Another Victory in the Fight Against SMA Type 1

The fundraising campaign for 18-month-old Abbas Miran İbiş, a Bornova resident battling SMA Type 1, has been successfully completed. Bornova Municipality organized a celebration event in Büyükpark, where Mayor Ömer Eşki thanked the people of Bornova for their solidarity and announced that their next goal is to complete the campaign for Berk, a child with DMD. Abbas’s family expressed their deep emotions during the event, which saw wide participation.

Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1 at just 12 days old through a heel-prick blood test, baby Abbas Miran’s fundraising campaign has officially come to an end. Supported earlier by Bornova Municipality’s “Bi’Hayat Fest” at the Park, the campaign concluded with a special celebration at Büyükpark.

“Abbas is on His Way” Cake Cut

A specially prepared cake reading “Yolcudur Abbas, bağlasan durmaz” (“Abbas is a traveler; you can’t hold him back”) was cut by Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki together with the family in front of a platform decorated with the message:
“Abbas Miran Won. Today the sky is bluer. Hope is brighter.”

Afterward, the crowd filled the sky with balloons as a symbol of solidarity. Children enjoyed a joyful day with music, dancing, and a puppet show.

Mayor Eşki: “You joined hands so that one more child can hold onto life”

Mayor Ömer Eşki thanked everyone who stood by the İbiş Family during their difficult journey:

“You made sacrifices and showed great dedication so that one more child could hold onto life. I once again felt proud to be from Bornova and to serve as its mayor. Feeling helpless about one’s own child and fighting for survival is one of the hardest things a person can go through. I wish those who have responsibilities in this matter had fulfilled them properly. But these lands have a tradition: if the state fails to do what is needed, the people do it. We take care of our children. And today you have shown one of the best examples of that.”

He continued:

“First, the campaign for baby Esma in Pınarbaşı was completed successfully. I thank the people of Pınarbaşı, our council members, the chamber representatives, and all citizens. Everyone cared for Esma as if she were their own child. Today, the campaign for Abbas Miran has also ended. I personally try to support families around Türkiye fighting SMA and DMD. From now on, we have a single goal: working together for Berk, who has DMD. We will complete the campaign for the last child in Bornova and restore his health together. I trust the people of Bornova, of İzmir, and of Türkiye. This country was founded by young people who sacrificed their lives before they even grew a mustache. Today, as a nation of 90 million, we must protect our children.”

Emotional Thanks from the Mother and Father

Mother Sultane İbiş shared her feelings:

“Thank you so much to everyone here. We wondered whether anyone would come when the campaign ended, but here I see everyone… I thank every person who contributed. I never imagined that the outcome of our 1.5-year struggle would be this beautiful.”

Father Nureddin İbiş added:

“The campaign lasted 14 months. The required amount was collected in the second month of the second governorship approval. Our last event, organized with the support of Bornova Municipality, raised a significant amount. Mayor Ömer’s effort is immense. Once our visa is approved, we expect news on Monday. We are on our way to Dubai soon. Today, volunteers and all of Bornova stood with us. Everyone who ever asked—or didn’t ask—about our son came. We thought it would be just the four of us releasing balloons. Seeing this crowd deeply moved us. Abbas is unaware of all this now, but we are so happy to take him to his treatment.”

Abbas Miran’s Fight for Life

Abbas Miran was born on May 23, 2024, to shoe designer Nureddin İbiş and Sultane İbiş (20) in İzmir’s Bornova district. Diagnosed with SMA Type 1 at 112 days old, a governorship-approved donation campaign was launched for him on September 17, 2024.