Today, Salma and her mother came from Gaza for her first appointment at Sheba Hospital since her interventional catheterization there last month.
Salma has a very complicated set of heart defects, and she has spent a lot of time in the hospital. Unfortunately this has made her very frightened of people in scrubs. However, as soon as her mother held her, all was well.
After coaxing her through her ECG, oxygen saturation measurements, and echocardiogram, the doctor told us that the last catheterization is working, but she will likely need another one in a few months. Her oxygen levels were not as quite high as we would like, but they are stable.
Today, when coworker Amelie and I went to the cardiologist floor of Sheba Hospital, Salma was already in her stroller outside of her room. I talked with a nurse and she said, that Salma is discharged to Gaza. This is good news and amazing that she is doing well for now.
Salma is a very cute and beautiful little girl, and in nearly every situation, calm and relaxed. Even if she is not speaking so much, her facial expressions say enough. It’s very nice to see how Salma observes the people and area around her. Her mother is a lovely person and you can really see she has a good and trustful relationship with her daughter. She is also very friendly with all of us here at Shevet.
In around one month, Salma has to come back for a follow check up; doctors will know then how the rest of Salma’s treatment will go. After everything was done and the nurse explained to Salma’s mother how to prepare the medication, then we drove back to Gaza.
Now they are back in their home with the family. Thanks Lord that she is stable and doing well.
When coworker Amelie and I arrived at Sheba hospital this morning, we met Salma’s mother as she came out of the surgical prep area. She told us Salma had just gone in for her interventional catheterization, which was planned to take three hours.
We spent some time with Salma’s mom in the waiting room along with a few of the other moms in the hospital. After just two hours, the doctor arrived with good news– the cath was finished and everything went well. They performed a balloon dilation on some arteries and will wait and see how she recovers before they plan Salma’s next treatment. If she recovers well, Salma may be discharged to go home in the next couple of days.
Today coworker Hanna and I went to Erez Crossing point to pick up Salma and her mother to bring them to Sheba Hospital where Salma was admitted to the secondary ICU because she will have a catheterization tomorrow.
Before her admission, the doctors did an ECG and an X-ray.
Salma was crying a lot today, but her mom was very patient and kept calming her down. Both are very lovely and I enjoyed the time that we had together today.
We are praying for an effective and safe procedure for little Salma tomorrow.
Today, after six months, beautiful Salma returned to Sheba hospital in Tel Aviv for a follow-up echo.
.When Salma was in Tel Aviv the last time, I hadn’t been a volunteer for Shevet Achim yet. So when I looked at some of the pictures taken of Salma half a year ago, I was amazed to see how the little girl has grown and changed. Even though this transition from baby to toddler is somehow so “normal,” seeing the blessing of her growing and becoming stronger touched me and reminded me of how our lives change once we grow in faith!
Unfortunately, little Salma needs to come back for catheterization in two weeks. The mother is very tired of the trips from Gaza to Tel Aviv and a bit disappointed that she has to come back another time. Besides her need for catheterization, Salma is growing and feeling well.
Please pray for strength and endurance for Salma’s mother – and, of course, for continuous health and Salma’s catheterization in two week’s time.
“She’s so cute. I know it’s not really medical, but it’s true.” This is what Salma’s cardiologist replied when I asked how Salma is. And sometimes, no news is good news– Salma’s echo and ECG this afternoon showed that all is well with her heart and there’s nothing new to report.
Salma’s medications have been slightly adjusted and she will follow up with her doctor in Gaza in a month, but she’s doing so well that she won’t have to return to Sheba for another six months.
We’re always glad to see this beautiful little girl and her mother. Pray that Salma’s next echo in six months will show nothing but continued growth and strengthening of her heart.
Today Salma had her last appointment for now at Sheba hospital. She had an echo and the doctor said that her heart works very well. In another month, Salma needs go back to Sheba for a follow-up appointment.
Salma’s mother was very happy to go back to her husband and children in Gaza. Hopefully Salma’s health will remain stable. Please pray for her and her family.
The cardiologist at Sheba hospital said today that Salma’s surgery result was beautiful; this morning she was moved out of the secondary ICU and onto a pediatric ward floor, where in conjunction with the cardiologists, they discharged Salma.
She will come back to hospital in a week for follow up. In the meantime she is staying in our house in Jaffa, which was a very nice outcome for all of us! Salma and her mum are lovely, so it is a joy to welcome them here.
Please be praying for her throughout the week, and as she goes to her echo before returning to Gaza.
Dear Salma was awake and alert in her room at Sheba hospital today. It isn’t always that a child is extubated within the hour they came out of surgery, but Salma, praise God, was well enough to do this.
