dream of seeing colours again one day, but above all I want to help my family, and I know that one day I will return this help to the world with everything that is within my power.”

Leila gave me permission to share her story with you.

For my forty-fourth birthday, I wish for Leila’s dreams to come true, and I ask you to join me in this to whatever extent you can. If, somewhere in the back of your mind, you thought that perhaps you might give me a birthday gift, then join me in helping to make this wish possible.

You can find the account details below. If you would also like to write a few lines to Leila, please send them to my email:
[email protected]

I will make sure to share all your kindness and love in these letters with her as well.

Paypal: [email protected]
or
Bank: ANZ
Name: Aydin Areta
BSB: 012327
Account Number: 277946851

In Iran:
6037 9981 4726 9897
Bank Melli
Alireza Saatchi

Please do not hesitate to share this post with your friends. In the end, we can create change, or create the possibility for change; and sometimes we can, and are free to, choose both.

Thank you in advance, all of you, for your friendship and kindness.

Aydin Areta
Tir 1400