Despite a difficult few days, Hassan’s Aunt seemed as cheerful and optimistic as ever. Her patience and faithfulness never cease to astound me. Over the past months, she has spent countless days and weeks by Hassan’s bedside, talking to him, comforting him and a lot of the time, just sitting there with him. As we sat today, his aunt showed me countless pictures of Hassan and the rest of her family back in Gaza. This love is so beautiful to see.
Hassan seems to be doing a bit better today. Although he still has a long way to go and is on various medications, his fever has gone, which is great news.
As I turned to leave, Hassan’s Aunt handed me a box of dates, insisting I take them to share with the rest of the community. I was really touched by her generosity and encouraged that our visits mean so much to her.
For the last three days, Hassan has been struggling with fevers. He still requires a high amount of oxygen support and was started on antibiotics because of his fevers. The doctors are not sure of the cause of his fevers and are waiting for some test results, but they suspect it was caused by his heart’s weak pumping ability He is still on a medication to support his heart function, and is going through withdrawal symptoms from his anesthesia/sleeping medications when he was intubated. Please pray for Hassan and his sweet aunt as he slowly recovers.
At Sheba Medical Center, in the morning, our friend Hassan was extubated. When my wife and co-worker Anna and I came for visiting in the afternoon, the medical staff was working on an echo. Hassan was conscious but also very dazed by his strong pain medications.
The responsible doctor explained to me that his SpO2 between 75 and 78 is very good for his actual state, but to see Hassan, how he shook and gasped, was very sad.
But we want to trust God, and the doctors, that Hassan will recover well. Please pray for this little fighter, his is an upwards fight.
Since his Glenn operation last week, Hassan has been intubated. Today they are working on weaning him off of the mechanical ventilation. As they also slowly reduce his sedation, he is becoming more conscious and his aunt calls his name to see if he responds.
It was really good to visit his auntie. Shevet head nurse Colin and co-worker Ruth, as well as I all at the Sheba Medical Center today! I told her how the Shevet staff in Jaffa see how hard she works for Hassan, how she’s come for every out-patient check-up appointment, and now as she continues Ramadan fasting, she has given up her home and family to be with Hassan.
“I love him so, so much,” was her response. It’s a gift from God that Hassan has a family who are so devoted to him.
Five days after his surgery, Hassan is still struggling and on mechanical ventilation. We pray for the Spirit of God to be life and strength for him, his family, and for the doctors fighting for his life.
Hassan, whom many of us have known for a long time, has waited for quite some time for surgery. It has been special to see him again, and his faithful auntie.
He had a Glenn operation yesterday. He was extubated on the same day as the surgery, but later required intubating again as his oxygen levels dropped. He is still needing a lot of attention from the medical team in the intensive care unit.
Please pray for Hassan, as his condition is not so stable. Please also remember his auntie as well, and ask that God would give her peace and strength.
For many coworkers of Shevet Achim, Hassan isn’t an unknown boy. He spent a loooong time in his earlier days for different treatments in Israel. Meanwhile, he is now two years old and today he came back with his aunt for another surgery at Sheba Medical Center.
When you see him for the first time, you can feel that this young man had to endure a lot before. Now he is a real professional, has no fear about the hospital and was the whole long day very kind and relaxed.
When we entered the security check-in, we had some troubles with the papers and it was difficult to understand each other. Hassan’s aunt didn’t speak Hebrew or English, the guard didn’t speak Arabic and just a little bit of English, and I can’t speak Arabic or Hebrew. So we stood together in a brisk, patched-up multi-lingual discussion around this unhurried and calm boy Hassan, who patiently accepted everything.
Thanks the Lord that coworker and Arabic-speaking Amar was available for translating via phone. So everything went well and Hassan could be admitted. Let`s pray and hope for healing treatments and a good surgery.
