#Stories_From_the_Field

Al Ekhaa Women and Childrens Hospital performed a live-saving procedure for a newborn with severe intractable jaundice, for the first time since its establishment!

Ali is 3-day-old boy who were admitted to our hospital soon after birth with a history of severe perinatal hypoxia, convulsion, and yellowish discoloration (jaundice) for 2 days. He had a CT scan, in outside hospital, which showed hypoxic changes in his brain. Upon admission lab work showed increased bilirubin (a toxic material which can cause brain damage if very high). For this increase, he was started on phototherapy (medical light which helps in decreasing bilirubin level in the blood). Despite the intensive phototherapy, bilirubin levels were still increasing, until they reached a level, which could cause brain damage. The doctors decided to do a whole blood exchange transfusion (removing most of the baby's blood and replacing it with adult blood), which is the last resort in treating high levels of bilirubin to prevent brain damage. The blood exchange was successfully done without any complications, and Ali started to improve markedly, with a decrease in bilirubin level in the blood.

Ali is still in an incubator receiving intensive care from our distinguished team, which offers the best care for many babies like Ali, who are in desperate need. We are thankful for their hard work, and their dedication to bringing hope to the region.

Of note, blood exchange transfusion is an emergency rescue procedure for severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in many underdeveloped regions of the world. Severe hyperbilirubinemia is dangerous as it may cause brain damage and it necessitates fast reduction.

Help us, to continue supporting their important work, and bring hope to the lives of thousands by donating to our campaign 

"To alleviate their suffering in the month of giving"

The situation in Syria has become dire recently. With violence escalating rapidly, children, in particular, have been struggling, as they are forced to flee again and again from their homes and camps, causing them severe distress and PTSD (https://bit.ly/2XgkcQL).

In response, #SEMA_US and the #Al_Ekhaa_Women_and_Childrens_Hospital have been utilizing mobile clinics and working overtime to ensure that the needs of women and children in the region are met, in the face of escalating violence. Watch our video to learn more about this work, and how the Al Ekha'a Hospital is bringing hope to displaced people in Northwestern Syria. Their work is powerful and important, and we are doing everything we can to support them.

Please join us, by donating to, or sharing our fundraiser here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1130280697177924/

#We_Hold_Good_for_All

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbWuwl2EWjU

#Stories_from_the_Field

This is A.A, a 1-year-old boy living in Northern Syria with his family. Before coming to the #Al_Ekhaa_Women_and_Childrens_Hospital, he had had a recurrent fever for many days and was becoming pallid. When he was brought in, the hospital staff did a laboratory investigation and found out that he had acute anemia. At the same time, while he was being tested and hospitalized, he also developed Leukocytopenia and Neutropenia. The hospital's pediatrician did a bone marrow aspiration and diagnosed him with physical Visceral Leishmaniasis. They started to treat him with (Glucantim IM) as soon as they had the diagnosis. For 10 days, he was in a critical state of having intermittent fever, eating rarely, pallor, and fatigue. After these difficult 10 days under his mother’s care and effort, and the close watch of the hospital staff, his fever broke, and he started to improve gradually - first eating, then beginning to be active again. After being observed for a few more days, and it seemed that he was continuing to improve. He was discharged after 2 weeks of hospitalization with intramuscular treatment at home for another 2 weeks. When he was discharged, all the hospital staff felt fulfilled and grateful, as it had been a difficult two weeks, and they did not know what might happen. Look at his beautiful smile now!

Thanks to the Al Ekha’a Hospital staff for their continued incredible work, bringing hope to the women and children of Northwestern Syria!

