Gaza – Ma’an – In the physiotherapy and rehabilitation department of Al Amal Hospital, affiliated with the Palestine Red Crescent Society, stories of courage and determination are evident in every corner. This department is not just a place for physical healing, but a haven for the human spirit searching for hope after intense suffering.

Here, the mission of doctors and specialists is not limited to treating physical wounds, but extends to include psychological and spiritual challenges, reflecting the strength of will and resilience in the face of adversity. The stories told in this section highlight the ability of a person to overcome the harshest circumstances and rebuild his life anew.

Israa is suspended in the air and her hope is in life

In one moment, the life of Israa Abdul Karim Saadia, a 31-year-old teacher, turned into an endless nightmare.

On March 27, 2024, which coincided with the 17th of Ramadan, Israa was with her family visiting her sister in a rented house in the city of Rafah in the sout
hern Gaza Strip. But that visit, which was full of feelings of happiness and reassurance, turned into a horrific tragedy when a missile targeted a neighboring house.

At that moment, Israa lost her father, mother, brother and daughter, while her sister was seriously injured and permanently disabled, and she lost her husband and daughter.

Israa herself had a very painful experience; she was thrown by a missile and was left hanging by one foot in the air, bleeding for 3 hours without the doctors knowing if she would survive. With every passing moment, the hope of her survival faded, but her determination and resilience were stronger than any difficulties. That horrific experience was not the end of her story, but the beginning of a new journey of courage and success.

In the heart of her ordeal, Israa was approaching the bottom of an endless darkness. While she felt pain wringing her body, nothing was more painful than the moment she heard the doctors discuss the decision to amputate her leg before she lost co
nsciousness, only to wake up later and search for her feet. Her treatment journey was long and exhausting, as she received 24 units of blood and had platinum implanted in both of her feet, from the pelvis down.

She underwent more than seven surgeries, each one of which was a test. Israa came out of this experience unable to move her feet, believing that she would never walk on her feet again.

Israa’s physical and psychological recovery journey began when she arrived at the Palestine Red Crescent Society on July 2, 2023. Her condition was difficult, as she suffered from burns, compound fractures in her lower limbs, and motor and muscular impairment.

The treating doctor evaluated her condition and developed a comprehensive treatment plan, including cosmetic surgeries and fracture fixation, with intensive follow-up to prevent complications.

The physiotherapy sessions continued under the supervision of physiotherapist Mohamed Hamada, starting with muscle strengthening and balance improvement sessions, until I
sraa was able to walk on her feet without the need for any assistive devices after three months of training and exercises. In addition, she received psychological therapy sessions to help her overcome her difficulties, making her story an inspiring model of hope and resilience.

Dr. Iyad Qashta’s story from injury to recovery

In the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department of Al Amal Hospital, affiliated with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, every corner holds an inspiring story of success and resilience. One of those stories tells the journey of Dr. Iyad Salem Qishta, a 43-year-old pharmacist, married and father of five children.

Dr. Iyad sustained a serious head injury as a result of a bombing that destroyed a house next to his tent. His injury was very severe, and he was transferred to a hospital that thought his condition was hopeless and left him bleeding for long hours amidst the pressure of his many injuries. But there, the paramedic came who did not lose hope, and carried Dr. Iyad to another
hospital where he received the necessary treatment.

At the hospital, Dr. Iyad underwent a delicate six-hour surgery, during which doctors removed the shattered bones from his head and implanted new bones.

After the operation, he was transferred to Al Amal Hospital of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, suffering from hemiplegia on the left side and general weakness in the muscles of his body.

At Al Amal Hospital, his recovery journey began in earnest. Physiotherapy sessions began, including upper and lower limb strengthening, neurostimulation and balance exercises, and gait training using an assistive device. Each stage of treatment was a step towards full recovery, until he was finally able to walk without the need for an assistive device.

Dr. Iyad Qashta’s story is a living testament to the human will and the power of determination, and the ability of medical treatment to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Hope Comes True: Saba Learns to Walk Again

Even children were not spared from the Israe
li occupation’s fire. One day, 7-year-old Saba al-Ustadh was sitting with her brother in her grandfather’s tent when a Quadcopter bullet horrifically penetrated her head. The bullet traveled through her head, then crossed into a neighboring tent, where it killed another child.

‘When we saw her lying on the floor, with blood pouring from her head, we thought we had lost her,’ Saba’s father describes the scene. Saba spent eight days in a coma in intensive care, followed by another 20 days in the same ward. Attempts to travel abroad for treatment always ended in failure.

Four months after entering the physiotherapy department at Al Amal Hospital, Saba was in the hands of physiotherapist Baraa Al Sheikh Ali, who began providing her with intensive treatment.

Saba had suffered a serious brain injury, which left her quadriplegic and unable to move her limbs. Baraa began implementing a comprehensive treatment plan, which included therapeutic exercises and various aids.

Thanks to her determination and patience, an
d thanks to the hard work she invested in the treatment, after four months of treatment, Saba was able to regain her ability to walk without any assistance.

Saba’s story is a testament to the strength of will and dedication to providing medical care, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of the harshest of circumstances.

At Hope Hospital, human will is embodied at its best, where pain turns into hope and weakness into strength. Here, stories of courage and recovery stand as beacons that light the way to hope and success in times of crisis.

Source: Maan News Agency