Our dear Hassan went to Sheba Medical Center today for an echo. Shevet staff member Joela went to the echo with him, but he knew where he was, and started crying immediately. Joela put on a YouTube video which she simultaneously sang to. He loved Old MacDonald had a Farm. He’s not usually calm during echoes, but when Joela was singing, he managed to calm down a bit.
The doctor said he will need surgery, but because it is not urgent, he will wait until more funding comes towards the 2019 bill for surgeries. Please continue to pray for God to provide for this. Hassan, though he has been with us so often, does not yet have a local leader.
I thought of this past summer, and of his long stay in the hospital because he had many problems, and this was the only way he could receive adequate treatment. I was there the first time he had surgery, and neither his auntie nor I knew how often he would come back to Sheba for check-ups, or that he would need many more surgeries in the future. But he and his auntie are now a part of our family, and we love them so much; please pray for his body to be made well, and please prayerfully consider financially advocating for this precious boy.
As Joela sang today in the echo “He’s got the whole world in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands, He’s got you and me in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands.” Our Father holds Hassan in His hands, may his future be bright and healthy and filled with love of his Ceator.
Hassan came back for an echo today! He was here a few weeks ago for a catheterization, so the echo today was to check up on his health. The doctors will discuss him again in a conference. It’s tricky because he is not very well. His oxygen was at 81 today and often drops below 70, also his lips are frequently blue, even with many previous interventions this past summer. So he is not well without another surgery, but his case is very complex, which is why there is much deliberation over his treatment.
Hassan and his lovely auntie know the hospital so well now. He became fussier as the day went on, and he was very upset during the echo, but thankfully our beautiful Helen was there to help calm him. She took bells that hung on her purse and gave them to Hassan to play with, which he really liked.
They felt like old friends because of the duration of time they spent in the hospital over the summer and also because of frequent appointments for him. But also, the long stay is hard on his auntie, and as the doctors discuss his upcoming operation, we pray for God to be with Hassan and his aunt, and thank Him for the gift that they are.
When we arrived at the hospital today, Hassan was already discharged and ready to go home to Gaza.
We are so grateful to God that his procedure went so well, that he recovered quickly, and was discharged speedily so he can return to his family. He was thrilled to receive a lollipop from little Israa’s father, and plopped it right into his mouth wrapper and all. His smile is bright and beautiful and he blew us kisses while loading him in the car.
We took Israa back to the base and picked up a sandwich for his aunt, and headed to Gaza. The trip went very well and Hassan slept most of the way. When we arrived at the border we made sure that they had all their belongings and made it safely into the building before we headed back to Jaffa.
Hassan will be returning to Sheba for a follow up appointment in January to make sure that he is still doing well. Praise Be to God for a quick hospital stay for Hassan this time, and may he continue to work in the lives of this family.
It seems like little Hassan is spending half of his life in the hospital. Although it’s lovely to see him, I wonder how his family are feeling at home in Gaza, thinking about their baby. It’s only ever been his aunty who’s accompanied him over the border to Israel, and has seen the doctors and nurses who have been caring for him.
Today, he was having another catheterisation. The doctor afterwards told me that he was fine following the procedure. Although he wasn’t too happy as you can see in the photo. He was crying and upset.
The cath was to check if Hassan’s body was ready for another surgery yet, and found that the answer is no, not yet. God knows the plans for Hassan’s life, and has brought him so far. Please continue to keep praying for this sweet boy.
Dear Hassan is back in Israel for a catheterization tomorrow! In his short life he has had many surgeries and caths, and tomorrow will show us what is the next step for his treatment.
I was so happy to see him and his lovely auntie, although it’s much colder since the last time they were here. He was swaddled in a big blanket and many layers of clothes! When we stopped at the Sheba security check and his aunt had to go inside, I got to hold him for that duration of time, which was so sweet because most of the time he was here last time he had wires and cannulas attached to him. We looked at the pine needles of the trees around us and a nearby stray cat that was prancing back and forth on the sidewalk. It was a beautiful moment before we dropped them off at the children’s hospital for his admission.
