Testimony, Nufuz al-Husni, 44
I fell ill in 2005. I couldn’t digest the food I ate. I couldn’t absorb food properly, had diarrhea, and was stuck in bed. I had a fever and was very exhausted, and I lost consciousness. My hemoglobin count fell from twelve to five. At first, the doctors at a-Shifa Hospital [in Gaza] couldn’t find the reason for my problems, but after some tests, they found that I had a growth in my large intestine which had spread to the uterus. They didn’t know how to handle my condition and I felt hopeless.
The doctors at the hospital decided I should be treated in Israel and gave me an urgent referral. When I got to Ichilov Hospital [in Tel Aviv], the doctors said I was in very serious condition and there was almost no chance I would survive an operation. They had me sign a document which, as far as I understood, meant that if I die, Heaven forbid, my family would make no claim for damages against Israel. I told them that I was willing to take the risk. The important thing was that they treat me. I was suffering very much and was tired. They operated, and thank god, it helped.
Following the surgery, they treated me with radiation and chemotherapy. Then, over a course of six months, I underwent six radiation treatments at a-Shifa Hospital. The radiation treatment didn‘t help, so the doctors decided to transfer me to Augusta Victoria Hospital, in Jerusalem, to continue the radiation treatment. After that, my condition improved and I returned to Gaza. Six months later, the suffering returned. Due to the growth in the intestine, I couldn’t walk or even stand upright. My intestine was swollen like a ball and was ruptured. I had pains down my left side, in my back and leg. I couldn’t walk or stand, and was very tired. The doctors gave me more radiation treatment.
I went to Dr. Muhammad Sadeq, an oncology specialist at a-Shifa Hospital. He said he would send me to senior surgeons. He transferred my case to Dr. ‘Atallah Tarazi. At the time, I was receiving radiation treatment and needed to wait to see if it would help. When the radiation treatments ended, in early 2008, I underwent tests and went to Dr. Tarazi. He was surprised and said he had never seen a case like mine. He said he couldn’t do anything, and that I had to go to Ichilov so they could examine me and operate on me.
In February, the doctors in Gaza gave me a referral to Ichilov for another operation. Early in February, we made a request to the Israeli officials for an entry permit, but they did not issue one. I asked the Palestinian coordination and liaison officials [DCL] about my request, and they said the Israelis were reviewing it. In the meantime, I am bleeding and in pain. I receive pain killers and other treatments, but nothing helps. My hemoglobin count has fallen from twelve to seven or eight. I received two pints of blood and I’m on a special diet, but this doesn’t help.
Ultimately, we contacted Physicians for Human Rights, an Israeli organization. They tried to help, but without success. In March, the Palestinian DCL and PHR told me that my request had been denied. PHR made another request, through the Israeli DCL. After that, we made five requests on our own and submitted lots of documents. Each time, we got the same answer: refused, refused.
My youngest daughter says to me, “Be healthy, Mommy, why are you the only one who is sick?” I’m stuck in the house and can’t go outside and see people. I am in pain all the time and am bleeding. The medications I take don’t ease the pain and don’t help. When I receive a pain killer, I can’t even raise my head. I am tired, very tired. It’s destroying me. My heart feels as if it’s about to break when I look at my children. I’m a total wreck. I can’t even pick up my daughter and hug and kiss her.
Nufuz ‘Abd al-Fatah Razaq al-Husni, 44, married with six children, homemaker, resident of a-Shati refugee camp, Gaza City. Her testimony was given to Muhammad Sabah at the witness‘s home on 7 May 2008.