When I entered Zaed’s room in Hadassah Hospital today, he was sitting with another child from Shevet in his bed. Both of them had their Cath yesterday and by this time, they’ve become really good friends and were painting and doing other activities together.

Once, when coworker Luisa and I entered their room, it was like they formed an alliance against us and were kind of fighting us. But it was still very cute since they are only two and three years old.

Until the doctors visited Zaed, we didn’t know whether he is getting discharged today or not. But in the afternoon, the doctors prepared all the papers, explained the medicine and let him go. For now we have to wait for the doctors to have a meeting and discuss about his future treatment.

When coworkers Jakob and Craig picked him and the other Shevet child up to bring them to Gaza, they stopped in Jerusalem and walked through the old city for some time. Zaed really enjoyed his extra time with his new friend! Let’s give thanks to the Lord for this cute friendship and for Zaed’s Cath, that the doctor figure out everything they need to, in order to plan Zaed’s further treatment. Please keep on praying for them!

Today Zaed had his diagnostical Cath in Hadassah hospital. This was a preparation for his Fontan surgery and it also brought further insights into his heart condition. He and his mum waited patiently until it was their turn to go. In this time his mother wouldn’t leave his side and you could see how deeply she cares about him.

This precious boy obviously didn’t like the hospital environment that much, so he had to cry a lot. But his mum calmed him down with walking through the hall ways, watching YouTube-videos for kids and first and foremost, giving him his beloved feeding bottle. Even when nothing is inside the bottle, he is so happy with it. This time he fell asleep immediately after he received it, and his mother could get some rest before the Cath.

So when it was finally our turn to go, Zaed slept peacefully. We let him go and another waiting time began. When he was safely rolled out of the OR again and happily reconciled with his bottle, the doctor told us that his pulmonary artery is pretty narrow. Now they need to decide whether they need to do another step before his Fontan surgery and fix the pulmonary artery or not.

Please pray for wisdom over that and strength for his kind mum. Also that Zaed can have more moments of joy while he has to be in the hospital. But also praise God for gifting Zaed with such a caring mum and the opportunity to get better here in Hadassah hospital.

Zaed and his mother came today from Gaza to Hadassah hospital for his catherization tomorrow. He was fine with the admission and the nurse checking his oxygen and blood pressure, but when the doctor wanted to put the AV canal in his arm, he was very terrified and cried continuously. It needed four doctors and nurses to hold him so that one of them could do it successfully but thankfully it went pretty fast and after some minutes, everything was over and Zaed could relax a bit more.

After that, he got an X-ray and the rest of the time we only had to wait in a small waiting room on the ward for his room to be ready. This took pretty long, so in the end we had a lot of time with Zaed, which he used to play with the toys in the room. He was also really happy to eat my food even though he had food from his mother. Despite the long waiting time, coworkers Elise, Lea and I had a lot of fun with him and another child from Gaza who also has his cath tomorrow.

Please pray for Zaed’s catherization tomorrow and that everything will go well. Please also pray for encouragement for Zaed’s mother and wisdom for the doctors who are treating him.

Today we brought two year old Zaed and his mother from the Erez border of Gaza to an appointment at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. The little boy was there for an echo to see if he needs a catherization. It was very difficult to get a clear echo picture. His doctor told us that this is because he’s already very big and he moved a lot because he was a bit scared and felt uncomfortable in this unknown surrounding. Even though the doctors and his mother did the best to calm Zaed down, it wasn’t easy for them to hold him still.

After a long time trying to get a clear picture of Zaed’s heart, the doctors told us that his left artery looked stenosed but they could get a good enough view.

After the vacation time, they’ll present his case to the cath department and then the department will decide when he will have a diagnostic cath. When this takes place, the doctors can make themselves a better picture of his condition and if necessary dilate his artery.

We pray for Zaed and his family in the following weeks. We pray doctors can do the best they can for him and that the cath helps in getting Zaed to better health.