Of course it is a pleasure to see him and his aunt once again, but I pray it will not be a hard ordeal for either of them. We ask for God’s peace for them and wisdom for the doctors, in Jesus’ name.
Hassan came to Sheba today for a follow up apointment after his previous discharge. This was my first time meeting him and his aunt; I was so touched by them both. Hassan’s aunt had the most beautiful smile – the kind that lights up a room and makes everyone else want to smile too. Every time she looked at him, even in his tearful moments, she couldn’t help but smile. Her love for little Hassan was written all over her face.
I only had a short time with Hassan and his aunt today; after the appointment, they returned to Gaza. Yet even in this short encounter, they left an impression – Hassan with his big round eyes, soaking in the world around him, his aunt with her gentleness and love. They are two very special people.
Please continue to pray for Hassan’s health. Pray that God would bless him and his family and that they would know God’s love for them.
Today was a very happy day for our precious Hassan. As I walked into his room there was a bright smile on his beautiful face while his aunt was packing their stuff together. She happily told me they can go back to Gaza. I was very surprised because Hassan still has a bad cough but his heart is doing great so the doctors allowed him to go home after two months and 12 days.
We celebrated his discharge and danced a little bit with Hassan and his aunt. It really touched my heart to see them this happy.
The drive to Gaza was a little bit exhausting because there was so much traffic and Hassan wasn’t amused about it. We arrived in the late afternoon and dropped these two amazing people off.
Now that they are home again please keep on praying for them. Hassan’s cough needs to get better and also pray for the aunt to get strength again at home with her family. Thanks to our great God who has been with them all the time!
Visiting Hassan was probably the best thing of my hospital day today. He is so full of life, so active, constantly moving and clapping and talking. He really enjoyed the songs Helen was singing, swaying back and forth with the rhythm.
After his CT scan last week he had been moved from the 6th floor to the secondary ICU. The nurse said that she is very happy about him, as he has improved a lot since then. His oxygen went from 60% to almost 90%. And the nasty wound on his foot is decreasing more and more. When I saw him two days ago he was quite upset as he was constantly coughing. He almost couldn’t draw breath. Nevertheless I knew that it was good as it helped to free his lungs.
I was just thinking of this song were it says:
“You breathe your life into my lungs You bring to life these dry bones I’m coming alive”
God I thank you so much that Hassan is so full of life despite his sickness! Please continue what you’ve been doing and give this energy also to his lovely aunt who is very exhausted as she is always standing next to his bed.
We met a happy and smiling Hassan today. He played with Margarita and loved the attention he was getting. Hassan’s Aunty was also happy to see us and asked after Alena with whom she has been able to form an especially close bond.
Hassan has been recovering well from his surgery with his chest wound healing beautifully and no longer requiring a dressing. He still requires monitoring but we hope to have a full medical report soon and an update as to ongoing treatment. Hassan’s biggest concern at the moment is that one of the intravenous drugs he needed tissues a few days ago and leaked medication into the surrounding area. This led to a wound forming on his ankle as the skin died. Despite the nasty looking sore, Hassan enjoyed us tickling his feet and had no problems moving around his cot like any baby his age.
Please pray for continued healing for Hassan who has had a very long hospital stay in his short life.
I was very excited to go to the hospital today in anticipation of seeing the families and especially Hassan and his aunt. Both are lovely! Hassan is well. He sleeps well and keeps smiling during the day. Four days ago he had water in his lungs but after a new test today it was all gone – that’s great! He has some pain in his feet but doesn’t cry! This is good to know and very helpful for his aunt because she’s tired a lot.
Every time I go to see Hassan I see her standing at his bed and watching him, caring him and not leaving him alone. She is a beautiful woman. She is loving and caring for him with endurance. She wouldn’t sit down to get some rest and relax her feet so she has some pain. Please let us keep both of them in our prayers. Especially their pain and wounds, their hearts but also their emotional well-being as Auntie is really missing home and her own children! She left them behind to make the needed treatment possible for him. I spent almost the same time working with Shevet Achim as she has been in the hospital with Hassan and it’s hard for me to imagine how difficult it must be for her not being able to leave the hospital, meeting friends or going for a walk in nature.
