Four month old Raied returned to Israel for a follow up echo today. Intermittently over the last few months his mum has called Georgia as they built a very close friendship when she was here in the hospital, so today she was excited to her again.
The cardiologist in Gaza had taken Raied off his medications, which caused some change in his heart function, but overall he is doing well, and will come back for another follow up in four months.
His mum, along with Georgia and another Gaza mum went to the supermarket in the hospital to get some snacks for the drive which they really enjoyed, and a very special moment was when we arrived at Erez border and some of Raied’s mother’s family were waiting to say a quick hello to her. It had been years since they had seen each other. Seeing how they embraced and just sort of held one another for a few minutes after years of being apart was really quite sad; the relatives also held little Raied as well. The reunion lasted maybe five minutes before Raied and his mum crossed the border into Gaza. We will see this lovely family in four months time.
Raied and his mother had to stay at our guest House in Jerusalem with the other Kurdish families for a little while and they enjoyed their time there. Today they had to come to the Sheba Medical Center to see how Raied is faring and if there is a possibility for him and his mother to go back to the rest of the family in Gaza.
For me it was lovely to see this precious little boy and his extremely friendly mother today, because the last time I’d seen them was after his surgery in the ICU and he was still on the breathing tube. It made me very happy that I could see them again today after a long while, and that Raied was doing so well.
Raied had an Echo today, during which His lovely mother was holding his small hands to help calm him down. It worked out very well actually. After the Echo was done, we had to wait for the doctor quite a long time. This caused Raied to get a bit upset and hungry so he started to cry. I gave him a bottle. Thanks to the power of milk, after a short while he was falling asleep peacefully in my arms.
The waiting for the doctor was absolutely worth it. He told us that he and his mother can return back to their family in Gaza. When Raied’s mom heard it, she was literally jumping because she was so happy. Co-worker Sebastian brought them to Gaza today. PTL.
I saw Raied’s mum following a bed being wheeled through the Cardiology Department this morning at Sheba Medical Center. She called to me, and said that they were moving to a new room.
When I later came to visit them, I found they had been moved into the newly re-opened Intermediate Cardiac ICU. There are not too many patients there yet, and therefore also not too much staff. Yet still, it was a real pleasure to see a familiar nurse there whom we have worked with many times. As ever, she was helpful, welcoming and very kind. Raied’s mum was feeling a bit anxious about being the only Arabic speaker in the department at the moment.
For me it was a big blessing to be able to see Raied face to face for the first time as this department is not so restricted as the ICU. I sat with him for a while, and thought how lovely it is that hopefully the end of their time in hospital is in sight.
Although he has the nasal cannula for oxygen, the oxygen supplement was switched off today, and Raied managed to maintain a good saturation. He is drinking milk slowly, and overall is doing well. Mum is happy, and also hopeful that she may be able to soon return home to the rest of the family with him.
I was very happy to see Raied’s mother in the Sheba Hospital ICU today. Raied’s mother brought me to the new hospital room he had been moved to.
From the doorway, he looked very small in the bed and as I am not allowed inside the room (due to coronavirus restrictions), mum took my phone to take some pictures to show me the exciting improvement that he has made since I last saw them.
She showed the photo and happily told me he is awake, a great joy to this lovely mother! She is starting to be able to think hopefully about his future. Although it’s some time away, we have hoped between ourselves that when the time comes to return with a healthy baby to Gaza, that I will drive her back to the border.
Raied’s mother has been a great help within our community, offering kindness and support and encouragement for the other mothers of Gaza. It is a privilege for all of us to know this kind and generous lady.
Praise God that slowly, slowly Raied is improving. Thank you for your prayers.
When we visited Raied and his mom in the Sheba Medical Center Intensive Care Unit today, she told us with joy in her voice that her precious little son is doing well.
He is still intubated, but thank God he is stable after his successful surgery yesterday. Your prayers are appreciated.
I visited Raied’s mother today at Sheba hospital. She immediately told me that Raied has been in surgery since eight o’clock in the morning.
We sat together for some time, and she showed me some pictures of Raied in his first days of life. He was just one day in hospital and home by the second day. As we sat there together, her phone was ringing all the time, with calls from her family back in Gaza wanting to know how the surgery was going, and how she was doing. She told me that both her and her husband’s hearts during these hours are beating so fast, thinking about their precious only son now in the hands of the doctors.
After approximately four hours of surgery, first one and then a second doctor came out to tell mum the good news that the surgery has finished, and has been completely successful. Thanks be to God. In around 30 minutes, we could expect to see Raied being brought out through the doors of the operating room. At this news, Raied’s mother dissolved into tears exclaiming her thanks to the doctors and to God, over and over again. When she broke the news emotionally to her husband via video-chat, his response was a huge and gentle smile.
Mum is looking forward to being able to hold Raied again, and has been told that perhaps after two days, he could be ready to drink milk again.
Thankfully, we saw him being brought out and up to the Intensive Care Unit as predicted by the surgeon. Mum happily followed, and Raied is now recovering in ICU with her by his side. Thank you for your prayers.
Raied, only a few days old, traveled to Sheba hospital from Gaza yesterday night in an ambulance. His young mother is with him, leaving behind Raied’s sister, whom she is missing.
By the time I met Raied and his mother in the Intensive Care Unit, he had already had a catheterisation in order to perform the Rashkind Procedure, a process of opening a small hole between the atria in his heart.
His diagnosis is dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries (d-TGA), which means that without intervention his body would be receiving de-oxygenated blood. Without emergency treatment, he would not be able to survive, and so the procedure today, as well as medicine he received in Gaza, has helped to keep him alive.
He is also undergoing further assessment to make a plan for the next steps for him, potentially a surgery soon. Thank you for adding little Raied to your prayers.
