“Trying to explain to a little boy that you are using a saw to cut through his bone without being able to justify why you can't put him to sleep or take away the pain is immensely distressing.”
Summary: Dr. Abdullah Ghali, an orthopedic surgery resident from Houston originally from Gaza, volunteered at European Hospital in Khan Younis in April 2024. Working alongside other medical volunteers, he treated ballistic injuries, burns, and traumatic amputations in catastrophic conditions with severe shortages of medical supplies. The 200-bed hospital housed 35,000 refugees. Ghali witnessed chronic untreated injuries and performed surgeries on children with minimal anesthesia. Despite the trauma and survivor’s guilt, he was inspired by the resilience of remaining hospital staff who continued working unpaid. He remains in contact with Gaza medical staff and wants to return to help.
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