Coworker Marwan and I wanted to visit Omar at Sheba Hospital, but at the first try, the nurse informed us that Omar is having an echo. She also told us that the echo and a blood test result would decide for a discharge today or not.
The only problem was Omar’s nosebleed. The blood test will give the doctors more clarity about the nosebleed and they will adapt the medication afterwards.
The medication is available in Gaza and we are happy to share with you that he got successfully discharged today. We brought him and his lovely mother with another family back to the Erez Border crossing with Gaza.
Let’s praise God for the good recovery and quick discharge of Omar.
Today, coworkers Joanne, Amelie and Doro and I went to Sheba Medical Center to visit little Omar.
Omar sat on the bed quietly, in a room that needs isolation so we wore sterilized robes. At first he was afraid of us and made no eye contact, thinking we were doctors. His mom calmed him down slowly, saying to him, “they are not doctors.”
His mom said he had a fever, but now he feels better. We made a balloon out of a glove and played with him for some time. Towards the time of our departure, Omar was calmer.
We hope that Omar will be healthy and happy and that his recovery will be good.
When I visited Omar in the secondary ICU at Sheba hospital today, his mom told me he’s been running a fever and has had virus swabs taken. He has a cough and isn’t feeling the best, but you’d never know it from the big grin he gave me.
Little by little, Omar is recovering from his big surgery, and we pray this virus won’t slow his recovery.
After the big surgery at Sheba Children’s Hospital yesterday, Omar is recovering very well. He is already extubated and the doctors are decreasing his sedation medications. This means that he will be fully awake later on.
We are very happy about this news and also Omar’s mother seems very happy. She went outside of her room with us to see some other mothers whose children are also in hospital through Shevet Achim.
Let’s thank God for Omar’s good recovery thus far and please pray that it continues. We hope this will be his last surgery.
Today marked a very special day; this was Omar’s third and hopefully final surgery of his young life.
When I first came to Sheba through Shevet three years ago I met Omar who was then a months old baby who underwent the Glenn operation. He had his previous first surgery when he was around one week old. So today was, God willing, the last chapter in his surgical saga. The procedure had some risks which the surgeon told his mother, but he came out stable and the surgery didn’t have any complications.
It was profoundly meaningful to know Omar and his mother from years ago, and watch him grow up, coming out for catheterizations and check ups, and now through his final surgery.
Please be praying for this wonderful boy as he recovers. What a joy it is to have reached this point.
The cute boy Omar had to come to Sheba Medical Center hospital in order to see the pulmonologist, who would determine if he has PCD in his lungs or airways. Omar had a CT scan done in September, which shows that there are no signs of PCD.
He needs to be seen again by the pulmonologist in six months. But we will see this cute boy and his lovely mother before that, as he needs to have his Fontan surgery soon.
He had to come back as well to check if he needs to have the surgery now or if he can wait until next year. The doctors decided that he can wait until next year, which isn’t that long anymore.
So today co-worker Alena and I brought them back to the Erez Border Crossing to be reunited with their family in Gaza again. Please pray that Omar remains in a good condition before he comes back in the next year for his surgery.
Omar was able to have his CT scan today at Sheba hospital, which will help the cardiologists plan for his third surgery, the Fontan procedure.
He stayed over in Jerusalem for the previous day because his appointment was very early and its not possible to exit the border at that time, but his mother said her time in Jersualem was very beautiful especially because she was able to pray at the third holiest site in Islam.
Omar had fallen asleep late in the night, so he slept all the morning until he was in the CT scan at Sheba. While there is no decision about when the surgery will be, the radiologist said that Omar’s scan was extremely good quality.
Please continue to pray for Omar, it has been a joy watching him grow through the years.
In the morning, co-worker Sabrina and I drove to Sheba hospital to visit Omar. His mother was happy to see us and asked for help with translation, which I was able to provide.
Omar sat and played peacefully on his mom’s bed. His mother said he had a clotting problem in his leg yesterday, therefore he has to receive an anti-coagulant (Calxan) and they would not be able to return home.
Surprisingly, after a few hours, the doctors changed their minds and decided to discharge Omar. Then his mother was very exited. So it was that Omar and his mom went back to Gaza via taxi.
Please pray that he has a blessed time with his family back in Gaza, that he stay safe and remains in a good condition.
Omar had his diagnostic catheterisation today. It was lovely to see his mother again. It’s been about a year since Omar’s surgery when we last saw each other.
Today, Omar’s attention was fully towards her dear Omar. As we waited for the time of Omar’s catheterisation, she showed us beautiful pictures of Omar and his brother. They are clearly both her treasures.
Omar was brought out of the catheterisation and transferred to the pediatric ICU of Sheba hospital to recover. The doctor explained that it seems that Omar’s heart is ready for the next surgery, which we hope to be scheduled fairly soon.
Today was my first time at Sheba Hospital and I was very excited for the day. First, I went with co-worker Moshe to the Erez border crossing border with Gaza and we picked up little Omar and his mother. We waited for an hour until they crossed the border. Both were very calm and Omar fell asleep on our way to the hospital.
We were happy to communicate with him and laugh with him during the day. He was happy to play on the train in the hospital. Moshe showed me around.
We went with Omar to the Echo, the x-ray and later on we had the admission to their room. Omar refused to cooperate at the beginning, but later he was relaxed while he watched a video.
I got many impressions, but all in all, every staff member in the hospital was very nice and I enjoyed meeting everybody, especially Omar and his Mother.
