In a heartwarming turn of events, 7-year-old Amina al-Hassouni, the sole casualty of Iran's missile attack on Israel in April, has been discharged from hospital after a grueling two-month battle for survival.
Amina's journey home marks a poignant milestone in a story that gripped the nation and highlighted the human cost of regional tensions.
The young girl suffered a severe head injury when a 36-kilogram (79-pound) fragment from an intercepted Iranian missile crashed through her family's home near Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel. For weeks, Amina fought for her life in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Soroka Medical Center's Saban Children's Hospital, sedated and on ventilator support.
Dr. Miki Gidon, Head of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Soroka, who led Amina's treatment, described her injury as "severe, complex, and devastating." Speaking to CNN, Dr. Gidon expressed both professional satisfaction and personal emotion: "Seeing Amina today, fully conscious, communicating, smiling, and ready for the next stage in her rehabilitation, fills our hearts with hope and strengthens our resolve."
Amina's recovery is not just a medical triumph but a testament to human resilience. Her story has captivated Israelis and drawn international attention, becoming a symbol of innocence caught in the crossfire of regional conflicts.
For Dr. Gidon, Amina's case carries a deeper personal significance. "As someone who immigrated from Iran in his youth and is now treating Amina, who was injured in the vicious Iranian attack, this feels like coming full circle," he shared, his voice tinged with emotion.
While Amina's discharge from the hospital is a cause for celebration, medical experts caution that she faces a long road to full recovery. The young survivor will undergo extensive rehabilitation to address the lingering effects of her traumatic brain injury.
As Amina returns home, she carries with her the hopes and well-wishes of an entire nation.
For now, as Amina takes her first steps towards a new normal, her smile serves as a beacon of hope in troubled times.