Today she was eager to drink as much milk as is allowed her. Her beautiful mum was really happy at how well her girl is doing.
Salma’s oxygen is now between 80 – 90 %. Pleas continue to pray for Salma, thanks be to God for His grace in her life.
Today was the day of Salma’s surgery. After four hours, Salma came out of surgery. Her mother was so happy and relieved and gave me a big hug.
The doctor told us that the surgery went really well. Praise the Lord! Salma is already doing really well. She is extubated and she woke up a couple of times. This is a swift extubating after a big surgery like this.
Please pray for Salma that her recovery will go well. Thank you for your prayers and support during the surgery.
Beautiful little Salma had her diagnostic catheterization at Sheba hospital which went well and showed that she is ready to have her Glenn operation.
She is discharged now to our community home in Jaffa where she and her mother will wait patiently for her surgery to be scheduled. We are happy to spend the time now with this sweet and happy girl and her lovely mother.
Please pray for a nice time for them in Jaffa and for the surgery to be scheduled soon.
Today Salma and her mother came from Gaza to be admitted to Sheba hospital in preparation for her diagnostic catherization tomorrow.
Doctors ran a couple of tests today, then Salma was admitted into her room. Salma is now big enough to get the surgery she needs. So hopefully the results from the tests and the catherization will show that she is ready for it. Please pray for this.
Salma’s mother was tired from the whole day, but still very nice, patient all day, and faithfully taking care of Salma who was upset by the sight of any doctor or nurse entering her room.
Salma has been at our community home in Jaffa for the weekend, and it has been lovely to get to know her and her mum. They loved walking out in the park, and Salma has been intrigued with our dog Shevvie.
Today was Salma’s echo and check-up. Despite not enjoying the echo itself, Salma and mum received the good news that they can return today to Gaza. Mum was so happy!
We are excited to see each other again in twomonths’ time when they need to return for a check-up.
Little Salma was discharged from Sheba Medical Center today, after only three days in the hospital. A real supergirl. Praise the Lord. When co-worker Georgia and I were at the hospital today, Salma’s kind mother told us with joy that she and her little daughter can be discharged from the hospital already – today! What a gift from God.
When we went to her room in the Secondary Pediatric ICU, little Supergirl was peacefully sleeping in her little bed. We brought Salma’s loving mother and little Salma along with three other families to our community house in Jaffa. It is always lovely to see how the mothers that had been with us for a while now, are helping the new mothers that are coming to our home. One of our lovely mothers did this for the mother of Salma today as well.
Both, Salma and her lovely mother are very peaceful, and it is nice to have them with us for a few days. Salma needs to take some medication and come back to the hospital on Sunday for a follow-up. Please pray for our little Supergirl and her kind mother as they are in God’s hands.
At 8 o’clock in the morning, it was time for Salma’s cath. When I arrived to Sheba it was to assist Salma’s loving mother in the waiting time, and the doctors had already been in the procedure for two hours. I arrived with co-workers Georgia and Alena, and this kind mother was sitting peacefully in the waiting area and was happy to see us. I spent most of the waiting time alone with her, so we didn’t talk that much because of the language barriers. For a while, Alena joined us and because she speaks some Arabic, the three of us were able to talk a little a bit, and spent a more or less pleasant time together.
The catheterisation lasted about four hours and went well. However, the doctors did not remove Salma’s stent, but widened her arteries. One of the doctors explained what was done in Arabic and then again to me in English, although I didn’t even ask him to do so. Salma’s pulmonary arteries are in good condition and big enough, so not much needed to be done there. Her oxygen is between 70-80 percent. The doctor said that if she stays in this condition for the next two months, then she can be operated on and they will have to decide at that time what kind of surgery they will do.
Thank God that everything went well today and that he provided Salma’s mother with calmness and patience. Little Salma is now in the Secondary Pediatric ICU. When I went to her room after the catheterisation, she was awake and asleep, sort of in an inbetween state, which was probably because she was still tired from the anaesthesia.
Her mother took loving care of her and was very happy to have her little daughter back with her. She immediately called her husband and showed him their Salma. He was also very happy to see his precious daughter, and to learn that the cath had worked out well. She is a very sweet adorable little girl with loving parents.
Your prayers for her and her peaceful mum are very much appreciated. Pray that Salma will continue to be in a good condition and the doctors will make a wise decision as to what to do next.
Today, co-worker Sebastian and I picked up a new baby girl named Salma from Gaza. It was very lovely to meet the cute little girl and her mother. We brought them to Sheba Hospital.
