Salma is a beautiful, serene fifteen-day old girl from Gaza. Her heart is incredibly complex, and I think it was only by God’s provision that Salma was able to receive care in Israel.
She was relying on a medication to keep her Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) open, but by way of a catheterization, doctors were able to place stents in her PDA to keep it open and allow for the circulation of oxygenated blood to her small body. Praise God, she recovered and responded very well to the procedure. She was discharged with medications.
One of the medications which helps prevent blood clots developing in her stent, was not readily available at the major local pharmacy. It was not possible to obtain until a few days later. One of Salma’s relatives drove all the way to the border to deliver this medication for Salma.
Our neighbor Moshe kindly brought Salma and her mother from the hospital to Erez Border Crossing. They navigated many challenges, but praise God that Salma was able to return to Gaza. The doctors would like her to return in a month for a follow-up visit, and possibly later in life, she may need a surgery.
Please pray for their time together in the quarantine house, which is mandatory for all returning to Gaza. We look forward to seeing her soon.
I reached Salma’s hospital room at the same time as the doctor this morning. Her mother gave her consent to today’s procedure which was to place a stent to help her blood flow.
Little Salma is the youngest of four children, only ten days old. She was crying before she was taken to the procedure as she was hungry from fasting. It made her mum sad to see her upset, and with the worry for the catheterisation also, there were a few tears shed.
After she left the baby in the hands of the doctors, Salma’s mum was comforted by some other parents who are with Shevet Achim and also at the hospital today; Mohaned’s sweet grandma, who is from the same city in Gaza, and Khonav’s empathetic mother, who remembers well the worry of having her daughter progress through three catheterisations.
After two and half hours, the doctors brought Salma out, and announced that the cath had been successful and that Salma was doing well. Her mum burst into happy relieved tears.
Salma is now recovering in the Sheba Hospital ICU. Hopefully it will be possible to extubate her later today!
Newborn Salma was resting quietly in the Sheba Hospital ICU when I met her today. Even being only a little over a week old, she resembles her beautiful mother so much.
I got to chat with her for a bit and explain who I was and that I was a volunteer from Shevet. She had so much peace about her even in the midst of the ICU. She’s a lovely woman.
Please pray for Salma’s future, she will have an interventional catheterization in two days, God willing.
Salma is a beautiful, serene fifteen-day old girl from Gaza. Her heart is incredibly complex, and I think it was only by God’s provision that Salma was able to receive care in Israel.
