Fayez was discharged from Sheba Medical Center today!
His brain MRI came back indicating nothing of major concern. His ability to drink has improved. Both milestones.
So at three o’clock, co-worker Moshe and I went to Sheba to collect him and his mom. The hours that followed weren’t so straightforward. We had to get a milk supplement that was prescribed by the doctor, but none of the chain pharmacies carried it. So we had to get another prescription from the doctor, which was just an easily accessible supplement called grape sugar, which will, in effect, help Fayez’s weight gain.
We proceeded to Erez Border Crossing where we waited for two hours while problems for permission to enter presented themselves again. Fayez’s mom was a trooper through all of it, though by the end she was exhausted. There was a Palestinian ambulance at the border for the majority of our wait. The EMTs with the ambulance were extremely kind, even checking Fayez’s oxygen at one point. Moshe conversed with them easily about the topic of nursing and medicine. Finally at eight o’clock, they allowed Fayez and his mom to enter Erez.
Please continue to pray for Fayez and his mom as they go into quarantine for three weeks. She really wants to see her two older boys who have been waiting for their mom and little brother.
May God watch over Fayez until his one month check-up. Although days like this are long, we can, at the end, thank God for every breath he has given us to live and love in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.
The attending doctor at Sheba Medical Center today explained that Fayez’ body seems quite stiff, and that also as he is continuing to have swallowing difficulties, they have requested an MRI scan of his brain.
We will keep you updated as we hear the results.
Meanwhile, please be praying for healing from these symptoms, and for peace for his sweet mother.
Fayez had an echocardiogram today in the heart clinic of Sheba Medical Center. As he traveled in his hospital bed, it was a reminder of just how small and precious he truly is. Praise God, his heart is showing improvement.
He still needs to transition from mechanical feeding to drinking milk independently. We continue to pray that he would grow. His mother’s heart is very beautiful. Though she is tired and yearning to return to her other children, she is willing to stay in the hospital so that Fayez can receive the best care possible. Fayez is precious to her, to us, to God.
Beautiful Fayez was asleep when Co-worker Georgia and I found him at Sheba Medical Center (near Tel Aviv) today.
His mum welcomed us. She even gave Fayez to me to hold for a brief time!
Hopefully he will be able return to Gaza soon. He had a brain scan yesterday which showed that everything was okay, but because he has been feeding through a tube for a long time he must relearn how to feed with a bottle before going back home.
Thank God for his life and for bringing him to Israel, despite the hurdles, to receive treatment!
If you can see a little face amongst all these many many blankets, it is Fayez! We found him, moved to a new department, as he is recovering so well, he no longer needs to be in the intensive care unit.
The doctor told us that Fayez had some difficulties with feeding last night, and therefore to give him a thorough assessment, he will have an EEG tomorrow, to test his brain and see if there is any neurological reason for the swallowing difficulty. He will also have an assessment of his feeding.
For now, we can be happy that he seems to be otherwise recovering well.
Please pray that his feeding difficulties are not long lasting.
At the Sheba Medical Center today, Fayez’s mother and I celebrated together as the mechanical ventilation machine was wheeled away from his room. The doctors did not think it was necessary for the machine to be in the room anymore.
He was extubated yesterday, but still receiving a moderate amount of oxygen support. Today, he was completely removed from oxygen support. His mother seemed to be full of hope as she saw the improvement.
Please continue to pray for Fayez, as he will have a check of his head to make sure there is no serious complication; there is some concern that his soft spot is larger than normal.
It was another lovely time with Fayez’ mum this afternoon. She is very happy because he has been extubated and is starting to drink milk now! We shared this happy experience with her mum in Gaza via video chat, which was very lovely.
Thank God that he is doing so well, and we can continue to pray that he heals from his surgery.
Fayez’ sweet mother welcomed me in to their hospital room today. She is so friendly and calm despite being in the hospital with her baby so soon after surgery, and it was very enjoyable to spend some time with her.
She expressed her gratitude to God for helping Fayez to recover so well that they were able to close his chest today!
This is a big victory. Praise God that we are seeing improvement for this tiny baby.
Since being at Shevet, I’ve experienced immense gestures of generosity in hospital rooms and waiting areas, often from mums who have very little themselves. Today was no exception.
As I was in the kitchen area with the mum of one of our Kurdish children, we met Fayez’ mum. She was really happy to see us – even through her face mask, I could tell she was smiling. Without a second thought, she opened the little tuna tin she was carrying, and insisted on sharing it with the two of us. I was touched and encouraged to see God’s heart of generosity, and the way He gives us these special moments together.
Please keep praying for Fayez. Following his surgery yesterday, his chest is still open and he has a long way to go.
Today, Fayez had a scheduled PA Banding surgery. It was successful, though a difficult surgery, and with a small amount of bleeding when he was being stabilized in his room.
I hadn’t met him or his mother before today. But during the hours that we spent waiting for Fayez to come out of surgery, I got to know her a little better. I met her husband and two older boys via a video -chat. They were eager to hear the news of their brother. She also introduced me to her mother, whom she later said raised seven children by herself, as the father died early on.
Strength and resolve runs in this family as was demonstrated by the courage Fayez’s mother showed in the waiting process. After about six hours, Fayez came out of the operating room. The surgeon spoke with us to say that the surgery was done but that it was quite difficult. The next 48 hours would be critical for Fayez, for now his chest must remain open.
Please pray that they might be able to close it soon, and for his mother, who was relieved her baby was out of surgery but worries now for the recovery process.
This was the first time I’d met Fayez and his mum, and I instantly fell in love with them both. Fayez’ mother is one of the sweetest people I’ve met. Where my Arabic quickly ran out, her kind, patient smile seemed to fill in all the gaps. I very quickly forgot the language barrier as we sat there together sharing photos and company.
Ten day old Fayez was doing much better today. The infection is improving and he isn’t on any oxygen. The medical team are hoping it will be possible to perform the surgery next week.
As the doctor explained all this, Fayez’ mother seemed to relax a little. The worry in her eyes turned to relief as she thanked God for her son’s improvement.
Fayez has an infection throughout his body, called sepsis. This is causing many blood imbalances. He is receiving antibiotics, and we are praying that he will be able to recover from this. He is relatively stable now, but the surgeons cannot perform his first surgery until he no longer has the infection.
Please pray for his mother as well, as she is recovering from delivering her beloved son Fayez. She misses her two other sons in Gaza as well.
We thank the Lord that we found Fayez stable in the ICU today. The doctors are waiting for his surgery to be scheduled until after he finishes six weeks of antibiotic treatments due to a virus.
And thankfully, we found the mom was doing well. However, it is difficult for her to be away from her family with two other kids at home and them having a difficult situation. Please pray for this sweet little boy and his family. May God give them grace and provision during this time and keep them under the shadow of His mighty wings. He is able and He can do it.
Yesterday a new baby from Gaza arrived urgently to Sheba Medical Center by ambulance. We welcomed new little Fayez to Israel! And when we write “new” we mean that this little boy is just eight days old.
When we looked for him, he was heading straight for a CT Scan together with a big group of nurses and doctors, as they needed to figure out some specific information about his condition.
In principle, Fayez has a difficult illness called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Children with this diagnosis are also called “the blue babies.” So you can see, it is a very difficult heart defect in which the functions of the heart are quite limited.
We are praying for a good and life-improving stay for Fayez in Israel.
