Testimonial for the Ismaili Community in Canada

The following is text sent out in an email during April 2025 to various Ismaili individuals & organizations about Salim.

Ya Ali Madad,

One of the strengths of our community is when one of us is ailing, we can always count on others to be there to assist in a time of need (& I believe faith grants us the opportunity to serve)

My name is rahim ladha. I live & work in Toronto as a freelance artist & fundraiser & I am communicating with you today about my brother Salim.

I want to emphasize that thanks to the amazing people with the Aga Khan Health Board, you’ll soon see Salim’s story shared on Al-Akhbar, The Ismaili Canada website & all of their social channels, including Instagram & Facebook.

We’re also working on what options are available to promote Salim’s story through the local jamatkhanas in the Greater Toronto Area. The Secretary of the Aga Khan Health Board for Toronto has reached out to us so I expect news of this shortly.

Salim is 54 years old. For the last eighteen months, he’s been enduring Stage 4 Cirrhosis of the Liver. He’s been on the transplant list for over a year. Without a liver transplant soon, he will die.

We don’t know why he has cirrhosis. Salim has always treated his body with care & respect even as he has dealt with all sorts of medical challenges throughout his life.

In 1994, when our father died, Salim was diagnosed with cancer the very same month & almost died as well, but he fought through it and against the odds, after months of hard treatment, he survived.

Cancer in 1994, in comparison, was a minor skirmish to the battle he is fighting now. The very treatment that could save him he cannot receive without the bravery of one of you who can step forward today to save his life, as a living liver donor.

It might seem like an intimidating process to become a living liver donor, but the risk is minimal and there are various programs across the country designed to look after you should you take this brave step.

As mentioned, we are working together on a promotion campaign of Salim’s story to encourage the Canadian Jamat’s registration as an organ/tissue donor, and ask for potential donors to consider directing their organ/tissue to Salim via the provincial transplant agency. You’ll see news of this posted on The Ismaili website shortly.

If you have any ideas – you're part of a student association, or a community group or can amplify the message at your workplace, I’ve put my contact details below as to how you can reach me and I’d be happy to help set up a program for you, if you’re willing. Or, if you have a situation where someone in your family or a friend is also in need of a living donor transplant & want to set up your own campaign to help them, let me know and I’ll be happy to help you on whatever you need to get started.

We’re also doing a fundraiser for his rent, food and medication – you can find that here at https://www.findsalimaliver.com/fundraiser - with Salim now on long term-disability, it’s been pretty tough on him and the family financially. Salim’s primary job, while we search for a living liver donor, is to stay alive - I want all of his energy to be focused on that & to not worry about his bills. So if you’re unable to get tested to be a living liver donor, we’d appreciate the help.

No parent should have to bury their child. I do not want that to happen to my mom. And as someone who has spent a lifetime in helping others, if I may be permitted to be selfish for a moment – I want to be able to save Salim’s life so that I can get back to doing the work for others that Salim needs for us to do for him, right now.

It gives me great hope that through our collective effort we can save not only Salim’s life, but many others in our community who may need help like this in the times ahead. Salim can be an example of what we can do for each other when we come together & do the work required to save his life.

I thank you for taking the time to read this email and I hope it’s a safe, healthy Spring ahead for us all.

With Blessing & Gratitude,

rahim ladha

findsalimaliver@gmail.com

(437) 980 7980 (please text before you call so I know to look out for your number)

To contribute to the Fundraiser for Salim while he waits for his liver tranplant, click on the button below