In the Holy Land, children with hope that is stronger than pain

2017-12-28 07:15:07
In the dialysis department of the Augusta Victoria Hospital in Jerusalem, patience and hope help Palestinian children deal with cancer pain and renal failure. Doctors spare no effort to help, to comfort and to alleviate the pain of these little ones. IBRAHIM AL_KHATIB Coordinator of the Community Work Center – Augusta Victoria Hospital "We try to combine medical treatments with actions aimed at psychological support to the children in the Department of Hematology and Renal Diseases. Since they live here, away from their home and from their school environment, we promote different activities to fill these gaps.” Through drawings, for example, children are able to express joy, amid so much suffering. As might be expected, the Christmas atmosphere and the joy of Jesus' birth could not fail to reach us, here! The children were surprised to see the hospital turn into a real feast! They received gifts from the volunteers of the Surbaher Women's Secondary School, from the Christian Youth Association, from the YMCA and from the entire staff. And in addition to gifts, the most important thing they receive here is love, so much love, which they reciprocate with smiles. It is absolutely priceless! Mother of Ali abu Hassira – Gaza "My son was walking normally when he suddenly began to feel pain in his foot. They found a mass in his spinal cord: it was cancer, already in metastasis. Now we are waiting for futher testing before starting chemotherapy.” Mother of Karam Tubbasi "My son's health is in critical condition. He is in dialysis, but we do not lose hope and we are always grateful to God!”