I remember my first day in the hospital and she was the one who I met first. Since then she has been special to me although we don’t get to see each other a lot. It was a blessing to have Moshe with me who was a great translator between Auntie and me since I don’t speak Arabic. I pray for strength to continue the walk of taking care of Hassan and staying at the hospital. And I pray for open eyes and a soft heart seeing the mighty works of God, her creator.
I was surprised to learn from the mother of Reem today, that Hassan was no longer in the cardiac area of the hospital, because he has been vomiting so much that he required a surgery on his intestines. Lindsay commented how this little one has known so many surgeries to be the norm, for his life. I thought about this as I walked up to the top floor of the hospital, to find him, and I felt so grateful to God for sustaining his life each time. It was a joy to see him and his sweet auntie, who has given many weeks of her life to accompany him here in the hospital.
Hassan seemed to be in a bit of pain, as his auntie lifted his duvet cover to show me the long, stapled incision sites on his abdomen, and his back. He moaned a little as he waved his hand towards us, his cannula tube dangling in front of his eyes.
Praise God that there is a hope and a future for Hassan. Please continue to pray that God will bless and sustain this life, and that Hassan would see healing as he perhaps begins to take some milk orally in the next few days.
Hassan is now in the second ICU. This means his condition definitely got better because he doesn’t have to be under constant supervision. Though he doesn’t feel well- I was able to see that first on the worried face of his auntie and then on his red eyes which come from cryingalot. My heart was aching for him in this moment. He has to work so hard to breath and his chest was moving too fast just to get some air. Around him and on his body are several cables that make him feel uncomfortable and he tries to strip them of. The days of recovery demand a lot of strength of this little boy. Adding to this he has a cough which makes breathing even harder. I was so sad because I wasn’t able to help in any way but praying. Oh Jesus, you know the poor little boy. You know how he feels and the pain he experiences. You hold him in your hands and you take care of him. Let us trust in Him that He is our Almighty God who works in our day to day life.
And please keep praying for him and every sick child in the ICU. Pray that he calms down to find rest. He has been many times in the hospital and we hope to see him getting better as soon as possible. Pray that he is able to eat more to get the strength he really needs. And let us be thankful for the treatment and health care Hassan gets at the hospital.
This morning I checked on the fifth floor where Hassan’s room was. Over the past two weeks his surgery has been rescheduled, but today I found his room empty and his beautiful auntie waiting on the fourth floor by the doors of the operating room. She was very calm and enjoyed the company of a mother from Jerusalem and also Rafif’s grandmother. Sitting with her was a blessing because she shared with me about her life in Gaza, and showed pictures of her children. There was this one particular picture she showed me of her and her son on his wedding day that really touched my heart. It was candid and showed so much love and joy between the two of them.
When Hassan came out of surgery – which was very long, it lasted six and a half hours – she called his father who was very happy that his son was out of surgery. The surgeon said that the surgery went well, and when I saw what his heart problems were, I understood that the surgery took so long because his heart was very complex. We pray that Hassan will progressively recover and become the bouncy, happy boy he has always been. And please pray that our volunteers would be able to minister to his beautiful aunt while she is here with us. Thank you Jesus for seeing this little boy and interceding for his life.
Hassan was supposed to have a surgery yesterday but he got postponed again because all beds of the ICU are currently used. Now we can just wait for available beds. In the meantime he is a really happy boy – too happy to sleep- said his aunt who is taking care of him. Both of them are doing well. He was smiling and giggling all the time throughout my visit. In the end I left in the hope he would fall asleep soon
It was such a treat to learn that Hassan was in the hospital today for the next stage of his treatment. Hassan was due to have surgery today but due to the ICU being so full with very unstable children his surgery had to be postponed until Sunday.
