Story of Shala Chandani and her dedicated volunteering career, daughter Jalisa, survivor of Lupus disease. As told by husband and father, Karim Chandani.
Shala has been serving the Canadian Ismaili Muslim Community for over 20 years with the goal of making people integrate into Canada and to make Canada a better place for everyone to live.
She just finished an appointed 3 year term as the Honourary Secretary for the Ismaili Council of British Columbia and is now on the National Council for Canada for another 3 year term.
Prior to that she spent 4 years in the community education system for K to grade 12
In her youth she was a volunteer for almost 8 years and was also on the Ismaili Council for Calgary for 3 years working with the youth.
Shala was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and moved to Paris, France after turmoil in 1974. From France She moved to Edmonton before settling in North Vancouver, BC in the early 1980’s. Shala has 2 children Adam now 17 and Jalisa aged 13. At the age of 7, Jalisa was diagnosed with SLE Lupus and this presented many challenges for the family!
Shala juggled caring for Jalisa with endless trips to doctors around the world (only to realize that Canada has the best in health care), her community commitments and family commitments.
She handled all amazingly well. I am so proud of everything that Shala has accomplished and how much dedication she has to make life for all Canadians better! Between caring for her aging parents and grandmother to her kids, her community, Shala is very deserving of this award!
Jalisa: Overview, In Shala’s words:
Jalisa was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 7. She has developed serious complications and now has her kidney’s being attacked (functioning at 20%). So many forms of treatment across Canada have been performed at Sick Kids in Toronto and Children’s in Vancouver. Doctors in Europe, India, Africa and other parts of the world have been consulted and provided advise to her medical team.
Jalisa has missed extensive school and in October, we decided to try Chemotherapy. She has had 3 treatments to date with some success. In early October an Oncologist from Children’s hospital suggested that a possible stem cell transplant may work. Only 3 children I believe have done this procedure in North America.
We agreed to the treatment and yesterday, after a lot of chemo, pain, the stem cell extraction was completed. We now have enough stem cells that the hospital can harvest, clean up and remove any bad cells and are in a position to do a stem cell transplant.
Ismailimail 
Good luck Jalisa, we all are praying for for your health and early recovery. You are a very tough young lady. Best regards, Waseem, Fatima, Faisal, Nusrat and Mehboob.
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We are so proud of you Shala!
Our thoughts and prayers are always with you Jalisa!
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We pray sincerely that this tteatment works.and that Jalisa will have a wonderful painfree and fulfilled life Ameen
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