A life-saving medication

Posted January 3, 2022 by Joanne

Today Fatima went back to Gaza with her life-saving medication.

It is always a delight to have her and her mother in our house. Fatima likes to play with the other children in our house and Fatima’s mother loves to cook. We have tasted some incredible meals from her already.

‘Lord, we pray that your blessing is on Fatima and her mother. Protect them and touch them with your love.’

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First return of many

Posted January 2, 2022 by Alena

Today was the first time that Fatima has returned for a check up; this is significant because she will need to return every month for the following years in order to receive her life-saving medication and also to see her cardiologist. I’m not sure there has been a case like Fatima’s at Shevet before, and certainly not in the last three years that I have have here.

She has been dubbed “khamuda,” which is Hebrew for cute, or also something like the name ‘cutie’ by everyone. The doctors taking care of her are very devoted to her, and so many people have rallied around this little girl to ensure that everything that can be done, is being done for her.

The echo and ECG today was about the same as a month ago. It’s good to know the medication is working for her.

This evening she is with a Holter monitor and, God willing, if the results are normal when checked tomorrow, she can return to Gaza forthwith.

Continuing in prayer for Fatima is so important; for her I often wonder how this system will be sustainable or possible considering how many variables are in the medicine alone, notwithstanding obtaining permission with the border. Jesus was certainly pragmatic when he said to not worry about tomorrow because today has enough worry of its own.

But today turned out very well, so with gratitude for this and faith in God’s sovereignty, we can trust Him for next month and the next month and the one after that. Each in its own time.

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See you in a few weeks

Posted December 14, 2021 by Alena

By God’s grace we found a steady way to supply Fatima with her medication. Every medicine for every child is important, but in Fatima’s case, it is very much keeping her alive, so the weight of preparing it or teaching the mother how to do so, was a serious responsibility. Thank God Fatima did not have any episodes while staying in Jaffa, and please pray that this will continue to be the case once she is back home.

She was discharged today from Sheba hospital and returned to Gaza after a good ECG and being given another supply of her medication. She is due to return in a couple of weeks; every visit from now on will be time-sensitive, because Fatima must return before her current supply of medication runs out. Please be praying that there will be a way made for her to come across the Gaza border without any problems in the perfect timing to receive her next supply of medicines.

Everyone loves Fatima; she and her mother were an honor to have in our house. Initially shy at first, Fatima has opened up, much to coworker Bria’s credit. She is eager to play with the other staff and children her age now.

Even staff at the hospital came today to say farewell to her. Please keep this precious girl in your prayers.

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After much careful review

Posted November 30, 2021 by Alena

After much careful review and planning, Fatima has been discharged from the hospital to stay in our Jaffa house for the coming weeks.

Her cardiologist was amazing and consulted with world experts in the field to decide the best way forward for her. Thankfully the medication she is on controls her spells and she hasn’t had one since starting the medication.

This medicine is rare and even in Israel, can be difficult to get, and is not at all in Gaza. The floor that discharged her was really accommodating in helping figure out this medication and offered at any point to help out in the coming weeks that Fatima is with us.

Please pray for the future of this beautifully creative and wonderfully intelligent young girl. She will need this medication for life, so we are setting up a plan for her to continue to get it when she comes for follow-up in Israel.

Please also pray that we, the volunteers, could extend generous love as we know it in and through Christ.

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Being creative

Posted November 22, 2021 by Tabea

Fatima still waits for her medication patiently, which is hard to get. I saw her painting with a social worker of the Sheba Hospital. She seems very happy and enjoys being creative.

Please pray that the medication will be available for her very soon and that we receive answers if she could be discharged to our community home in Jaffa or to Gaza.

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Hope and reassurance

Posted November 15, 2021 by Alena

Fatima’s condition is being managed with a new medication, but she still needs to be monitored in Israel, currently the doctor of the ward at Sheba hospital and the cardiologist are talking about the best way forward for her; the medicine is rare and difficult to get, and God willing, we will be able to help supply this for her.

However, there is also a question of where she will go when she is discharged. Will she return to Gaza or will she need to stay in Jaffa? Please be praying for what is best for Fatima, and that God will direct exactly what needs to happen.

But God is always present with us as exemplified today; just as co-worker Sabrina and I were leaving our community house to go to Sheba, we thought to bring a coloring book and some colored pencils for Fatima because she loves to draw. We gave these to her and spent some time with her and her mother, and after a while her mother said that this morning Fatima had asked for colored pencils to draw with. How could we have known to bring them because we couldn’t have known Fatima had asked for them.

The answer was obvious for both of us, and we smiled in a sort of deeply satisfied way because we knew it was our God that orchestrated this. So in this small way, we received hope and reassurance that God knows what we need before we ask, and he will bring everything together for Fatima. Today it was colored pencils, and in the coming weeks, He will guide us in how to do what is best for Fatima and her health.

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Wisdom for treatment

Posted November 14, 2021 by Rachel

When Bria and I went to visit Fatima at Sheba hospital today, we found her doing puzzles with some of the educational staff. She was very warm and inviting.

Fatima has been taking a medicine to help her fainting spells, and there has been improvement in her condition. The doctors are deciding the next steps for treatment, whether it will be to remain in Sheba or return to Gaza.

Please be praying for the doctors to have wisdom in their decisions, and for peace for Fatima’s family.

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Take courage

Posted November 1, 2021 by Georgia

Coworker Alena and I had seen the photos which Julio shared of Fatima, since collecting her yesterday at Ben Gurion airport, and looked forward to meeting her as she looks very cute. Today we found her in her Sheba hospital room, happily drawing pictures of cats in her hospital bed, looking settled and quite happy.

We also met her mother, who bravely shared with us some of her story. She is very hopeful that there can be a treatment here in Israel which will protect or even save Fatima’s life. Fatima experiences fainting spells, which have been attributed to an electrophysiology problem of her heart. Very sadly, her younger brother also was suffering from the same condition, and was unable to recover from a fainting spell. He has recently died.

When we spoke to her Cardiologist, he was very pleased that she is now hospitalised, and expressed that her life too is at risk from these unmanaged fainting episodes. Since the arrival last night, Fatima’s medication has been changed, and she needs to be monitored to check whether this is able to manage her condition. The doctor is also recommending genetic testing. He explained that in some cases, it is sometimes necessary to place a pacemaker with defibrillator, although he is hoping that this will not be necessary for Fatima. It can work less accurately in patients as young as she is.

Please pray for Fatima and her mother, that God would protect her life, and bring a much-needed comfort to their family.div>

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Welcome Fatima

Posted October 31, 2021 by Julio

It was already dark when I picked up Fatima and her mother from the Erez Border. We have been waiting for a few days now for her to get permission to come to Sheba Medical Centre from Gaza. She has a few electrophysiological problems in her heart.

The journey was good although Fatima got sick from motion in the car, but afterwards she was feeling better. When we arrived to Sheba hospital, she played in the play area, and had a lot of fun there.

She was hospitalized, and the nurses carried out some tests for her admission, as well as bringing tea and food, and looked after her well. She will be seen tomorrow by one of the Pediatric cardiologists.

Please pray for Fatima.

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