From Myanmar to Israel: Doctors wish child 'Merry Christmas'

Physicians from three religious backgrounds came together to wish little Hannah, brought to Israel from Myanmar by Save a Child's Heart, a “Merry Christmas.”

 Physicians from three religious backgrounds came together to wish little Hannah a “Merry Christmas” at the Sylvan Adams Childress Hospital in Holon. (photo credit: SAVE A CHILD'S HEART)
Physicians from three religious backgrounds came together to wish little Hannah a “Merry Christmas” at the Sylvan Adams Childress Hospital in Holon.
(photo credit: SAVE A CHILD'S HEART)

When a Christian doctor, a Muslim doctor and a Jewish doctor meet under one roof to celebrate Christmas, it’s not just the beginning of a joke, it’s a description of a remarkable reality: 

At the Sylvan Adams Childress Hospital in Holon, Israel, eight-year-old Hannah from Myanmar is hospitalized. Hannah is a Christian girl, brought by Save a Child’s Heart to Israel with her father Joseph, just before the recent Covid limitations, from the danger posed by political upheaval in her country, as part of a humanitarian effort launched by Save a Child’s Heart to save her life. Her mother, Marry, stayed home with Hannah’s little sisters.

The medical team treating Hannah includes three physicians from three different countries: 

Dr. Hagi Dekel, head of the cardiothoracic department at Wolfson Medical Center, Dr. Ziwa Modniso a training doctor from Zambia in pediatric cardiac surgery and Dr. Mervat El-Faraha, a training doctor from the Palestinian Authority, in anesthesia. 

While Hannah is recovering at the hospital from her life-saving heart surgery, she asked her father Joseph to celebrate together her favorite holiday, Christmas, and the medical team came together to wish her a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.