Salma’s mother knows a few English words, but not enough to make everything we wanted to communicate clear enough. So what a blessing it is that some of the medical staff at Sheba speak Arabic.
The doctor appointed to speak with Salma’s mother also spoke in Arabic and was able to both ask and answer some questions. This made Salma’s mother understand and be encouraged by the care that would be put in place for little Salma, her beloved baby.
Cute little Salma didn’t like to be checked by medical staff for her examination. We tried to play with her, to sing, and thankfully somehow diverted her. But this beautiful little girl found comfort only in the arms of her mum.
It took time with our appointment. After her Echo-cardiogram, the doctor told us that Salma’s condition is stable enough to have an Intra-cardiac Catheterization. Their plan is to delete the Stent that was applied formerly.
Salma has a room on floor 5 after some long waiting for it. We hope she and her mother will have a blessed rest before the new day. Please pray with us about the Catheterisation for sweet Salma and for the medical staff who will work at improving and restoring her little heart.
Please pray for God’s protection over Salma and her mother. Yesterday at Sheba Medical Center, they had two Corona tests, one rapid and the other the normal PCR test. The rapid one came back negative, but this morning the results of the PCR showed she was positive for the virus.
For this reason, they went back to Gaza today and will return at the end of January for Salma’s catheterization.
Beautiful Salma came from Gaza for an admission to Sheba today. She was here this past summer and received an Interventional Catheterization, and God willing tomorrow she will have her second Catheterization to help further prepare her for a surgery in the future.
Salma’s mum was so steady and comforting; after an Echocardiogram for Salma and a Corona test, she is happy to be back in her mother’s arms.
Please pray for them both; this morning Salma’s mother was too worried to eat anything before we left, and today was mostly about getting all the tests done. The night before is always challenging for the parents as they await the procedure in the morning, so please pray for Salma’s mother and for God to give her peace and strength.
Salma is a beautiful, serene fifteen-day old girl from Gaza. Her heart is incredibly complex, and I think it was only by God’s provision that Salma was able to receive care in Israel.
She was relying on a medication to keep her Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) open, but by way of a catheterization, doctors were able to place stents in her PDA to keep it open and allow for the circulation of oxygenated blood to her small body. Praise God, she recovered and responded very well to the procedure. She was discharged with medications.
One of the medications which helps prevent blood clots developing in her stent, was not readily available at the major local pharmacy. It was not possible to obtain until a few days later. One of Salma’s relatives drove all the way to the border to deliver this medication for Salma.
Our neighbor Moshe kindly brought Salma and her mother from the hospital to Erez Border Crossing. They navigated many challenges, but praise God that Salma was able to return to Gaza. The doctors would like her to return in a month for a follow-up visit, and possibly later in life, she may need a surgery.
Please pray for their time together in the quarantine house, which is mandatory for all returning to Gaza. We look forward to seeing her soon.
I reached Salma’s hospital room at the same time as the doctor this morning. Her mother gave her consent to today’s procedure which was to place a stent to help her blood flow.
Little Salma is the youngest of four children, only ten days old. She was crying before she was taken to the procedure as she was hungry from fasting. It made her mum sad to see her upset, and with the worry for the catheterisation also, there were a few tears shed.
After she left the baby in the hands of the doctors, Salma’s mum was comforted by some other parents who are with Shevet Achim and also at the hospital today; Mohaned’s sweet grandma, who is from the same city in Gaza, and Khonav’s empathetic mother, who remembers well the worry of having her daughter progress through three catheterisations.
After two and half hours, the doctors brought Salma out, and announced that the cath had been successful and that Salma was doing well. Her mum burst into happy relieved tears.
Salma is now recovering in the Sheba Hospital ICU. Hopefully it will be possible to extubate her later today!
Newborn Salma was resting quietly in the Sheba Hospital ICU when I met her today. Even being only a little over a week old, she resembles her beautiful mother so much.
I got to chat with her for a bit and explain who I was and that I was a volunteer from Shevet. She had so much peace about her even in the midst of the ICU. She’s a lovely woman.
Please pray for Salma’s future, she will have an interventional catheterization in two days, God willing.
Today, Salma and her mother came from Gaza for her first appointment at Sheba Hospital since her interventional catheterization there last month.
After coaxing her through her ECG, oxygen saturation measurements, and echocardiogram, the doctor told us that the last catheterization is working, but she will likely need another one in a few months. Her oxygen levels were not as quite high as we would like, but they are stable.
After coaxing her through her ECG, oxygen saturation measurements, and echocardiogram, the doctor told us that the last catheterization is working, but she will likely need another one in a few months. Her oxygen levels were not as quite high as we would like, but they are stable.
