Karate champion who lost leg in Israeli strike moved to Egypt
Nagham Abu Samra, the Palestinian karate champion who lost her leg in an Israeli air strike last month, has been moved to Egypt for medical care but remains critically ill in a coma, her father said yesterday.
The athlete, 24, was taken on a journey that almost killed her.
Marwan Abu Samra described accompanying his daughter from an intensive care unit of Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza, to the southern border and then into Egypt.
With all of Gaza’s hospitals destroyed or damaged, medical care in Egypt is the only chance for his eldest and surviving daughter, he said.
Mr Abu Samra’s wife died of cancer and his youngest daughter, Rosanne, was killed by the strike that injured Nagham on December 18.
On Sunday, he was ready to accompany her from the hospital to Egypt, where she would remain until she is stable enough to go abroad for assessment and treatment.
Speaking to The National from Bier Elabd Hospital in the Egyptian city of Al Arish, Mr Abu Samra said he is still unable to relax, although he and his daughter are now safe from the Israeli air attacks like those that have hit Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in recent days.
“Just like I’ve been sleeping outside Al Aqsa [hospital] in my car since Nagham’s injury, I’ve been sleeping on a wooden chair outside her room in Bier Elabd.” He said he is still thinking about the journey to the border.
Nagham, who is on a ventilator, was at risk of succumbing to her injuries, Mr Abu Samra said.
“It was scary and terrible. We almost lost Nagham. The ventilator that was brought on board the ambulance was not working. So a new one was brought in and that also wasn’t working. In the end, they resorted to keeping her on a manual ventilator.”
The doctor who performed the manual ventilation was unwell, Mr Abu Samra said.
“We had to stop at a hospital half way in Al Nuseirat and resuscitate Nagham, because she had almost suffocated.”
Now outside of Gaza where he had little access to clean water or shelter, Mr Abu Samra said he has yet to take his first shower in two weeks, as he is preoccupied by his daughter.
“My entire body is still tense. I was offered to sleep in the workers’ accommodation off-premises but I’d rather be by Nagham’s side, outside her door, in case of any developments.”
Her place in her father’s heart is unlike any other, he said.
“She was very affectionate. Always asking me what I’d like to eat, always worrying about my health. Always telling me to stop smoking. She would never leave my side. When her mother died, she said, ‘Don’t worry, Baba, I will make it up to you.’”
On the day of the strike, Nagham said she had brought her father meat which she would saute with onions.
“Why is your face yellow, Baba? You need to eat,” Mr Abu Samra recalled his daughter asking.
His hope is to see his daughter in better health.
“I just want her to be somewhere where the medical system is able to deal with her case. At least I am by her side.”