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.
