Nadia's Heart Surgery

Upon entering the ICU Isolation Unit Sunday evening, I found little Nadia from Gaza was crying and obviously uncomfortable as her mom tried to get her to eat something. She refused and was tossing and turning in her bed rubbing her little hands against her hair on her head. In addition to the gangrene in her hand, Nadia has also had a recurrence of lice that was causing her much discomfort, so we stood by as the bathing and shampooing began and Nadia cried out in a despondent anguish.

Today I found her out of ICU and in a 'Step-down' Unit for observation and care. After a long day of sleeping, she took a turn for the better and she is eating some and took a great and inquisitive interest in her new dolls.

Um Nadia ('mother of Nadia') dressed them with stylish outfits as Nadia looked on and then herself, took hold of them and decided tend to them herself. A new spark of interest and delight came over her face as she took possession and tucked them in bed with her. An answer to prayer as the night before we learned that many were praying for this child and the depression she has felt.

After several weeks of silence, we heard from Nadia's family again this week when her father called to say that continuing poor circulation was causing gangrene in her left hand. Our staff worked all through the day Wednesday to arrange the permit and ambulance transfer to get her back to Israel for treatment. But at 5 pm, just when success seemed near, the crossing point was closed off by the military due to continuing tension in the area.

Thursday morning they started again. Uncounted telephone calls went back and forth. Still stymied by mid-afternoon, we checked with Nadias doctor in Gaza. Just how serious was her condition?

Im afraid she might lose her hand, Dr. Bashir told us. She is deteriorating day by day. Im telling you franklyyou know methis is really urgent. Our staff pushed on with new determination, andthank Godword came after sunset that Nadia had made it across and was in an ambulance heading to the hospital. If she hadnt made it out just then, three more days might well have been lost due to the weekend.

Tonight I saw Nadia in the ICU at the Wolfson Medical Center, her gangrenous hand tied to the bed railing to keep her from using it.

I asked Nir, the physician attending Nadia, whether she would lose her hand. I think just the fingertips, he told me. Were giving her medication, and waiting to see.

I told him Id ask her supporters to pray. Then I went to her room, took her cold, rough, blackened fingers in my hand, and asked that Jesus who gave life to the dead would do the same with Nadias fingers. Pleasewould you agree with me in this prayer?