Hamza

(Hamza, Mohammed, Akram, and I)

June 4-8, 2009

Thursday, June 4
Today we visited Hamza in the hospital! He is recovering so well. When we first entered his room he looked up, flashed us a bright smile, and then promptly got out of bed and sat down in a chair next to us. Mohammed was with us and could hardly contain his excitement as he presented Hamza with the gift of a watch that was identical to his own! As soon as Hamza put his new watch on, I walked outside with Mohammed and several of the other patients' mothers and had a little picnic.

(Picnic time!)

After our picnic, Hamza, Mohammed and I met up with Justin (Shevet Achim staff) and Akram in the kids' activity room at the hospital. There we made some amazing clay creations! We had a great time visiting and look forward to Hamza hopefully getting discharged from the hospital in the next few days.

(Akram making a clay hippo while Justin and Mohammed play a game.)

Monday, June 8

Hamza was released from the hospital today and got to come home with us to Jerusalem! Yeah! We celebrated with cake and Kurdish dancing!

(Mohammed and I dancing while Esther and Akram's mom look on)

(Akram bowing to Mary! Mohammed and the rest of us all had a good laugh!)

(This is what we want people to think)

Back row: Esther (volunteer for a week), Akram, Mohammed's father, Justin (staff),and Mohammed

Front row: Mary (staff), Akram's mother, Me, Hamza, Hamza's grandmother, and Donna (staff)

(This is a lot closer to the reality)