In-home help for differently-abled in Palestine

The call was urgent!  ‘You said if I ever needed your help’ my Israeli friend said.

She and a nurse friend had just come from a small Palestinian village, visiting close friends, a family she’s known for many years.  The matriarch, 78 year old Layla, had had a stroke, reducing to from a strong self-sufficient woman, a leader in the community, to a hospitalized bedridden woman who could do nothing for herself.  The hospital had just informed her family that she was to be discharged in two days even though she needed specialized medical equipment which the family could not purchase, careful monitoring, and possibly soon, a return to the hospital. Calls to possible nursing homes found no place for her.   Could the Homes help—at least to buy some time to find an alternative place for Layla?

Immediately, the head of our nursing department asked for and received Layla’s medical records, talked with the nurse who had gone to see her in the hospital, talked with the hospital staff, and with Layla’s son.  Because Layla’s home, more than an hour from the Homes, is closer to a major hospital than is the Homes, the joint decision was for the Homes to provide her son with the needed equipment—oxygen canisters, a wheelchair and potty chair so she could be cared for at home. All this happened before her discharge date! Should the home placement not work well, and/or the son have any questions or concerns he will contact the Homes’ head of nursing to determine what other assistance, if any, is needed and how, hopefully, to get that assistance.

Without your support through the years, this could not have been possible.

On behalf of Layla, her family, and the many others you have helped, our grateful thanks.  

Your continued help will enable us to serve even more people.

The Homes’ challenge is always how to enable families to help their differently-abled member maximize his or her abilities, thereby enhancing that person’s power over his/her life. For some loved ones, simply to get from a bed to another part of a room, to is a source of great accomplishment and freedom.

Nine-year old Rania struggles with both mental and physical challenges. In order to continue the exercises recommended by a children’s therapist, Rania needs a specialized bed and walker—far beyond the ability of her family to buy. The Homes has provided both for her, and our physical therapists are showing her mother the new exercises Rania needs as she progresses. Our therapists continue to provide supervision and support to both Rania and her mother.

Nader, 5, from Gaza is nearly completely blind, and has severe cerebral palsy. He and his mother live in Bethany, not far from the Homes. Our therapy staff are working with him so that he has more control over the movements of his head, and hopefully, soon can stand with support. He giggles when the staff applaud loudly for each of his tiny accomplishments.

Your assistance has greatly enhanced the lives of both of these children and their families. THANK YOU!