Help us, to continue supporting their important work, and bring hope to the lives of thousands by donating to our campaign "To alleviate their suffering in the month of giving"
 
#SEMA_US 
#We_Hold_Good_for_All

#Stories_From_the_Field

This 38-year-old woman came to our hospital this morning with a rough past. It seemed as if death had been following her everywhere. She just fled from Kafr Nabudah in the Hama countryside, a town that has been under terrible bombardment by the Syrian regime over the last week. She made it to Atmeh displaced, and found shelter in a plastic tent. She was pregnant, at term with history of three C-sections. Despite difficult circumstances, she had to deliver and thus she came to Al Ekha'a Women and Children's Hospital. She had a report showing that she has a complete placenta previa and percreta. Despite this, our team took the risk, as the patient had no other options. The obstetrician did a C-section for her, but there were a lot of adhesions, and her placenta was invading the uterine wall all the way to the urinary bladder. She delivered the baby safely, and the baby was in a good condition. However, due to the major bladder adhesions she developed a bladder tear and uterine atony with massive bleeding. The obstetrician closed the uterus and called for a nearby surgeon to see if her bladder could be repaired. Unfortunately, they decided that she needed a total hysterectomy and bladder patch repair, then to be admitted to the ICU, which is something outside our center’s capabilities. So they closed her uterus with the bladder and resuscitated her. They sent her on to Turkey for more advanced treatment and sent another 4 units of blood with her.

Tragic stories such as this happen everyday. Many patients are lucky to be saved in our center, as it serve as a hope for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable and displaced people. But the hospital has limitations that we are hoping to work on (such as lacking an ICU, certain surgical specialties, equipment, and of course financial challenges).

Of note, Placenta percreta is a rare form of placenta in which it attaches itself and grows through the uterus, sometimes extending to nearby organs, such as the bladder. While placenta previa is a condition where the placenta lies low in the uterus and partially or completely covers the cervix. These are rare conditions and put the patient at high risk for hemorrhage and death and necessities admission to high-risk center. Antenatal care is crucial to discover such conditions.

Help us, to continue supporting their important work, and bring hope to the lives of thousands by donating to our campaign "To alleviate their suffering in the month of giving"
 
#SEMA_US 
#We_Hold_Good_for_All

#Stories_From_the_Field

This baby boy was born prematurely at 30 weeks gestational age and weighed less than 1 kg. His mother had had multiple miscarriages, with no living babies, largely because of a congenital anomaly in her uterus. So this was her only precious baby. He was born in the #Al_Ekhaa_Women_and_Childrens_Hospital in which he was admitted to the nursery and spent 25 days in the incubator. During his stay, he received high quality, extensive medical and nutritional care. We are happy to say that he is able to make it home today. His mother will finally be reunited with a child after birth, thanks to the hard work of our staff.

The service that our hospital brings is very crucial in a time of war and violence. Our staff work countless hours, often going for many months without income. 

Help us to continue supporting this novel and crucial project, and the incredible people who make it possible.

We are proud to announce that our #Al_Ekhaa_Women_and_Childrens_Hospital is now accredited from SBOMS "Syrian Board of Medical Specialities" as a residency training center for both pediatrics and Obstetric/Gynecology specialities.

Congratulations to our great team their hard work and dedication for education in the time of war! and good luck to our residents.

#Stories_from_the_Field

The last few days have been like a hell in Northwestern Syria as a consequence of the continued bombardment and airstrikes. The patient S.A. arrived at #Al_Ekhaa_Women_And_Children`s_Hospital with multiple injuries and bleeding. She is pregnant at 12 weeks with a precious child. Despite her pain, all she could ask about was her baby. The hospital staff started resuscitation and work up. She had a pelvic fracture as well as multiple other fractures. Unfortunately, her baby was already dead and could not be saved, and because her life was in danger we could not even deliver her. We transferred her to a nearby surgical center to have bone surgeries, after which she will have come to our center to deliver the dead child. Truly a tragic situation.

The hospital is very packed with patients and the whole staff is continuously working to help them. Everything you hear is crying, moaning, ambulances and bombardment. Everything you smell is blood. We mourn for those who have been lost. And continue to stand with the survivors. 

#SEMA_US
#We_Hold_Good_For_All