Hope for Baby Shamel
At Christmas 2022, we made an appeal to our community for Baby Shamel.
Click here for the latest update >>
Outreach Christmas Appeal -
Is there room for one more child this Christmas?
We have received a special appeal from the family of Baby Shamel (whose parents are in our community, serving as communion ministers in St Mary’s).
This is our Christmas project - to make room for one more child, to offer comfort and support in his most critical time of need. To be present as a community for one of our own.
Baby Shamel (aged 16 months) has been diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) just over a month ago. He has a debilitating condition which will result in his loss of mobility and muscle control. He has difficulty eating and may lose his ability to talk.
There's a specialised gene therapy that's designed to work for children if administered before the age of 2. That means less than 9 months for Baby Shamel to receive that therapy.
The cost of this therapy is US$2.125 million (equivalent to SG$3 million) and is designed to help Baby Shamel regain the use of his muscles and his ability to eat and walk. However, the window of opportunity is closing fast. Baby Shamel needs our help.
Can we make room for one more child? A child from one of our own families? Can we consider spreading the word about his condition and his needs so that we can make a difference in this one child's life?
Open your hearts and learn more about Baby Shamel's story. Do share this so that we can show that we truly care for a genuine need in our own community.
Friar Mike shared the story of Baby Shamel in his homily during our Christmas Eve Masses. Click here to watch.
How you can help
Donations to help Baby Shamel are being crowdfunded on a secure and verified Singapore registered charity, Ray of Hope, and all contributions, big or small, will make a difference. Once the funding target is met, Ray of Hope will pay the hospital directly. If the funding target is not met or the campaign is cancelled, all funds collected will be refunded to donors. Any excess will be directed to others in need on the platform. There are less than 100 days left before the campaign ends. Click below to donate:
9 Jan 2023 Update
Hello Everyone,
As we end the season of Christmas, we want to thank all our parishioners, Friar Mike, and all other brothers and sisters in different ministries of St Mary of the Angels who brought a smile to our faces and made Christmas warm again for us.. because of your love and generosity, we were able to experience the joy of Christmas during our crisis.
December has been a very rough month with so many uncertainties. Shamel is a gift to us, and we cherish every moment we spend with him. As parents we still believe that he deserves all the happiness and we continue to fight with him in this journey of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. We know that God will work for the best for Shamel, and we continue to seek your love and support for our little warrior to make it through this journey.
Campaign Update: With your support, love and prayers, we have raised over $110,000 since St Mary’s launched the campaign on Christmas Eve. With great joy, we managed to cross the 10% mark, raising over $300,000 since we launched the campaign on 1 Dec 2022. This means we have 90% more to go in the next 80 days remaining on the campaign.
Please continue to share this message with your friends and family, and we seek your continued prayers and support for Baby Shamel.
We will are forever grateful for the support extended to us by you all, and will surely make sure that Shamel is grateful for all the love and affection he received during his young days when he is a young adult!!
May God abundantly bless your homes!!
With grateful hearts,
Achintha, Dula and Baby Shamel
Latest Update (Dec 2023)
In April 2023, Zolgensma - the SG$3 million gene therapy required to treat Baby Shamel - was miraculously approved and registered for use in Singapore, which meant the cost of it being reduced to $2.397 million.
By May, $2.3 million had already been raised, and since the drug has been registered, Shamel's parents sought the support of insurance to cover the remaining amount. Hence the fundraising campaign was closed.
Shamel received Zolgensma in June, just two months shy of turning two (in August) and is currently progressing well and growing stronger slowly but surely every day!
Thank you for all your prayers, donations and support that have brought much hope and joy to this family.
Just as the story of Baby Shamel has shown us, however little we give, whether monetary, prayers or in kind, can make a difference.
This Christmas, how can we bring that Hope and Joy to those who need our help? Learn More Here.
Questions? Clarifications? Contact our Outreach Office at Email: outreach.stmary@catholic.org.sg
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