After many long days of waiting at Sheba Medical Center, the big surgery day for small Mohammad finally arrived. He had been intubated and under anesthesia since last Thursday evening, once he had been transferred from a hospital in Ramallah to Israel. During the waiting period, doctors performed many tests in order to discern the best course of action in surgery to make it as smooth and safe as possible. Even so, those days were seemingly endless for his sweet mother and grandmother who waited in suspense for test results and decisions to be made. They have handled the stress of Mohammad’s situation exceedingly well.
Even on the day of his surgery, he was second on the list after another child who desperately needed an operation first. Thus, the waiting continued a little bit longer for Mohammad. While waiting for the first surgery to finish, Um Mohammad sat faithfully by his side praying and reciting the Qu’ran. This seemed to calm her nerves, though many times she still admitted she was very scared for him. This is completely understandable and we prayed she would be filled with peace like she has never known before.
During this waiting time, I was once more reminded of the strength of all the people in this land—Jews and Muslims alike. As Mohammad’s mother sat by him mustering all the strength she could manage, and praying he was filled with this same strength, I shared in a moving conversation with a nurse who was prepping Mohammad for his surgery. We talked about the evident strength of all the people who live here. It is a strength that is necessary among so much of the human and political conflict that surrounds this land. In the longing of most people here to live peaceful lives, Jews and Muslims included, they are forced to be strong and continue on each day when conflict arises. It is the Lord who equips with strength— from the strength of Mohammad and his mother, to the strength of the doctors and nurses seeing difficult situations in the ICU each day, and the strength of all those leading lives here in the land. May all those filled each day with the Lord’s strength recognize it to be from Him.
Soon after our conversation ended, it was go-time for Mohammad. The doctors and nurses wheeled him through the doors of the ICU to the OR prep area. His mother trailed along, tears in her eyes, for as long as she could. The wait for surgery was finally over, but the hardest part was just beginning. It is one of the hardest moments for parents to let their child be taken away to a fate that seems so unknown and scary. But we trusted God to hold Mohammad safely in His hands through the whole operation.
Indeed, He who promised is faithful. After four and a half hours, Mohammad came out right on time. A team of doctors calmly brought him to his room where they worked together to stabilize him.
The relief at seeing her child alive after the surgery was clear on the face of Um Mohammad. Soon a doctor came to speak with her to report the events of the surgery. He started by sharing that Mohammed was stable, and good. The surgeon did a great deal of repairs on his heart— all through his ventricles, atria, and valves. Praise the Lord, all of these went well and Mohammad is looking great. It went so well that they were also able to close his chest. While he is still intubated, there is no other major intervention that he requires right now. May the Lord bless the hands of the medical team who are so skillfully completed caring for him.
A little while later, Um Mohammad was finally allowed to go into the room and be by her son. Though the next 24 hours remain critical, Mohammad is doing exceedingly well so far. Mohammad’s mother cried tears of relief and shared many a joyful hug before running off to call her husband and share the good news. May the Lord continue to sustain and protect this precious little baby no matter what comes his way in the recovery process. Though the results are good, his recovery will be long and hard— may he be continually filled with the strength of the Lord!