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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