Ahmed's Heart Surgery

Sunday, June 1, 2008
Loving Care for a Frightened Baby from Gaza
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Visiting the hospital last night after the Sabbath had ended, we found tiny Ahmed off the mechanical ventilator, wide awake, and rather frightened!

It was good to watch the loving hands of the nurse as she gently hushed and cleaned Ahmed and changed his diaper. This is what is means to love your neighbor!

Ahmed's father is so very pleased, and expects to be home in Gaza with his little son within 1-2 weeks, before returning after six months for a second surgery.

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Ahmed was brought from Gaza two weeks ago. Before leaving Gaza I was notified that Ahmed was urgent but that he could travel without oxygen. The situation in Gaza the past month has been very difficult. With terrorist attacks, suicide bombings, and retaliation from both sides, the border will be closed at any given moment and might not be opened for days. We have had to turn patients away because of the border situation. On the day that Ahmed left the border was opened but it took a while for him and his father to pass through
the border. Once he finally was approved and exited the border I was met with a blue baby. I was very surprised and shocked to find that the baby was sent
to us like this and that we would be transporting this blue child to the hospital.

Upon arrival at the hospital Ahmed's oxygen level was about 30% of normal so they immediately sent him to the ICU. This child should have been on oxygen from the time he left his house to the time he arrived at the hospital. Thank God that he was able to survive this long hard process and that he made it to the hospital. Last week as he waited for his operation his father was very nervous and a bit frightened. He told me that if Ahmed makes it out of surgery when they return home he will slaughter a lamb for Ahmed. Tears came to his eyes as he shared that with me.

On Saturday his father told me that he thought Ahmed wasn't going to make it. His nostrils and lungs were basically completely closed because of fluid and some infection. It was very difficult for him to breath. We knew that his surgery would be a very difficult one but we praise God that Ahmed's surgery on Monday went very well. I visited Ahmed yesterday and what was once a very blue child is now a wonderful looking Arab child.

His father was almost in tears as he was thanking me for our help. Ahmed had a fever yesterday so please pray that his fever will drop to a normal level, and also that his father will finally get some rest now that he knows his son is going to be well.