Meet Sarah Akiba: wardrobe stylist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur and founder of Angel Watching Over Me, a female run organization looking to change the world one girl at a time, with 179 students and a Girls Club Room.
Sarah posted this photo onto her instagram last week with the caption, “I cannot thank you enough. We did it. We raised $2.2 million in 4 days. We saved Eliana. WE ALL DID IT. #wesavedeliana
Only a few days earlier, Sarah had posted this onto her instagram: “The medication has been ordered and the procedure will take place on Wednesday. Eliana’s birthday is this Friday. She will turn 2 years old. Happy Birthday Eliana!
This is Eliana Cohen. A 23 month old little angel. If you haven’t met her through my stories yet I want to introduce you to a beautiful angel that last night put her hands on my cheek and prayed on me and gave me more strength do this for her and her amazing family.
She is the daughter of two amazing people, Ariel and Shani Cohen from Miami, FL. She is an (almost) 2 year old girl who was recently diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (type 2), after being misdiagnosed with hypotonia when she was 1 year old. There is a miracle drug on the market by the name of Zolgensma. It is a gene therapy that will significantly help/cure her. The doctors have said this drug is Eliana’s only hope to a normal life.
With the medication, she will be able to continue to breath on her own, eat on her own and sit on her own. Without it, her lifespan is aimed to be 20 years and the body may slowly deteriorate. The cost of this one-time administered drug is $2.125 Million Dollars-possibly the most expensive drug on the market. This drug is approved by the FDA for infants under 2 years old.
We have been working tirelessly to raise the funds through donation. We have raised a beautiful amount of $763,000 as of right now in such a short amount of time. Unfortauntely, we still have such a long way to go and so little time.
Eliana’s birthday is this Friday July 20th where she turns 2 years old (24 months) and she will no longer be eligible for this drug. By the time the drug gets here and she gets prepared we need to raise this money by Tuesday morning the LATEST so that we can admit her Wednesday.
I KNOW we can make this happen! I absolutely am sure that we can use social media, community, and the power of love to raise 2.125 million by Tuesday. I refuse to not give this baby angel the birthday she deserves. The birthday that will change her life and give her many more birthdays. Her cure.
No matter what city, country, situation, amount of followers. It all doesn’t matter YOU CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN. Share this, text all your friends, family, repost, share again, donate, talk about it. Let’s do this! We have 36 hours.
AWOM hosts support groups for individuals who have lost a loved one in both Miami and New York called Time Talks. In addition, we host Halloween parties for both Miami Children’s Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, as well as provide meals for over 200 families at Olsen Middle School. During Christmas time, AWOM hosts a toy drive for families in need. Most importantly, AWOM has expanded into a direction for future female leaders with AWOM Girls Club at Olsen Middle School.
Angel Watching Over Me (AWOM), is a non-for profit organization founded by Sarah Akiba. Born in Paris, France, and raised in Miami, FL, the loss of her father to lung cancer in 2013 is what inspired the development of this foundation to fund other non-profits, while uniting individual communities who have lost their own angel.
In November of 2015, during lung cancer awareness month, Sarah combined her love for fashion with the tragic loss of her father, to create the first AWOM philanthropy event. By designing a series of hats, she raised over two thousand dollars in just one evening. All proceeds were donated to The American Lung Association and Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, to contribute in raising awareness. Overnight, #angelwatchingoverme sparked a social media trend where victims of loss honored their angels by sharing their personal stories.
Shortly after, the Angel Watching Over Me Foundation has grown tremendously supporting victims and families who have been left behind by a loving friend, relative, or special person who passionately influenced their life. AWOM strives to collaborate with other organizations to serve as their Earth Angel through volunteering and collecting donations. After an incredibly successful event, this foundation has hosted a sequence of global affairs.
We are more than a foundation and support group. We are creating and enhancing our communities. By continuing our contributions through philanthropy, events, and donations, our expansion has only begun, and our team of influencers are driving our angels home. No one should have to experience loss on their own. Join us and and be found.