More than an Internship

As the mission in Ramallah comes to close, I have been extremely humbled by the work all of the teams have done. To see the care that has been given to every single patient (surgery or not) makes me undeniably proud to work with the PCS. As I am stationed in Ramallah, I've talked and screened with families from all over Palestine. It is amazing to see how far the society reaches out to. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time working with the Ramallah team. Though it was quite stressful at times in the hospital and center, I cannot have asked for anything more than the people I met, worked with, and helped.

The time I spent in the Kuwaiti Hospital in Ramallah is an experience I will never forget. Physically being in the O.R. and watching the doctors and local nurses perform complex surgeries with such ease is remarkable! The O.R. was a new experience for me and it has definitely confirmed my aspirations of becoming a doctor. Though there were only two days of surgery in Ramallah, the surgical team and I became good friends and worked well with each other. Relationships like this is what makes the PCS do the extraordinary work that it does. Everybody, whether in Hebron, Nablus, or Ramallah, worked very hard and well together and formed a mini-family. Family is always there for you and the PCS family is always there for Palestine.

Left to Right: Dr. Wael AlHalaby, Dr. John van Aalst, Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani

At the closure of the Hebron and Nablus missions, all teams were invited to have dinner with the Minister of Health for Palestine. It was a night filled with great food, good company, and a chance for everyone involved with the PCS to bid their farewells to each other. Speeches were given by doctors, officials, Dr. John van Aalst, and the Minister himself. All speeches were heart-felt and appreciated by all. It was a joy to see all the teams together discussing their experiences at their respective team sights. 

Minister of Health giving his speech

Seeing all of this makes me realize how much a small group of people can make the largest impact on children's lives. I am so happy that I was given a chance to help the Palestinian children. I look forward to completing the second part of the internship and that is research with Dr. Hala Borno and Muna Aghaalnemer (the other intern). I will never forget these experiences and the priceless things I've learned from patients, families, and the Palestinian Cleft Society. I hope to continue working with the Palestinian people and the PCS in the future.

View from the Palestinian Cleft Society Center (Al-Bierah)