Please pray that Omar and his mother will feel welcome in the hospital, and please pray for wisdom for the doctors’ next steps for little Omar.
Baby Omar and his mum have spent a few weeks at our Shevet community homes in Jerusalem and also in Jaffa. It has been so lovely to see his mum again, whom I remember from a year ago.
Today’s mission was a Gastroenterology appointment. We were seen very quickly by a kind doctor who worked to try and help relieve his symptoms. After a quick but thorough appointment, we went to check on another family in the hospital.
Omar’s mum is really fun and kind and I really enjoyed her company today. She is a beautifully dedicated mum to Omar as well, and truly wants the very best for him. She is going to see her other son and her husband tonight as she returns to Gaza, which she is excited about.
We hope to see them again in the new year for further appointments.
The neurologist graciously assessed Omar early this morning at Sheba Medical Center, before his other patients were scheduled to arrive. Our social worker friend at Sheba was so kind in also joining us for this consultation, greatly helping by translating and providing support to the mother. It is so important for the family to be able to communicate with the doctors and also to understand about their child, so I am incredibly thankful that God orchestrated everything perfectly.
The neurologist confirmed the Gaza doctor’s diagnosis of autism. We also discussed the need for life-long therapy. There are also various tests to investigate if there is anything that could be treated with medication, and also the recommendation of a genetic analysis. The parents of Omar are advocating for further investigation and tests to be performed in Israel, and the organization has decided to pursue this and to perform a genetic analysis.
Please pray for Omar and his mother as they wait. There are many unknown details and we will trust God to provide the strength and resources to be able to support him.
Omar just turned two years old! He previously received two surgeries at Sheba Hospital and now his family has requested a check-up for Omar at Sheba.
Thankfully he will not need any current heart intervention until his next major procedure in hopefully around six months. Omar will be staying with us in Jaffa for tonight, as he will visit a neurologist tomorrow regarding a potential concern of autism.
I was excited to see Omar and his mum today at the hospital. She is a really lovely person, and I know that the team yesterday shared that she had got quite emotional by the end of the surgery yesterday.
In the evening yesterday also, Ammar shared a prayer request from the father of Omar, asking for God to heal him, and also sharing the pain that he felt that he can’t travel to be with his son at this hard time.
So, it was a big joy when I met the mother of Omar and she brought me into the room. I could see that now he has been extubated and looking beautiful. His mum was so happy and I shared that we have all been praying for him. Thank God that he is holding Omar’s life in his hands.
Please continue to pray for Omar’s healing, and for peace for his family.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
The day had finally come for Omar’s surgery! After coming to Israel and finding out he had a virus that delayed the operation, his mum has been anticipating his Glenn procedure for a week and a half. For most of the day, his mum was with the other mother’s in hospital from Gaza, and this is a blessing because they form a supportive community for one another, and go through their children’s heart surgery as a group rather than alone. At one point Omar’s mom, Reem’s mom, Nyaz’s mum, Musa’s father and another mum from Gaza who didn’t come to Sheba through Shevet, were all congregated in the sitting area outside the ICU. They were talking and laughing; I found the level of comfort they found in one another beautiful.
In the last hour before the end of Omar’s surgery, his mum started to get agitated and nervous as it had been a long time since they took him into the operating room. But thankfully a nurse came out and told her the surgery was done, but she still needed to wait. And her joy was shared by Tara and I and also Reem’s mum. The rule is that once the child is taken out of the operating theater to their hospital room, it take about thirty minutes to stabilize them, and for this duration the parents are asked to stay in the waiting room. And while Omar’s mum didn’t actually enter his room while they were stabilizing him, she did get as close as possible to see her son, before going back to the waiting area. She is soft spoken and gentle, but incredibly fierce when it comes to Omar. So tonight we thank God for a successful surgery, and that Omar’s mum can rest knowing her son has had the surgery he needs.
Omar has been in the hospital waiting for a surgery since last week and it was my honour and pleasure to visit him today.
Of course it’s not good for a child to need to be in the hospital, but as this is the only way we get to see these families from Gaza, it can feel like a lovely gift from God…He turns the bitter into sweet. When I realised that today that this “Omar” who I would be visiting is “Omar with the granddad who speaks good English” who was here in October last year, I just felt a rush of joy to be able to see him again. He was just a week old when he came to Sheba for his first operation, and I really remember him well. He was so tiny. I also have met him with his grandma at some stage over the winter time, and so today it was an immense privilege for me to finally be able to meet his mother, and to see how he has grown so much.
He is 9 months old! He is a beautiful and happy, alert and interactive little man, and his mum was really good company and fun to chat to. He has an older brother called Mohammed and we looked at lots of beautiful photos of the family.
Really, we have to praise God with thankful hearts that we are able to meet these lovely mothers, children and families. Especially also to share the joy which this mother has of having a family, and little Omar, who has lived all these months.
The mother of Omar also seems to have a lovely friendship with the mother of Reem, and they also welcomed another mum from Gaza who arrived today with her baby Mostafa. It’s so nice to feel the spirit of joy among these, as they experience hope and healing in the hospital here in Israel.
Please also pray for Omar; he has a virus at the moment which is delaying his surgery.
Coworker Marwan and I wanted to visit Omar at Sheba Hospital, but at the first try, the nurse informed us that Omar is having an echo. She also told us that the echo and a blood test result would decide for a discharge today or not.
