Maisa was well accomplished in her young life, becoming a superstar basketball player making the Varsity team at New Trier High School, one of the best high school basketball programs in the country. She played as long as her health allowed it and built a huge group of friends in her teammates who loved and supported her. Her excellence in basketball was only met by her parent’s pride in her, who gladly shared videos of her across WhatsApp to all their contacts from Chicago all the way to their home village of Al Jib, Palestine. 

Maisa excelled athletically and academically. She spent one year at Loyola University in Chicago before transferring to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. She refused to be treated differently or have her school load or social life adjusted. She persisted in her studies and made the most of her college experience as long as she could - insisting to continue her studies at UIUC, even while she was receiving treatment.

On a personal note and in the last four years, whenever I would connect with Maisa, we would talk about a wide range of things, from casual everyday happenings to intentional topics like school, health, and of course, how annoying her dad can be at times. She was confident and self-assured. When I shared with Maisa how nervous I was about Yara, my daughter, being a new driver, Maisa turned to me and said: "you got this mama!" 

Even while visiting with her at the hospital during her final moments, she refused to let cancer steal her peace, joy, and determination. We held hands while talking and laughing about her love of cats, jewelry, and her outings with friends. I want to thank Maisa for teaching me what it means to be a great warrior and boldly live with cancer. 

This was the hardest announcement we have ever had to make at AAAN, and we offer our deepest and most heartfelt condolences and prayers to Maisa’s parents, Hatem and Naima, to all of her family, both blood and chosen, and to our community on the loss of this beautiful light. Funeral arrangements and condolence information will be provided by AAAN as soon as it becomes available.

Souzan Naser

Board President,

Arab American Action Network (AAAN)

Tuesday, January 28th, 2025