A Portland nurse returns home after an emotional three-week mission treating burn victims in Gaza amidst challenging conditions.(YouTube Screenshot)
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Monica Johnston, a Portland nurse, returned home late Saturday night after a three-week stint at the only functioning hospital in Gaza. Johnston was part of a 19-member medical mission organized by the Palestinian American Medical Association, providing care for patients injured in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Johnston described the dire conditions she encountered, where patients with severe injuries were treated with minimal resources.
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“People have explosive injuries, and we are giving them Tylenol, we’re giving them Ibuprofen for an arm that’s been blown off or burns on 30% of their body,” she told KOIN 6 News. She reported a lack of basic supplies, including soap, hand sanitizer, and linens, leaving patients on degrading plastic sheets in pools of blood and fluids.
Her team brought 300 bags of medical supplies, which proved insufficient for the overwhelming need. Johnston’s mission, initially planned for a week, was extended when Israel closed the Rafah border crossing, trapping the team in Gaza for an additional two weeks.
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Watch the Video of Her Return
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