A Michigan doctor's 'impossible' mission in Gaza
Nicole FallertAdam Fahs had never seen anything like it.
The Detroit orthopedic surgeon spent a week in Gaza in December on a medical mission with Rahma Worldwide, a humanitarian nonprofit based in Michigan. The overwhelmed hospitals amid Israel's relentless attacks presented an unprecedented crisis for visiting medical providers like Fahs.
"We saw everything from little kids to elderly people. When Israel bombs, they don't discriminate. … Even if you try to take care of individual patients, what you’re dealing with is a health care system that's overrun and undersupplied, which makes it absolutely impossible to provide appropriate health care for mass casualty situations," Fahs said. As supplies grew scant, he even had to turn to unconventional treatment methods, such as using the same surgical pins on multiple patients.
But despite the traumatic scenes he viewed, the grueling trip to Gaza and constant threat to his safety, Fahs vows to return for another mission if given the opportunity.