The day of discharge came for Samer. Open-heart surgery and home in less than a week, amazing! Elisa and I met Samer and his carer Anne in Sheba’s cardiac step-down unit, where he had spent the holiday weekend free of drips and drains, able to move around and amuse himself.
I asked Anne, his carer, whether they had been bored over the weekend, but no way José! Anne told me that members of the charity organisation had been visiting Samer every day from 10am until 8pm. He was taken for walks and drives around the hospital grounds, played games, chatted with friends on the phone, and when he wanted some quiet time, he played on the iPad or looked through photos of his friends at the Crèche.
Samer hated the hospital food, so it was just as well the charity organisation was there to spoil him! They asked him what he wanted and brought it in for him. Yesterday, he chose KFC. He was definitely spoilt during his time at Sheba, and rightly so. He was made to feel like the very special boy he is.
Samer left for The Crèche in Bethlehem at 2pm today, although I can’t say he looked particularly happy about going home! He takes all his new toys with him, which he now has to share with the other children at The Crèche, along with all his Sheba experiences and stories to tell. And, of course, he has a nice scar down his chest to show off after his open-heart surgery.
Samer will return to Sheba for a follow-up appointment in one week.
What a blessing they have been to this very special boy.