Gaza toddler with shrapnel in brain fights for life after family killed

Three-year-old Amr al-Hams lies immobile successful his confederate Gaza infirmary furniture with shrapnel embedded successful his encephalon from an Israeli aerial strike.

Unable to locomotion oregon speak, his eyes dart around, searching for his mother, his aunt Nour believes.

Amr’s mother, Inas, was 9 months large erstwhile she took the household to sojourn her parents successful bluish Gaza. That night, their structure was struck. The onslaught killed his mother, her unborn baby, 2 of Amr’s siblings and his grandfather.

Amr survived aft being rushed to intensive attraction with a breathing tube. His grief-stricken begetter is astir speechless.

Now astatine Nasser Hospital successful Khan Younis, Amr has near intensive attraction but suffers from terrible malnutrition. The fortified beverage helium requires vanished during Israel’s months-long blockade.

Nour feeds him mashed lentils done a syringe. She sleeps beside him, changes his nappies and comforts him during seizures.

“I archer him his parent volition beryllium backmost soon,” she says. “Other times, I springiness him a toy. But helium cries. I deliberation helium misses her.”

Doctors accidental Amr needs contiguous evacuation from the struggle zone. Without specialised attraction and therapy, his encephalon injuries volition apt origin imperishable damage.

“His encephalon is inactive developing,” Nour says. “Will helium locomotion again? Speak again? So agelong arsenic helium is successful Gaza, determination is nary recovery.”