First of all, I want to say thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

For my 21st birthday on November 19th, I decided to partner up with CurePSP. My father was diagnosed with Progressive Supernuclear Palsy, and has been sick for almost 7 years. PSP results from major brain damage to the nerve cells in the brain and leads to life threatening complications. It affects nerve cells that controls walking, balance, mobility, thinking, eye movement, vision, speech, and swallowing. This rare disease, affecting only 5-6 per 100,000 people, is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that has no cause, treatment, or cure. 

My father is my favorite person in the world. He sacrificed everything for me, gave me nothing but the best care, and was always my protector, my #1 fan, and most importantly: my best friend. I would not be the woman I am today without him. My father deserves nothing but the best and I am so proud to be his daughter. He came to the United States as a priest from Syria when he as 19 years old. My father graduated from Boston College as a priest, a Masters degree in English from the University of Toledo, a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Bowling Green State University, and also studied Law. Rifaat Karam is my motivation to be the best woman that I can be, and everyday I pray and hope that he is proud of me. 

Currently, my father has been in the Intensive Care Unit for over 2 months now due to the severe complications of the disease. The primary caregivers for my father have been my mother and I who supply 24 hour care to anything that he needs at home. Since there is no proper cure or treatment for the disease, my mother and I have done the impossible just to slow down the symptoms because not a day goes by where I don't miss his voice, smile, laugh and hugs.

This year, I kindly ask for my friends and family to donate any amount that is suitable for them using my page to CurePSP. CurePSP is a nonprofit organization that aims to spread awareness in order to educate people about this rare disease in order to hopefully one day lead to a cure. My father has not given up on his battle, and I have not gave up on him. Thank you so much and God bless you all.