Coworker Joanne and I drove to the Erez Border Crossing with Gaza today to pick up Zaed and his mother. I knew them already because of the admission last time for his surgery. Zaed is very cute. Today he was very tired, but the mother was very caring and loving.

Together we went to his echo appointment at Hadassah hospital in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem.

While waiting for the echo, a friend of Zaed and his mother’s came to see them. Their friend was also very kind to us and it turned out that she works at Hadassah Hospital in their x-ray department. She knows both Zaed and his mother from their very first hospital visits. It’s nice to see how they built up such friendships even when they are going through these hard times.

The doctors told us today’s echo result was not clear enough, so they want to do a diagnostic cath in one month’s time in order to decide whether Zaed needs a further surgery or not.

After the surgeon saw Zaed, we were already done and headed back home.

Please pray for a successful cath in one month.

That’s the joyful face of Zaed back home in Gaza this morning, after his discharge yesterday from Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem following his second surgery. Thank God for the loving medical care he has found there since his first arrival as an emergency newborn, which helped bring him to this day.

Zaed’s mother just texted: Thank God we are well. Thank you SOOO much and God bless you.

She followed up with the words from the New Testament which are part of every Muslim’s vocabulary: Thank God in every circumstance.

Zaed and his mother are still in Hadassah hospital in Ein Karem. He has not been able to go home because the analysis of the blood streams are very low. The doctor is working on this and he thinks that on Sunday they will be able to leave for Gaza.

While at home, Zaed will have to have an INR test every three days; this is a test that helps determine if the blood clots are normal.

Everything is in the hands of God. Let’s pray that everything goes well.

I went to Hadassah hospital to see little Zaed. He is doing well.

Zaed’s doctor says that he has to do an INR test each three days on Zaed. I asked the doctor what this test was exactly and was told it’s a test that helps determine if Zaed’s blood is clotting normally.

Thank you for your prayers for this little one and his mother.

At Hadassah hospital today, just two days after Zaed’s surgery, the doctor was surprised by his speedy recovery and said that Zaed could already leave the ICU.

So at noon he was taken back to his room.

I was able to be with Zaed’s mom today thank God. We were all very happy and thanking the Lord for Zaed’s good recovery.

His mom was especially very happy.

All the Glory is for God.

Zaed was seven days old when he first came to Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem and had his first surgery. Now he is one year and three months old, and is undergoing his second surgery.

He entered the surgery room at eight o’clock in the morning. Every hour medical staff were informing us that everything was fine and that Zaed was still in surgery . It was very extensive, but successful – thank God.

His mother was quite stressed, but thank the Lord, we were there to pray and support her. My colleague Ella arrived at noon to give her more support.

Pray for a speedy recovery.

Today my colleague Ella and I received Zaed at Hadassah hospital, all the way from Gaza.

He had already been at the hospital in Jerusalem three times before for some exams.

This time Zaed was finally able to get an appointment for surgery, which has been scheduled for Tuesday.

Please continue to pray for Zaed, that everything goes well.

We are grateful to God for being able to serve.

Today when I arrived at Hadassah hospital, Zaed and his mom greeted me with a smile. They were happy. The doctor told them they could go back to Gaza, as everything was fine with Zaed.

He’s fine and he’s grown a lot in a short time and I thank God for allowing me to be with him. I thank God for this whole process, and now Zaed tells us, goodbye.

The doctor will contact our Gaza coordinator Amar, for when Zaed’s next surgery will be.

Today the visit at Hadassah hospital was a bit long, Zaed entered his catheterization at 9 a.m. and was out at 11:30 a.m. Even his mother was a bit worried, but when she saw her child being brought out of the OR, her face changed .

After that, Zaed was under observation for two hours, and the anesthesiologist said there was no problem. The doctor also said that everything was fine, and his heart was working well, thank God.

