In the last days, Hala was improving day by day. After just a few days she didn’t need any oxygen support anymore and was breathing completely by herself. Also her eating habits became better and now she is eating and eating, gaining weight and looking better every day. When she is not crying because she wants more milk, she is smiling at us and enjoying the company of her grandmother. Thankfully Hala’s doctor decided in the afternoon after an echo, that she is safe to go home to Gaza.

Hala will still need time in Gaza to recover since her lungs were damaged from severe pneumonia. Also she will see a cardiologist there who will do some check ups. Because of her eyes, Hala had to see a ophthalmologist in hospital. In February she will return for another appointment since the doctors want to make sure that the movement of her eyes are normal.

After a long wait in the hospital, Hala was finally discharged and we took her and her grandmother with the train to Ashdod where other volunteers were finally bringing her to the border. Also it was a long day and a really long journey for Hala and her grandmother, but we were happy to spend their last day here with them together. Since they came here, I’ve been enjoying my time with them so much. But I am even more grateful that Hala is now so much better and can finally be with her parents again.

Please continue to pray for them and the full recovery of Hala. Hopefully she can safely return in one month for her next appointment and we’ll see her again.

“Thank you Lord for the life of Hala and the joy we had with her and her grandmother. Thank you for this grandmother who was such a blessing to us in hospital and for the loving- kindness she showed us.“

Hala’s grandmother was really happy today to tell me that Hala gained weight since yesterday and that she’s now eating better on her own. Thank God she is doing really well and could even be discharged soon.

Her doctor confirmed that Hala is gaining weight and how great that is for her health condition. They still need to watch her carefully and see if she’s gaining more. Also Hala’s lungs need to recover fully since she had severe pneumonia when she came from Gaza. She still gets a little oxygen support, but will hopefully soon be able to breath without any help.

Just by looking at her, we can see that she’s so much better. Today again she smiled brightly when her grandmother talked to her and cuddled her. Hopefully Hala will improve even more and soon be able to go back home to be with her parents and the rest of her family. Thank God at Hala’s good recove

Today I found Hala in her new room in the pediatric ward of Sheba Hospital. Since she is doing so well, there’s no need for her to stay in the ICU anymore. Her doctor told me she is fine. They are only a bit worried about her because she is still not eating by herself, but via feeding tube. She also needs to gain more weight. In the next days, they want to find out why she can’t eat by herself and find a solution for that.

Also her eyes have some troubles, so they will also need to check what they can do about that. In the meantime, Hala and her grandmother are patiently waiting. Her grandmother asked me today already when they could go home. Unfortunately it will still take a little while since Hala is now dealing with these other problems. Hopefully she will be better soon and can get home again.

Also today, Hala’s grandmother was smiling brightly and was so happy to see me, but also to show me how well Hala is doing after her surgery. Hala was sleeping but woke up a few times and fell asleep again after I stroked her forehead and held her tiny hand. Thank God for how well Hala is doing. Thank you for your prayers for her.

After four hours in surgery, Hala was finally back in her room. The whole time her grandmother was really worried, but also she was so thankful that coworker Elise and I were waiting with her during the surgery. When we were with Hala back in the room, grandmother started to cry, maybe out of worries or out of gladness and relief.

Thank God, the doctors were able to repair everything that was not okay in Hala’s heart, so when the doctor was finished with explaining what they did in the surgery, he added that her heart is now in a usual cardiac condition. They not only connected the pulmonary veins to the left atrium (from where the oxygen-rich blood coming from the lungs goes to the body), but they also closed the little hole in the wall between the two atriums. Thanks to the hole, at least some of the oxygen-rich blood could travel to the left atrium where it should be and go from there to the body, but now that they fixed the problem, the hole became unnecessary. We are so glad that her surgery went so well and soon afterwards we could even see that her oxygen levels were at 99%!

While the nurse was still putting Hala in the right position, Hala got tears in her eyes. It was a whole different situation today than from before, because Hala’s eyes were different from other kids, in that they were open. Not only was the situation more emotional for us volunteers, but especially for Hala’s grandmother who loves her granddaughter so much.

Please continue to pray for Hala as the first day after surgery is still critical. Her grandmother needs strength and encouragement. May both of them be well and can see the rest of their family soon again.

Hala is still stable today and there isn’t much change in her condition from yesterday. She and her grandmother are patiently waiting for the surgery tomorrow which is planned for the afternoon. When I asked the nurse how Hala is doing, she also told me that Hala loves it when you stroke her on her forehead, that it helps her to relax. I saw her moving a lot in her tiny bed when I visited her, so I held her head gently for a while. It was amazing to see how she soon afterwards slept peacefully, but gave us once a little smile beforehand. She gets some sedation so she is never fully awake, but the doctors don’t want to give her too much. This is why she can move a little and sometimes looks more awake than asleep. Her grandmother looked really worried when she saw Hala moving so much, but I assured her that everything is fine and that she will get better after her surgery tomorrow. She then also told me that Hala’s parents are really worried about her and are crying a lot because they are back in Gaza.

Please pray for Hala, the grandmother and the whole family who is supporting them from home. Pray also for the doctors who are doing the surgery tomorrow, that they get strength and wisdom to do the right thing.