Reda’s precious life is being fought for in every possible way. Not only is there a team of people lifting him up in prayer continually, but the knowledgeable doctors and nurses at Sheba Medical Center are working together ceaselessly to preserve his life.

Earlier today there was a large team working in Reda’s room in the ICU to discover what is stopping his heart from functioning optimally. They were able to identify that the left side of his heart wasn’t functioning well due to some sort of blockage. A transesophageal echo was performed in order to try to see where the blockage was, but that proved unhelpful so Reda was rushed into emergency surgery in order to gain a better visual.

In surgery, they decided to remove the ventricular septal defect patch that had been placed during his first surgery. Praise our Lord, as of right now it seems to have solved the issue— although in the future another VSD patch will need to be applied through surgery. Reda remains on ECMO heart-lung support with an open chest, so the next 48 hours remain a critical time.

It is truly marvelous to see all of the effort and teamwork that has gone in, and continues to go into saving Reda’s life. Every soul so carefully designed by God is priceless. This truth is known among the team at Sheba, Reda’s sweet parents, and the Shevet community as all work together under the Lord’s mighty hand to see Reda fully healed.

Please continue to lift Reda up in prayer, and the whole team at Sheba Medical Center working day and night for his life.

Elisa and I arrived at the hospital today just as the doctors were updating Reda’s parents. They had just performed a follow-up echocardiogram and spent the day carefully comparing the results with the previous study. Once they have all the information they need, they plan to move forward with closing Reda’s chest and then begin the process of trial extubation.

This is an especially critical time for Reda, and his young parents are carrying overwhelming worry for their son. Please pray for Reda—that the Lord would preserve this precious life and guide every decision made by his medical team. Please also pray for his parents, that in the midst of this difficult time they would be drawn closer to the Lord, finding His peace, strength, and comfort.

Today we went to Sheba Medical Center to see Reda and his father and mother before his very complicated surgery, in which the doctors planned to reconstruct the unique anatomy of his heart.  Here is the moment when Reda’s mother parted from him as they took him away her firstborn child:

The operation was scheduled to last eight hours, and meanwhile we spent time with the dear parents in the waiting room. They expressed their gratitude about us being there with them. We had a very nice conversation, prayed for them and encouraged them.

Upon entering the children’s ICU this morning at Sheba Medical Center, coworkers Carsten, Senne, and I were greeted with the warm smiles of Reda’s parents. They told us that their newborn son had received Genetic testing with no results yet, and that he was currently receiving a CT scan to gain clarity on the state of his heart and discern the best course of action for treatment. We had the pleasure of sitting down with them in the waiting room and enjoyed a lovely conversation filled with smiles and laughter even amidst the heaviness of the unknown future for their child.

As I watched this young couple, the Lord laid 1 Thessalonians 5:11 on my heart, which says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” This verse is beyond evident in their genuine love for each other. Though they face great difficulty and uncertainty, they seem strengthened and encouraged by sweet glances at each other while they work as one to love on their firstborn child.

After continued conversation, we met with the doctor who had conducted Reda’s CT scan. He spoke with encouraging kindness to Reda’s parents as he delivered the news that Reda needs surgery tomorrow to totally rework the circulation of his heart. At this news, our sweet couple seemed very concerned. Reda’s mother confided that she was worried and scared for her sweet baby boy. But together, as the Shevet team, the Lord allowed us to minister to her as we shared that our Lord is the Healer, and Reda rests safely in His hands.

Please pray that Reda’s surgery goes well, for his parents to have peace and strength together, and for the wonderful team of doctors and nurses at Sheba whom the Lord will guide and lead every step of the way tomorrow.

When we found out that baby Reda was on his way to Sheba Medical Center in an ambulance transfer from the Ramallah hospital today, our small group of volunteers jumped into the van to meet him there. When we arrived at the door of the children’s hospital fifteen minutes before the estimated time of arrival, we waited patiently there checking every ambulance that pulled up to the door. Then after we had waited, watching diligently, I noticed an Arab ambulance crew returning from the ICU with a baby incubator. I ran over to speak with them. They warmly greeted us, and with them was a doctor from Ramallah. We thanked them for their blessed service. They told us that Reda was up in the ICU with his parents.

When we arrived in the ICU we saw a flurry of activity around the first room. I saw the young parents of Reda watching intently as the doctors and nurses worked to stabilize and secure their son’s health. As I approached them and mentioned Reda’s name and Shevet Achim their faces lit up warmly smiling and happy we could be there with them.

The father shared his heartfelt gratitude for Shevet Achim helping his newborn son. We gave thanks to God. The kind staff at the ICU requested that the family and the Shevet volunteers should wait in the family waiting room together until the nurses and doctors were finished securing Reda. We all had a pleasant time talking with the family and getting to know them.

Reda is eighteen days old and from Ramallah, the first born child of this newly married couple. Carsten, of my fellow Shevet volunteers, noticed how the mother was calm and relaxed. We were thankful that the parents were feeling comfortable and not fearful. We anticipate many more blessed connections with Reda’s family in the coming days. I was grateful to God also that Elisa and Carsten, my fellow volunteers, did such a great job connecting with the family and taking nice pictures. We finished the visit by all being together with Reda in his room.

He was doing well, a beautiful baby boy. Please lift up newborn baby Reda in prayer that he may have a successful surgery and recover well.