This time Zaed was crying a lot. It seems that he was hungry during the exams. When he was able to have his bottle, he slept for a long time, and at the same time, the effect of the anesthesia was wearing off. Then he was taken to his room.

Zaed’s mom was very grateful that I could be with her throughout the process. I thank God for everything and for allowing me to serve.

Once again Zead’s catheterization was postponed until Monday. He still has an infection, and the doctors at Hadassah Hospital are carefully dealing with this infection.

Please keep praying for this little one, that his infection gets cleared so doctors can proceed with his catheterization. Zaed has come a long way since we first received him at only three days old, back in July of 2020. God has been faithful thus far, and He doesn’t change.

Today I went to Hadassah hospital to see Zaed. I got a little sad because I saw him very down, with a fever and not eating well. Because of these reasons, doctors have postponed his Catherization until Wednesday.

I was able to pray for Zaed and his Mom while there. Thank God the little baby became a bit calmer and was able to sleep.

Thanking God for this little boy and his mother.

While I was in Hadassah hospital, little Zaed from Gaza arrived for a catheterization. I was able to be with him throughout his process.

The doctor said the cath went well and little Zaed is fine, thank God.  Zaed was able to return already to Gaza because there were no complications.

Zaed’s doctor will ask for Zaed to return in two month’s time for a check-up.

A big day for Zaed today as he was discharged from the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. After having had his emergency surgery last Wednesday, Co-worker Margarita wrote in that blog that his recovery was quick.

Praise God who has been faithful and who continued to bless little Zaed so that he could recover quickly, and go back to Gaza today.

When I came to pick him and his mother up to take them to the Gaza border crossing, there were two kind and helpful nurses who came with us to bring their bags to the car and to say goodbye.

Thanks for all your prayers and thanks to God who answered them!

Zaed entered the surgery room at 8 AM and the surgery started at 11 AM. Every hour they came out to report that everything is fine thanks to the Lord.  The mother after waiting so long was worried. I prayed with her and she told me she is very grateful for being by her side, and supporting her. We know and I always tell her that all the glory and honor is for the Lord. And two hours later Zaed was back with us in the ICU!

After waiting in our Jerusalem guesthouse for a couple of weeks, today Zaed and mother from Gaza climbed aboard the bus and were off to Hadassah Hospital for his second heart surgery!

The medical staff kindly checked them in and told us all is ready for his surgery Sunday morning. Please pray for this beautiful and cheerful little guy.

When co-worker Margarita and I came to the Hadassah ICU today, we received the good news from a smiling nurse that Zaed had been moved to another floor because of his progress.

When we found the right place, we had to wait a while because they were in the process of an Echo for him. When was rolled back in his mobile crib, it was such a relief to see him again. It was hard to think it was the same baby we had visited a while ago. My innermost rejoiced over this adorable boy.  A few hours later, he was released from the hospital.

The doctor said that Zaed has a new appointment in September to check up how he is doing. Those tests will decide if he needs more treatments. But right now, he is going back to Gaza to be in quarantine for three weeks.

I thank God for Zaed’s improvement, and for all the love he has received through the marvellous medical staff. They are doing a wonderful job with all these sick children, and Zaed is one of them. Please continue to carry him and his family in prayer, and remember to lift up in prayer all the staff in the hospital also.

Our coworker Yousef today found Zaed recovering well from his surgery. Prof. Erez, the surgeon, told us that the result of the surgery is excellent, thank God.

The setting is Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem. I entered Zaed’s hospital room, stunned by the peace that filled the place.

Zaed is a little boy who entered our world from Gaza just a couple of days ago. He is now safely hospitalized at Hadassah. This whole process and possibility just fills me with gratitude, because he is so precious in the eyes of God.

The doctors are checking his fragile little body carefully to be sure they will give him the right treatment. His young mother seemed to be in a good mood, but very tired. Please lift up little baby Zaed in your prayers, and also his family.