Besan’s day started fairly early, as she was taken into surgery around 8 am. The doctors worked to place a BT shunt in her tiny newborn-sized heart. We heard that this part of the surgery had gone fairly well. However, after many hours of calmly and patiently waiting, a group of staff from the hospital, including the head surgeon, came to break the news that when they had opened Besan’s chest, they had seen many of her blood vessels were closed.
The doctors promised that they would try hard to do their best to open the vessels as best they could, but were clear with the mother that Besan’s chances of survival from this procedure were low, and even in the case that she survived the procedure, her recovery was far from guaranteed.
The mother received this news steadily, and although there were some tears, she mainly whispered her praise and commitment to believing that God is above everything. She told me that although she knows the doctors are very good here, that everything is in the hands of God.
The waiting time passed quickly for this latter part of the day. Besan’s mum told me that she has three other children back in Gaza, a boy and two girls. Her husband is called Amar, the same as our Co-worker who first called her to offer help to bring Besan to Israel for surgery. Besan’s mum explained that this is her first time out of Gaza, and she had never thought that she would come here to Israel. She didn’t know that there were people and organizations who could and would help children like Besan.
Besan’s mother was full of praise for the hospital, and described the little community that the mums of the ICU have together, bound together by their situations. She has a particular new friend there from Hebron, and it sounds like the two of these mums have become friends.
Besan’s mother also told me that three days after giving birth, Besan went to the hospital in Gaza, and until she arrived in Israel, the mother was not allowed to enter the room to see her daughter or to touch her.
Before long, the secretary of the surgeon collected Besan’s mum and me and brought us to the surgeon’s offices. When a nurse arrived to translate, the surgeon gave the mother the news that they were not able to save Besan’s life. He said that he had never seen a case so severe as Besan’s. The mother cried a little as she declared “Al-hamdilullah” (praise be to God) and then a firm and genuine “shukran” (thank you) to the doctor.
An ambulance arrived after a few hours to begin the journey which would bring little Besan and her mother back to Gaza. Thank God for these two weeks of life which Besan had, barely ever out of the hospital. Thank God that we can trust she is with Him, Praise Him for every decision that He makes, and for His excellent leadership.
Please also pray for comfort for the mother and the family; may they know the love of the Father at this time.
May Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.
