Haya's Heart Surgery

Monday, June 1, 2009
Haya Returns Home To Gaza
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After recuperating from her recent open-heart surgery, Haya was ready to travel home to Gaza yesterday. She appeared to be completely healthy and in no pain. You would never know that less than two weeks ago, her life was hanging in the balance on an operating table. She was able to walk on her own and was even able to ride her tricycle on the way out of the hospital. Haya's mother was very grateful, and before leaving the hospital she invited us to eat with her and the rest of the Palestinian patients to celebrate Haya's dismissal.

Click the arrow below to watch a video clip of Haya riding her tricycle.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Out Of ICU
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Haya was moved to the intermediate ICU today when we visited her today--a sign that she is making progress. She sat quietly nearly the whole time I sat with her, watching cartoons on television. She did not appear to be in any pain or discomfort, though she seemed weary.

Her mother was doing much better today, very happy that the surgery and ICU part of their journey is over with.

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Sunday
May 24, 2009
Haya Comes Through Surgery
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We joined Haya's young mother in her anxious vigil today while Haya was in the operating room. She refused to eat anything, and cried off and on during the four hours we sat together. Other moms came by to talk with and encourage her and we did the same.

Finally the bed bearing four-year-old Haya back from the operating room appeared around the corner outside the pediatric ICU, with Haya receiving breathing support by a hand bag until she could reach the mechanical ventilator inside.

When the medical staff told Haya's mother that the surgery was 100% successful and there will be no need for further surgery, the mother's tears became tears of joy. Now finally she called her worried husband in Gaza and let him know that the surgery was taking place today!

It was about a half-hour before Mom could go into the ICU, where she found the Israeli medical staff still connecting Haya to a multitude of tubes for ventilation, medication, and monitoring.

She sat with Haya, caressing and kissing her and looking at all the tubes, then going outside to pray and thank God for Haya's good surgery, a prayer in which we share.

Click to send an e-mail message to Haya and her mother.

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We brought four-year-old Haya out from Gaza Monday to undergo a heart catheterization in preparation for a later surgery. Normally patients return to Gaza after a catheterization and come back at a later date for surgery, but after the results of the catheterization she underwent on Wednesday doctors determined that Haya's condition was too urgent to wait.

Haya is a cheerful, rambunctious, and excited young lady. Click the play arrow below to watch her playing with her mother and a Beersheva medical student while waiting at the Gaza border: