During the car ride from Erez to Sheba Hospital, Ahmed was very unhappy because he had to sit in a car seat for little children and was not allowed to sit on his mother’s lap. Thankfully the car ride was not that long and after a while he fell asleep from exhaustion of crying.
After he arrived at the hospital, he enjoyed walking around and playing with a red car. This made the long wait at the hospital seem short because he had a distraction.
Ahmad had an echo and EKG check at Sheba Hospital. Sadly he was so scared of getting an echo that he screamed the whole time so it was not possible to do it. But since he looked so healthy the doctor said that the EKG would be enough.
And since he is doing so well in his EKG and physical check, we will see him again in six months.
Today Ahmad returned to Sheba for his follow-up echo. Ahmad is a large and chubby baby, bursting with life, and he wailed for the entirety of his examination, which made it last that much longer.
I sympathized with the fear he must have been feeling–in his shoes I expect I’d have reacted the same way. Only when his mother held him would he be calm, and as soon as he was, he was all smiles, eager to play and engage.
Eventually the examination was over, and praise God! good news all around. The doctor is very pleased with his overall condition.
He’ll be back in three months for a follow-up echo and Holter test, and in the meantime, Ahmad will continue growing big and strong.
Only a day after his catheterization Ahmad was again discharged back home! He is doing great and when I entered the hospital to pick him up he and his mom were already ready to leave. Ahmad was smiling a lot and I’m very happy to see this cute boy again in one month.
Today was a special day for Ahmad and his family because an important catheterization was due. Unfortunately, the results did not live up to the hopes of the family and doctors. Originally the plan had been to open his blocked superior vena cava–the vein that returns blood from the upper half of his body to the heart.
Unfortunately, alternative branches had already developed in the meantime. Therefore, the doctors had to stop the catheterization and now look for new solutions for the problem. The mother was sad because of the fact that further treatment would be necessary. The only consolation is that the blood flows a little better now. But that’s only a short-term consolation.
May God give the doctors wisdom in their decisions and be with the family.
Coworker Simone and I collected Ahmad and his mother from Erez crossing this morning. Ahmad is a happy little man and was enjoying his time away with his mother. He is due to be admitted to Sheba Hospital today for a Cath tomorrow. After the signing in at the desk, off we went to have an echo. Well that and the X-ray that followed really stressed poor little Ahmad and his mother out. Finally their beds on the ward became available and it was time for a much-needed sleep. Lord I pray you will watch over previous little Ahmad and your hand would be upon him as he goes through his Cath procedure tomorrow.
It made me so happy to see little Ahmad t his morning, he greeted me with his big friendly eyes, stretched-out hands and a big smile on his face. Ahmad had a Cath on Thursday. We can give thanks to God that everything went well and he recovered well over the week. He needs to come back for another Cath in two months. He had quite a stressful discharge, since two families were released at the same time and still had many questions about the medication for their children, we were able to bring Ahmad and his mom back to the border. Please pray for Ahmad’s health and also following up appointments
Our little Ahmad just had his interventional cath today and fortunately everything went so well. The doctors managed to open one of his veins and didn’t have any complications. Ahmad will need another cath to open the vein again, otherwise it will close again. For now, he is in a very good condition and will keep recovering.
Thank God for the work done today in Ahmad’s life.
Even though the rains have started here in Israel and this morning was no exception, I found a little ray of sunshine in my day today and his name is Ahmad.
This joyful little man was scheduled for an ECG and an X-ray today before being admitted so he can have his Cath appointment tomorrow morning. The results of the ECG were good but Ahmad was not so convinced about all the cable that had to be attached to his little body to get a good result;
mum’s help was very much needed to keep him calm. I spent a lot of time with this gorgeous buddle of joy playing ‘pull Craig’s mask off and check if his beard is real.’
Please pray that everything will go well with the cath appointment tomorrow and that this happy little man stays healthy and infecting everyone with his wonderful smile. I wish all my rainy days could be filled with such beautiful rays of sunshine.
Today, little Ahmad had his follow-up echo at Sheba Hospital. His surgery was four months ago and the doctors wanted to see how he is doing, as well as determine if any changes need to be made in his medication. Although he cried a bit during the echo and ECG, he was very brave and calmed down real quick as he saw the cars on the ‘in hospital’ playground again.
He even met some new people in the play area with whom he became friends very fast. We played and laughed together until the doctor came to us to bring us some good news: for now everything is fine with Ahmad.
