Friends,
Thank you for praying for tiny Laith from Hebron these past three and a half weeks. Since his arrival at Sheba hospital the cardiac ICU staff has fought hard for this precious boy’s life. Through an intense series of ups and downs they, along with Laith’s father, refused to give up hope.

On Wednesday, after a long and well-fought battle, the doctors in the ICU delivered hard news. Despite all their best efforts, Laith was not responding to treatment anymore and was in multiple organ failure.
Coworker Jakob, who has been a good and faithful friend to Laith’s dad throughout his hospital stay, waited and prayed with him all day. Even as he prepared to say goodbye to his own precious son, Laith’s father turned his attention to others, spending much of the day encouraging other parents and children in the hospital. Finally in the late evening Jakob called us: “Laith’s pain is over now.”
Laith’s journey has been difficult from the very beginning and there is comfort in knowing that he is safe with the Father and no longer in pain. What’s more, there is comfort in the knowledge that his life was worth fighting for. I’m struck by the beautiful work of the doctors and nurses at Sheba, who spared no effort in caring for this tiny boy.

As Jakob waited and prayed with Laith’s father in the ICU, coworker Yukako was just outside in the waiting room with the grandmother of two-week-old Jwan from Gaza. Jwan arrived at Sheba late Sunday night by ambulance, and went into surgery to repair her malformed aortic arch first thing Wednesday morning.




Just yesterday another newborn from Gaza reached Sheba hospital for lifesaving surgery. Like Ayub, Jamal’s great arteries are switched, and a surgery early in life will give him the chance to grow up and live a normal life:

Tiny one-month-old Mohammed A.S. from the West Bank had a diagnostic catheterization on Tuesday in preparation for his surgery, which is scheduled for next week:

“I’m praying so much for you and your baby,” Claudia replied in English. With or without a shared language, these two were determined to show their love for one another.
Six-year-old Hamza from Gaza had surgery on Tuesday to place a pacemaker. He is recovering well and his heart rate has regulated with the help of his new device.

Seven-month-old Maryam from Gaza is slowly growing stronger. She is gaining a little weight eating on her own, but the doctors have decided to place a PEG stomach tube next week to help her get the nutrients she needs. Additionally some tests show that her hearing is impaired and she may need cochlear implants in the future.

Our sweet Malak from Gaza was finally moved out of the ICU into the regular pediatric ward yesterday!

Please continue in prayer for little Somaia from Gaza. We are still searching and praying for a good place to continue to care for her on a ventilator. The hospital in Gaza has said that they cannot take her as her condition is too complicated.

Almost-two-year-old Lalo from Kurdistan had a follow-up echo at Sheba hospital on Monday. The report wasn’t quite what his dad was hoping for.

For two-year-old Ahmed and his mom, this week brought exciting and highly anticipated news. Ahmed’s mom had been eagerly looking forward to his echo on Tuesday for two weeks, and she was more than a little nervous by the time we arrived at the clinic:


Hoping to travel home with Ahmed are two-year-old Sohaib and his mother, who have been in Israel for over three months now. Sohaib will have another echo on Monday, at which point his cardiologist hopes to send him home to Kurdistan:

It’s remarkable what a difference such a small gesture can make. Sometimes it is the little things—gentle words in an ICU room, a visit and a hug, a plate heaped with food—that convey deep and tender love for one another. These deeds, though seemingly small, are not wasted; each one is an expression of love and kindness that brings honor and glory to our Father.
As I think about little Laith, who was nearly forgotten in a hospital in Hebron but who died only after every effort was made to save him, and as I look at the ever growing list of children like Jwan and Jamal arriving from Gaza for a chance to live, I am reminded of a beautiful song by The Porter’s Gate that I’d like to share with you:
Oh, the deeds forgotten; oh, the works unseen,
Every drink of water flowing graciously,
Every tender mercy, You’re making glorious.
This you have asked us: do little things with great love.
At that table of our Savior, no mouth will go unfed;
His children in the shadows stream in and raise their heads.
Oh give us ears to hear them and give us eyes that see—
For there is One who loves them; I am His hands and feet.
Thank you for joining us in prayer,
Bria for Shevet Achim