A harrowing turn of events has left a 13-year-old girl from Gaza fighting for her life in an intensive care unit in the United Arab Emirates. Three months after she left her home amid the ongoing conflict, Lamis Abusalim faces severe complications following a critical surgery for her severe scoliosis.

Scoliosis, a condition characterized by an abnormal curvature of the spine, was threatening Lamis's ability to breathe properly, forcing her to spend most days lying down. Prior to her surgery on October 4th, she struggled for air when sitting up, making her situation increasingly dire.

Tragically, during this crucial operation, Lamis's heart stopped three times, which her mother, Shatha Abusalim, claims resulted in some brain damage. This devastating news is a crushing blow to the family, who had already faced insurmountable challenges to escape the violence in Gaza for medical assistance. Their plight was highlighted during a broader evacuation coverage by the BBC back in July.

Lamis was initially slated to undergo treatment in Jerusalem last October after three unsuccessful surgeries in Gaza. However, the escalation of Israel’s military offensive following the October 7 Hamas attacks has stranded many Gazans, including Lamis, from seeking treatment abroad. Despite these barriers, Lamis and her mother managed to be included on an evacuation list with assistance from international organizations.

Currently, with her life hanging in the balance, Lamis's family is seeking further treatment options in the UK or other countries, although medical professionals have warned that transferring her will be complicated due to her fragile condition. “Every child deserves to live in a safe environment and receive proper medical care,” Shatha expressed. “It’s not the children’s fault that conflict exists.”

Before the outbreak of war, Lamis, who was described as a “beautiful child” and the youngest of five, enjoyed activities such as drawing and school. At just six months old, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic white matter disease, which is known to be drastically life-limiting. According to Dr. Joshua Bonkowsky, a paediatric neurologist, this type of disease sadly results in a third of affected children not surviving past eight years old.

Despite the grim prognosis associated with her condition, treatment options exist for managing the symptoms. Lamis’s health deteriorated significantly, prompting the Gaza health ministry to refer her for surgery abroad due to respiratory issues and swallowing difficulties. Charities stepped in to facilitate her travel, with HEAL Palestine coordinating treatment in the US and the Israeli NGO Gisha securing necessary evacuations.

In a series of unexpected developments, Lamis received evacuation clearance just a day before a planned exit via the Kerem Shalom crossing in June, although time constraints prevented her from leaving. Ultimately, late July brought a breakthrough when the World Health Organization confirmed that both she and her mother would evacuate after a last-minute delay and a stressful re-journey back to their home in Deir al-Balah.

As Lamis desperately fights for her life, her mother has been enduring harrowing moments of uncertainty, not knowing when, or if, she will be reunited with her husband again. “Saying goodbye was extremely difficult for me,” Shatha shared. “I tried my best not to look back.”

As their story unfolds, it highlights not only the medical hardship faced by Lamis but also the heartbreaking realities of children caught in conflict. The world watches and waits, hoping for a miracle for this brave young girl and her family.