Ahmad can return to his home and family in Gaza until his next cath in a few months. He will also have a Holter test and a follow-up in the endocrinology clinic right before the cath. So for now we had to say goodbye to him, but we’re looking forward to seeing him again in a few months.
Please pray for little Ahmad. We want to thank the Lord that he is so well and such a lively child!
Ahmad was discharged today after a another last-minute change in his medicine. All the doctors and nurses on his floor joined in our happiness that he will now spend time with his family.
“Finally, finally,” was Ahmad’s mother’s words, she was so excited and she didn’t know how to express all she was feeling. Her son also looked happier. He definitely knew he would be home in the afternoon.
Ahmad’s mom had to learn how to supply her son with the medication in Gaza.
Ahmad had an appointment with the endocrinologist before leaving and will have an echo in one month and will be hospitalized at that time for two days to check on his progress with the new medication. So pray for his health and goods results in his follow-up appointment, and also for wisdom for his doctors.
Our cutest Ahmad had an X-ray taken today at Sheba Hospital, and the doctors wants to do a few more tests to check his improvement with the change in his medication, and to confirm the fact that he is ready to go home.
When I asked after Ahmad because I found his room empty. Everyone knew whom I was seeking; our Ahmad is loved by a big part of the staff at Sheba. He’s been in hospital for more than three months.
As usual, Ahmad’s mom was smiling, but a little nervous, hoping that this time both she and her son can finally be released home to be with their family as soon as possible.
This morning, coworker Joanne and I went to visit Ahmad in Sheba Hospital. The doctors told us that Ahmad had an echo today, and that the results from the Holter test will come out tomorrow. With the results, they can give Ahmad the right amount of medicine for his arrhythmia.
Ahmad’s mother seemed exhausted. She told us that Ahmad has not been eating or sleeping well. She also currently lacks sleep because of this.
Please pray that Ahmad’s results will be good and that he would continue to be stable. Please also pray that Ahmad and his mother would be able to get rest.
Our little Ahmad had a decrease in his medication and had a good response to the new medicine for his arrhythmia.
Because Ahmad had an improvement yesterday after the holter test, the doctors will decide if he can be discharged home in the afternoon.
You can see in Ahmad’s face the happiness and shyness when our new friends came to said hi. Ahmad’s Mom is excited for tomorrow’s test. She trusts in God’s time and prays for the doctor’s wisdom.
Ahmad had been having a holter test for three days in Sheba Hospital, and will continue until Monday with the holter so that doctors have a better picture of his heartbeat.
It’s beautiful to see how lovely Ahmad’s mother is with him and how patiently trusting she is in God’s time.
For now, Ahmad has had a change in his medication. He couldn’t be discharged a few weeks before because the doctors discovered Ahmad had an arrhythmia sometimes. Now he needs a new diagnosis. Doctors are also watching his reactions to the new medication. Ahmad’s discharge is near. Thanks for your prayers for this little one.
Coworker Momo and I visited our cute Ahmad and his mother today at Sheba Medical Center, and also found a doctor to talk to. Ahmad is improving further, but still they need to watch him for at least a week more.
Ahmad was so close to going home last week, so Ahmad’s mom is now sad that they have to wait longer. Still she was very happy to see us today. Also Ahmad was smiling every time I looked at him. He is such a cute boy! It’s so good to see him like this now, when I remember the time he stayed in the ICU before and wasn’t doing well at all.
Thank you Lord for what you’ve already done in this little life. Thanks for continuing in prayer for Ahmad.
Our cute Ahmad is waiting already quite a long time to finally return home. The last weeks he had to learn how to eat, which he now finally can do. He is completely eating on his own!
Yesterday the doctor was still quite optimistic that Ahmad could be discharged today, but this morning they told me that his heartbeat is now arrhythmic. He is receiving a new medication now which should help him, but it means again waiting for his mom who is eagerly anticipating the return home.
Ahmad was smiling to me today and I think that’s the only reason why his crying mom can wait still so patiently – her child already improved so much and she wants only the best for him.
Thank you for praying that this new drug will help Ahmad and that he can go home soon.
Ahmad is doing really well. He is a happy baby. I spoke to his doctor today and he says he will be ready to go home this week. The mother is very happy with this news, so that she can be back with her family again.
A physiotherapist checked Ahmad today. She said that he is a little behind on his development, which is logical after all these months in the ICU. When he goes home, he will probably develop a little bit faster.
