The San Francisco International Airport witnessed a poignant scene late Wednesday as three children, who were gravely injured during conflicts in Gaza, arrived to receive medical treatment in the Bay Area. A hero's welcome greeted them, complete with a crowd that cheerfully chanted, "Let's go Gaza, let's go!" according to a report by ABC7 News.
HEAL Palestine, a nonprofit organization, facilitated the trip, determined to not only provide immediate medical attention but also to eventually offer the children education and housing support in Egypt post-treatment. The children, 14-year-old Layan, 8-year-old Anas, and 6-year-old Ghazal, have suffered traumatic injuries such as severe burns and shrapnel damage during separate bombings. "She is extremely malnourished. Her burns are very, very old. Standard of care would have been to take of these a long time ago," Cherin Abu-Eid, a volunteer with HEAL Palestine and an anesthesiologist, told ABC7 News regarding Layan's condition.
The children will be treated at various Bay Area hospitals: El Camino Hospital in Los Gatos, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, and Kaiser Oakland. The extensive medical procedures will likely include multiple complex surgeries and rehabilitation, which were not feasible within the devastated healthcare infrastructure of Gaza. "The Israeli government has to approve their release. He has had his medical visa since November of last year. So, he could have been out at any point in time to receive that care," Talha Baqar, a volunteer with HEAL Palestine, explained to ABC7 News regarding one of the children's delayed departures.
Overwhelming support has come from private donors covering the medical bills and host families accommodating the children and their immediate family members. This respite, from their strife-torn homes, provides a glimmer of hope. "Our goal is to provide them with the best care we can to give them the best opportunity at healing," Dr. Mohammad Subeh conveyed to CBS News San Francisco.
