Syria: A Children's Story, Part 1 (Updated)

Unfortunately, there are a number of additional bureaucratic hurdles which result in very few in need of urgent medical aid being allowed to leave Madaya through one of the 65 checkpoints which also surround adjacent Zabadani. A major hurdle being that snipers regularly shoot residents if they approach Madaya's periphery from any direction.

Time was running out for Ghina shown below shortly after she was evacuated from Madaya to Al-Mouwasat Hospital, Damascus.

Fortunately in Ghina's case, as with the case of the conjoined twins from the Damascus suburb of East Ghouta, Nawas and Moaz (the subjects of Part II of this article) a social media campaign led by Amnesty International pressurized the powers that be to allow the Syrian Red Crescent Society (SACRS) to enter Madaya. They did so at night, so as not to attract the attention of many other families with severely injured members who surely would demand evacuation for their loved ones in critical condition. SACRS rescued the girls and moved them for urgent emergency medical intervention.

The metal rods must remain deep inside Ghina's leg and thigh for three months and she must stay in a hospital bed for two months. The sniper bullets were designed to explode on impact and they did much nerve and muscle damage. (Photo: fplamb 8/27/2016)

Until the past few days, there has also been great concern about the risk that Ghina's muscles in the left leg will be permanently shortened, causing walking abnormalities. That erstwhile grim likelihood is now largely discounted.

(Photo by Rima Karwan, the new "big sister" of these beauties. 8/282016)

Today Ghina and Nagham are recovering at Al-Mouwasat Hospital in Damascus and eating plenty of nutritious food including three pieces of fresh fruit daily (for which Syria is blessed and famous) on specific instructions from their new American "uncle", their mother Sahar and their new "big sisters", Rima and Raraf, both from Damascus. And the girls can have each two pieces a day (maximum!) from their growing supply of admittedly less nutritious treats arranged by their new friends. This morning this observer was advised by the girls doctor that Nagham's hand and arm stitches can be removed in five days. And then the little one will for sure head to the fine swimming pool at my hotel.

On Sunday (the first day of the week in Syria), September 18th the public schools across Syria will open for the next academic year. Arrangements have been made by MSRCL (mealsforsyrianrefugeechildrenlebanon.com/ which also helps specific cases in Syria) for 7 year old Nagham to begin classes. Nagham's mother apologetically explained that the girl been an average student last year in Madaya, when classes could even be held. Nagham was lectured today by her new American "uncle" that it is important to start off the school year well, to sit in the first two rows of her classroom, to be separated from the antics and distractions of the boys in the back of the classroom, and to make eye contact with her teacher and not to be shy about asking questions if there is something she does not understand.

With respect to Ghina, her proud mother Sahar explained today that she is an excellent student but cannot attend school this year for at least two or three months. Arrangements were made today for Ghina to receive home schooling by tutors Alaa and Nadine until she can join the school in the classroom.

MSRCL is still working to get permission to bring Sahar's two other babies, Manal age 3 and Mohamad-Kamal out of Madaya. The little ones were unfortunately not allowed to leave, for bureaucratic reasons, as part of Ghina's evacuation.

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