Thank you for your prayers for Ahmad these last months. Praise God that He cared for Ahmad. Please keep praying for his development.
Today I visited cute little Ahmad and his lovely mother at Sheba Medical Center. He was peacefully sleeping and his mother cared so lovingly about him. She and I talked a little bit and she asked me directly if I could speak with a doctor.
I did that and the doctor gave me a lot of information about him. He is eating very well, so they could take his sonde out and he is eating completely on his own! Praise the Lord!
Before I had arrived today, Ahmad had an echo and it looked okay, but the Cardiology department want to follow him further. He also had a blood test, but they hadn’t all the results yet, and the one result they already had is okay.
Furthermore, the doctors have to see how the result will be of his endocrinology tests. The function of his thyroid gland was very interrupted, but they don’t know the result yet. They have to talk to the endocrinologist to see if they have to change something in his medications.
It is possible that Ahmad could be discharged at the end of this week at the earliest, but probably later, because they have to wait for the results of everything tested. When I explained everything to Ahmad’s mother, she started crying. She really misses her family and doesn’t want to wait longer to return back home. I tried to calm her and she stopped crying. She wanted to leave the hospital today.
So let’s pray for Ahmad, for good test results, and patience for his mother.
It was so good to see Ahmad so active and smiling today. His mother’s spirits were also up. Ahmad is still not gaining enough weight, but at least his weight is going in the right direction.
Today the doctors were checking his kidneys and his thyroid function. They will check his thyroid again on Sunday with a blood test. The doctor also wanted to see about some physical therapy to help with his eating and his motor skills. There is a lot of testing going on, but it seems like Ahmad is slowly going in the right direction. Praise God!
After his successful cath yesterday, coworker Frank and I visited Ahmad at Sheba Medical Center today. Right now Ahmad’s heart is doing well.
However, during the coming days, Ahmad has to learn to eat without the feeding tube and because he has a cleft pallet he probably needs some time for that. When I talked to the doctor he said that if Ahmad can eat he will finally be released to return home. I’m very happy to see how he is improving.
Please continue praying for Ahmad and his lovely mother, that they will be able to go home to their family soon.
Little Ahmad had a cath at Sheba Hospital today to dilate vessels. Everything went well! The doctors are now just waiting for him to learn to eat well by mouth, then hopefully he can be discharged.
Ahmad’s mother told coworker Doro and me quite happily that everything went well. She was very glad. In six months, Ahmad will need another cath. His mother hopes that he will eat well soon, so they can return home.
Thank you Lord for the good cath. Let’s pray that Ahmad improves eating so that they both can return home.
When I visited Ahmad at Sheba Hospital today he was awake and happy. His mother told me that he is doing well so far. Ahmad is stable but has a bit of trouble still with swallowing. His cath, postponed due to bacteria, is now scheduled for Tuesday. Ahmad’s mom was happy that someone came to visit her and told me about all the other children from Gaza that are in the hospital right now.
Let’s pray that the cath on Tuesday will take place and it will go well!
Today, doctors at Sheba Hospital began the process of preparing Ahmad for a catherization with the plan to widen a narrow artery, when they detected that he has bacteria in his blood. So the cath is postponed until next week.
Ahmad’s mother was hopeful and is always with love at her son’s side. Let’s pray that everything will work out well and Ahmad can have his cath when he’s ready.
Our cute little Ahmad is doing so well, that he has been moved to the secondary pediatric ICU at Sheba Hospital. There, coworker Joanne and I met him and his mother today.
Ahmad’s mother is so lovely and always very well informed as to how her only child is doing. So, she explained today that he may have a cath tomorrow to widen his narrow arteries.
So, let’s continue praying for Ahmad. God brought him already this far and will never leave his side.
Today coworker Frank and I visited little Ahmad and his mother at Sheba Hospital.
Today the doctors took out two of Ahmad’s drains, so he has only one left. He is doing very well and looks better than the last time I saw him!
He also had an ultrasound of his Thyroid gland today and now we are waiting for results.
Please pray for this little guy, his mother and that everything continues to improve for Ahmad.
Today, I visited little Ahmad and his mom at Sheba Hospital. Ahmad’s mother was very happy to tell me that one virus is already gone from Ahmad, but he still suffers from another virus.
Also, Ahmad is back on oxygen support. Some weeks ago, the doctors did a genetic test on Ahmad, which came back negative. So, Ahmad doesn’t have the syndrome the doctors thought he might have. They will keep searching.