It was great to have Moshe with our team today as he was able to chat with Hassan’s aunt in Arabic. It is clear from what she says that life in Gaza is very different to life in Israel. It came as a surprise to me to learn that she and another of the mums currently in Sheba wear a niqab in Gaza.
We looked back together on old pictures of Hassan from last year and we praise God that he has strengthened and preserved his life over this time. Please pray for his surgery on Sunday.
Little-charmer Hassan from Gaza is scheduled for surgery tomorrow (Thursday). It is expected to be a complicated surgery.
Hassan’s mom’s eyes betray her anxiety, even as Hassan smiles and laughs from his bed, happy to see a visitor that will distract him from pulling at his covered IV hand. Hassan’s oxygen levels are in the 70’s and his breathing is fast. The long-awaited surgery is now almost here.
It is always beautiful to hear news about Hassan. He is a miracle and he is brave baby. He is really strong, and I’m sure that God has an amazing plan with this beautiful baby. Today Yousef had the pleasure to visit him. He had a CT scan, and hopefully he can get his surgery this Tuesday.
Please pray for wisdom for the medical team, and for an open schedule for his surgery and for a complete and fast healing.
Beautiful Hassan came last night to Sheba hospital. This boy has a very complicated heart, and the doctors are hoping to take him into surgery tomorrow. Already he has had two surgeries and three catheterizations. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors, and for God given peace for his family back in Gaza. As Jesus commands Thomas:
“Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
Let us look to the cross and believe in the sovereignty of God over Hassan’s life.
Svea and I got the news today that Hassan can be discharged from the hospital. He was brought up for an echo earlier in the week, but due to his poor condition, needed to be hosptialised for a catheterisation. So today, when we saw him, he was looking very happy and his aunt was preparing to go home. Our team at home organised transportation back Gaza, and so Svea and I just had the very enjoyable task of giving him cuddles and loving this sweet boy for a short time.
Hassan is one of the first children who I saw when I got here a year ago. I remember thinking how tiny he was, and watching his laboured breathing and thinking that his life is really in the hands of God. I flicked back through my Google photos, and found a photo of his tiny white body from last year, and really we have to praise God, who has brought him out of death and into life! Please keep on praying for Hassan’s health.
Yesterday, our beautiful Hassan had a good cath. So, we thought that he would be discharged today. But when I visited him his lovely aunt told me that his oxygen was not good. I asked the nurse and she informed me that his oxygen was a little low. She also told me they consider a virus, but so far they really don’t know what he has. So, he got a chest x-ray, an ultrasound and a blood test. And also tomorrow, they are going to repeat the ultrasound. His aunt is really amazing, she loves him so much.
Please pray for him. Pray especially for healing and wisdom for the medical team, so they know what is really happening with him.
I was pleased to learn yesterday that one of the babies due to visit Sheba for an echo was Hassan. He was one of the first babies I met when I came to Israel around a year ago. I remember he had such a tiny body with very long eye lashes and he lay looking quite helpless in the ICU. Over the year I have been reunited with Hassan and his lovely aunt a few times and it has been a blessing to get to know them and to see Hassan grow and look stronger. However, on seeing Hassan and his aunt yesterday at the Erez crossing I messaged home quickly to ask for support in praying for the two. Hassan had blue skin and he was sweating a lot and his aunt looked very tired and worried.
Thankfully God blessed our journey to Sheba and we arrived in good time. When I met up with Hassan’s aunt later in the day she said that he would need to stay in hospital for a catheterisation. Praise God this was able to take lace first thing this morning and the doctors were able to dilate Hassan’s pulmonary artery with a balloon during the procedure. Hassan should be able to return home to Gaza tomorrow. Please pray that he returns strong and that his heart will be protected. It is expected that Hassan may need a number of procedures on his heart as he gets bigger and we thank God so much for sustaining him in having life. Would Hassan and his aunt seek after and find the living water we are promised in Jesus.
