Raged's Heart Surgery

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Returning Home To Gaza
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As Alex and I walked into the hospital room, Raged’s grandmother gave me a huge smile before embracing me and kissing both of my cheeks in traditional greeting. Her face brimmed with excitement because it was time for her to take Raged back home to Gaza! Raged’s surgery was completely successful and her hospital recovery was smooth and rapid.

As we helped Raged’s grandmother gather everything together, it was evident that Raged was very much afraid, wanting only to be constantly held by her grandmother and crying whenever anyone else touched her. But we were able to load everything and everyone up into the car fairly easily and then head off for the Gaza border. By the time we had arrived, Raged’s grandmother was very tired and Raged was unsettled. There was a slight delay at the border which caused some additional frustration for Raged’s grandmother. She was comforted when Alex and I reassured her that we wouldn’t leave until she was safely allowed to pass the border patrol. Within a short time, all of the papers were accepted and Raged and her grandmother were past the border and on their way back home to be reunited with their family!

Monday, May 25, 2009
Making A Quick Recovery
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Raged is making an extremely quick recovery. Normally, patients remain in the ICU for at least a few days before they are moved out, but when we walked into the hospital this morning we were shocked to find Raged wide awake, lying in a bed in the regular children's ward, looking no worse for wear! At this rate she will be ready to return home to Gaza a healthy, healed child in no time!

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Monday, May 25, 2009
Healing Well With Grandma By Her Side
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Raged was sitting contentedly in her ICU bed with her grandmother by her side when I visited yesterday. I had gotten to know them the previous week while at the hospital for Hamza's surgery, and Raged's grandmother and I struck up a friendship. Raged was still a bit shy however, and when I approached the bed she stopped talking with her grandmother and kept an eye on me. Her surgery is healing well and she is expected to be moved out of the ICU soon. It is clear that Jidah ("grandmother of") Raged loves her granddaughter very much and they have a special bond with each other. She didn't want her picture taken, but wanted to be sure her beautiful granddaughter's recovery was captured for her family in Gaza to see. Please join us in praying for Raged and her family, and giving thanks to God for her successful surgery.

Saturday, May 23, 2009
Resting After Successful Surgery
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Raged's surgery has been completed successfully and she is now her way to
recovery. She is resting now in the ICU, though it was apparent the sedation was at times wearing off and she appeared in considerable pain. This was especially worrying for her grandmother who needed reassurance that everything was okay. Please pray that Raged will not have to feel any more unnecessary pain.

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We brought Raged to Wolfson Medical Center in Tel Aviv yesterday to undergo heart surgery in the coming days to fix several problems that will likely be fatal if left untreated.

Raged was very bashful on the ride from Gaza to Tel Aviv but her grandmother, who was escorting her, kept her calm and by the time we arrived they were both sound asleep.

When we arrived at the hospital, Raged was very frightened of everyone and everything. Even the ID bracelet on her wrist caused her to throw a fit. Taking her vital signs was very difficult for the nurses as Raged would not stop screaming, but a piece of chocolate and picture drawn by Grandma managed to pacify her for a couple minutes.

After everything was finished she was put in a bed next to Shadi who seemed happy to have some company his own age. When we left, Raged was sound asleep in her grandmother's arms.