Please pray for Ahmad, that God may restore his health and the doctors have wisdom how to treat him further. Thanks for all prayers.
Today coworker Hanna and I went to Sheba Medical Center to visit little Ahmad.
Right now, he has some infections in his body. He has bacteria in his blood and urine. He also has leukocytosis (low white blood cell count). He gets antibiotics now and the doctors will do some more tests to find out where this comes from.
Ahmad is extubated! His mother and the doctors at Sheba Hospital are very happy about this. For now, Ahmad is still on oxygen support and the doctors will try in some days to feed him through his mouth.
Coworker Doro and I found Ahmad today awake and active in his bed. It was very nice to see him and his mother, who is patiently, and happily at his side.
Please pray for Ahmad, that he will continue to improve. May God restore his health.
Ahmad is doing okay after his catheterization on Thursday. He is still stable and even improving a little bit. Today they wanted to try to extubate him, so tomorrow we will find out if that worked.
Ahmad’s mother is doing okay. If I ask her how Ahmed is doing, she always responds with, ‘In Gods will, good.’ She is a very kind person and very patient.
We ask for your prayer for Ahmad and also for his mother.
Today I visited little Ahmad in Sheba Hospital. He had a catheterization today which was very successful and the doctor is really happy about the good result. They were able to delete the narrowing of a vein. Now they will see how he is doing and if he needs further treatments, which, if he does, they will decide which ones he will need.
Let’s pray for Ahmad, his family and that he is doing better now.
Ahmad is stable after yesterday’s surprise surgery in Sheba Hospital. The doctors did not find a blood clot as they expected, but they were able to move things around a bit to improve the circulation of blood.
When I met Ahmad’s mother today, she was anxious about him but still very calm. “Inshallah khair,” she said when I asked how he is– God willing, well.
For now the doctors will wait to see how Ahmad continues to recover before they decide what to do for him next. Please pray for healing for him.
Today I went to Sheba Medical Center to visit little Ahmad. The doctor told me that his case is very complicated. Ahmad is edematous (he has fluid in his body). He had a CT scan today because the doctors suspected that one of his veins is blocked. Later today Ahmad had to go to an emergency surgery because of a blood clot. The doctor could not find the blood clot but was able to free the blocked vein. For now Ahmad is okay and stable; please pray that he will stay stable and will get better.
Today, coworker Celina and I visited little Ahmad. Yesterday, he had his heart surgery which went really well. He is stable now and the doctors are pleased by it.
The doctors had planned to extubate him, but his blood pressure was not very good, so the doctors changed some medication and now want to wait until the circumstances are better to extubate him. Probably he will also need quite some time to recover.
We also talked with Ahmad’s mother a little. Ahmad is her first and only child. I’m sure she will be a good mother to him.
Let’s pray for this precious child, that God restores his health. We can also pray for the special relationship between mother and son.
Today little Ahmad had his surgery to repair his Tetralogy of Fallot at Sheba Medical Center. The doctor told me that his surgery went perfect and without any troubles.
Ahmad’s mom was very nervous while waiting during the surgery, but a grandmother, who has a grandchild in the hospital right now, waited with her and was there for her. It’s really nice to see how all the moms and grandparents of the children in the hospital are there for each other.
Please continue praying for little Ahmad and his lovely mother.
As so often happens in life, plans change. Ahmad’s surgery was postponed today. He will have his surgery next Sunday.
For the doctors, it’s probably not always easy to decide when to take which child into surgery. We can pray for all the doctors, for the decisions and especially the surgery of Ahmad on Sunday.
In all this we know for sure: God sees and loves everyone. “Are not five sparrows (or fish) sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (or fish).” – Luke 12, 6+7
How much more does he love all those sick children in the hospital! Also little Ahmad. He will keep his hand over him.
Today, the doctors at Sheba Medical decided to take Ahmad, our latest emergency baby from Gaza, into surgery tomorrow. They also did a CT scan, but have no results yet.
He was sleeping peacefully when I visited them. Ahmad’s mother is patiently by his side. She wants just the best for her son. So let’s pray for this little guy, that everything will go well in the surgery, bringing healing to Ahmad.
Emergency three month old Ahmad from Gaza arrived today to Sheba Hospital. He has been diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot which needs to be treated soon.
At the hospital Ahmad underwent a lot of tests to give information to the doctors. Ahmad’s mother was staying bravely next to her son, supporting him.
Please pray for Ahmad in this fragile time for him.