Approximately 50% of the population of Gaza is under the age of 14. It is essentially a land of children. Kids are victims of both conflict, and a medical system ill-equipped to handle their complex and special needs. Kids are also witnesses to horrors such as Mohy, 9, who lost his father to bombing. Yet kids will be kids, and Mohy and others were thrilled when some of our team members met them in the streets. Like all other kids, Mohy was interested in talking about movies, America and cell phones. The kids thought that our members were famous actors or singers from a far away land. Resiliency in children is unmatched and they find a way to get by, even in the most darkest of hours.
And by no surprise, many of the American doctors have had pediatric patients. The kind of expertise that this team brings is rare for Gaza, so they are attempting to tackle the difficult cases that are commonly sent out the country--something that is quite rare given tight border restrictions. Dr. Imran Qureshi had a 5 year old patient with sarcoma of the liver, an exceedingly rare form of cancer. This child had surgical removal of his cancer 6 months ago in Israel, but it had since reappeared--and he became very jaundiced. Using out-of-date 30 year old radiology equipment, Dr. Qureshi was able to place a drain into the liver, which would relieve the troubling symptoms the child was experiencing. Dr. Ismail Mehr performed anesthesia for this case without any standard monitoring equipment seen in normal operating rooms. He only had the use of an oxygen saturation device, despite complete sedation. The child is well now...but they know this is not a cure. They've only bought time until the cancer can be removed again. There is however, hope.
Hope is what the parents of a 4 year old boy are doing right now. Urologist Dr. Saeed Akthar and Dr. Mehr will be teaming up tomorrow to remove a Wilm's tumor of the kidney, another very rare condition. Dr. Akhtar does not know if the cancer has spread, but this is the boy's chance as he has been unable to move out of the country for higher level care. The boy comes from a poor family, that was unwilling to take any monetary assistance. The father, who owns a kabob shop, was overjoyed that somebody was helping his son; and showered the doctors with fresh kabobs. This in a place, where food is scarce and eating a kabob is a luxury.
Dr. Rick Colwell also encountered pediatric patients as he helped relieve an ER staff that has not taken breaks, days on end. Plastic surgeon, Dr. Irfan Galaria is also putting his surgical expertise to good use. Earlier today, he treated a 5 year old boy who had 10% burns to his body, primarily in the chest. He used extensive skin grafting and formation of skin flaps to heal the area affected by the burns. Many of his patients are requiring reconstructive surgery from blast injuries. And many other children are getting burned by fires from wood, and oil. The kids are lighting these fires to stay warm, as there is a lack of electricity in many parts of Gaza. While in surgery and treating wounds, Dr. Galaria and others have to make sure every stitch counts--there is limited suture material and a lack of local anesthetic.
It is these stories of triumph in a war-torn land that provide hope. To kids like Mohy, whose eyes are awe-struck at a chance celebrity sighting, in midst of despair.
