During our routine Friday visit to the hospital to see Gaza children, a small drama unfolded in Monsour’s story.
We had been asked to return Monsour and his grandmother to the Gaza Border crossing today. But as we were preparing for this, Jonathan telephoned Dr. Alona to ask why. Initially we were told that the hospital had done all they could for him, removing his tracheostomy (artificial breathing) and replacing his gastrostomy (artificial eating), so he can feed both by mouth and by stomach tube, and so become plump at home.
However, just as we were waiting outside the entrance to the hospital wards, expecting Monsour and his grandma to emerge to go home, Dr. Houri requested an additional chest x-ray. This x-ray revealed an irregularity, which in the end postponed Monsour’s discharge by a day or two.
Grandma seems to be content that Monsour will remain in the hospital for a little longer, and had not been at all happy about the earlier decision to discharge him.
When I spoke with him later, Dr. Houri explained that his last minute decision to ask for an x-ray revealed that little Monsour's airways are obstructed, and his pulmonary blood vessels are small. They are dealing with these matters and expect him to be able to be released in a day or two.
I asked him what we could do to build up Monsour before he goes home, to the quite difficult circumstances in Gaza? He replied that the hospital is doing everything it can for Monsour, and I thanked Dr. Houri for caring for this precious little boy.
In sum, Monsour has been moved twice: from ICU to the secondary ICU and then back to the ward. The photo posted at the top of the blog was captured as he was on his way to the children's ward. For the first time, I can see less stress in this little boy, and a little hope. But do, please, keep praying for him. The greatest test will be when he is back home in Gaza, in the cold, in draughts, and often without electricity.
How wonderful to visit Monsour and his grandma on Tuesday and to find them settled and at peace in Wolfson Hospital. Monsour looks less stressed than yesterday, but still very unwell. The hospital is scheduling more check-ups for him, and tests are ongoing. In fact, for a long time they were both away from their bed, and I (tongue in cheek) reported them as missing to a very friendly English speaking nurse. She, with a good sense of humour, responded that none of her patients go missing! They had been away for 2 hours, whilst Monsour underwent more tests.
Today is a day we have all been waiting for, for a long time; we collected Monsour and his grandma from the Gaza crossing point and took them to Wolfson Hospital. It seemed that it was difficult to get him admitted, as we had a near cancellation last night, and when the nurses realised, upon his admission, that he had a very high fever, there was some doubt whether they would keep him. Then the admission procedure required an urgent fax from Shevet. But, praise God, Monsour is now admitted and in capable hands.
The things we are concerned about are whether his tracheotomy tube may be removed; whether infections around the site of his removed stomach tube can be eradicated; why he is not eating properly; and why he is not putting on weight. The doctors are taking up these issues and we will be reporting on his progress, as soon as we can. In the meantime his grandma looks to be healthy, well, and not as tired-looking as I remember her a year ago. She is, however, most concerned about her grandson.
It's been at least three years since I've entered the Gaza Strip. One of the things drawing me back has been news that our precious baby Monsour is not doing well seven months after his return from heart surgery in Israel. So Wednesday (after some delay at the border while I secured final permission) I was finally back in Gaza, and headed directly for the humble home of Monsour's family in the Jabaliya refugee camp. In the main room, which is partially open to the elements and quite cold, I found Monsour wrapped in blankets.
Monsour's eyes and face are as expressive as ever, but he's making a terrible wheezing sound from congestion in the tracheotomy tube which remains in his throat. His father explained that the tube needs suctioning, but it wasn't possible during our visit due to one of Gaza's recurring power outages.
The feeding tube into Monsour's stomach was removed in Gaza a few months ago, but the parents say the site is still leaking and has caused repeated infections which put Monsour into the ICU in Gaza. He is still not eating well and his weight at age 15 months is still only five kilograms (11 pounds).
Monsour's father obviously loves his only son; I shared with him that God too knows what it means to love an only son. In the father's eyes I can see the desperation of a parent who know that treatment exists to save his child, but that he is powerless to reach it. After the difficulties with the stomach tube the family no longer has confidence in the medical care in Gaza, and seem to prefer waiting at home to taking Monsour in for further treatment.
I think the message of my visit was that their dilemma has not been forgotten, either by us or by God. I told the family we will work to get Monsour back to the Wolfson Medical Center in Israel to evaluate what is happening and put him on a course to gaining weight. Tonight I spoke with Dr. Sion Houri, head of the pediatric ICU at Wolfson who invested much in Monsour's life while he was hospitalized in Israel. He's asked for an update medical report so that we can ask the hospital administration to allow Monsour to return. As part of our request we'll want to offer at least modest financial support to the hospital, so that the administrator can accept Monsour in good conscience.
You may click here to send a message of encouragement to Monsour's family.
You may click here to help with the cost of returning Monsour to Israel.
So glad that today it worked out that I could visit Mansour and his family!
I called a friend of mine to go with me, as she's living in Jabalia (the same town in the Gaza Strip as Monsour's family), and guess what ... she turned out to know the family and they are even distant relatives.
The mom and dad were nice and hospitable...and finally I got to see Monsour!
He's a lovely little baby, so quiet and dear. He spends most of his time sucking his thumb. His mother doesn't like it and tries to keep his hand away from his mouth, but I think it's just the best thing for him now, because it keeps him peaceful and content (instead of fussing and crying).
Monsour is still fragile and underweight (4.5 kilograms, 10 pounds) but his skin color and aspect is much better than before (I saw a picture of him when he was in the Wolfson hospital). He is breathing on his own, and still has the stomach and trach tubes, but as I understood they will be removed maybe in a week or two. Generally he's doing well and stable now. As I was holding him, I was praying quietly for his continual healing and I told the family that many people are praying for him.
It was lovely to watch Monsour's beaming grandmother go throughout the ICU embracing the nurses and effusively thanking the doctors as they said farewell.
Then wide-eyed little Monsour was transferred to a portable incubator and trusted into the hands of a team from the Magen David Edom ambulance service for transfer to Gaza.
After Monsour's ambulance pulled away, the Shevet Achim staff gathered in the ICU to express our appreciation for the day and night battle the hospital staff has waged for Monsour's life, telling them "Your work will not be forgotten."
We gave them a beautiful framed sketch of Monsour done by our coworker Michelle (with the inscription in English, Hebrew, and Arabic from Job 5:16 "So the poor have hope"), a gift basket of chocolates, and also a check representing contributions specifically raised for Monsour by Christ Church in Jerusalem and Christ Church in Calvert County, Maryland, USA.
Click here for the full story of Monsour's hospitalization in Israel.
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