Project Life
It's about quality of life
for Ahmed
Ahmed is a 10-year-old boy from Tunisia who was born with a club foot and has left facial paralysis. He is nonverbal and developmentally delayed. He suffers from allergies and digestive ailments. Growth delays mean he is shorter and weighs much less than children his age.
He came to the United States with his mother seeking medical care that was unobtainable in his home country of Tunisia. Project Life has had the privilege of supporting them since their arrival in western New York in early 2023. Our ongoing fundraising efforts are focused on raising the funds that are needed to improve all aspects of Ahmed’s quality of life.
Please join us in supporting this initiative.
Get in touch to learn more about:
-
Ahmed's Medical Care
-
Ahmed at School
Canada
Ahmed seeking medical care
Ahmed has other medical tests ahead of him. He will need oral surgery which will require a sleep study, genetic testing, and an autism evaluation.
Ahmed's Medical Progress
Since arriving in western New York in 2023 Ahmed has been assessed by many medical specialists and has undergone an astonishing array of tests and treatments. It turns out that his difficulties cannot be defined as a single condition or even one isolated syndrome. In the 12-month period from August 2024 to July 2025 he saw 25 doctors representing 15 different specialties! His mother learned that his short stature and low weight are caused by rumination syndrome, a digestive condition that makes it very difficult to retain food, leading to malnourishment. Now that medications and dietary changes have been implemented, Ahmed has gained 20 pounds and has grown 4 ½ inches so far. In 2024 Ahmed went to the dentist for the first time in his life. He had to have his teeth repaired and, in some cases, extracted under general anesthetic due to his partial facial paralysis. He’s being treated for his allergies and asthma that often prevent him from getting a good night’s sleep.
Ahmed at school
Ahmed never attended school in Tunisia. He and his parents were isolated and marginalized by their family members and neighbors. With the assistance of Project Life and the local School Board, Ahmed was able to be enrolled at a learning center for special needs children. He loved his first day of school so much that he did not want to get out of van when he returned home! At the school open house, teachers and staff spoke highly of him and commented on how bright and easy going he was. He participates in Physical and Occupational therapy activities and takes music and gym daily. He remains nonverbal and his teachers and speech therapists are seeking ways to build his communication skills.
What is Project Life?
Project Life was inaugurated in 1997. Over more than 20 years it sponsored and hosted 136 orphans from the troubled lands of Bosnia, the North Caucasus (Chechnya and Ingushetia), Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka to the peaceful countryside of western New York. Project Life is staffed by dedicated, passionate volunteers. They work tirelessly in this program that works to restore the lost childhood of innocent victims of war, natural disasters, and lack of health care. More recently, Project Life has focused its work on aiding children with rare health conditions, including blood disorders such as hemophilia and thalassemia. Now we are applying our experience to help young Ahmed become healthier and reach his full potential.
