Abdullah, age six from Nasariya, underwent a tonsillectomy after suffering from continuous throat infections for the past six months. Augusta Victoria Hospital is a referral center for ENT and one of the few hospitals in the West Bank that offers this surgery to Palestinians. His mother stays close by his side as he sleeps, while his father and four older siblings anxiously await his healthy return home.

When you walk into the dialysis unit at Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) your eyes will quickly meet those of Abra, a smiling 16 year old from Hebron. AVH is the only hospital in the West Bank that provides children like Abra with treatment for renal failure (failure of the kidneys). Her hopeful appearance disguises the chronic illness that has brought her to AVH for dialysis treatment three times a week for the last seven years.

Renal failure is a condition that is only relieved by a successful kidney transplant. Abra looks forward to this day, but knows she must wait because she also suffers from Hepatitis B, an illness that diminishes the chances of a successful transplant. The high cost and low availability of kidney transplants in the area further threaten Abra's opportunity to have a new kidney. With hope for an eventual transplant, Abra relies on both the machines and the people of the dialysis department to keep her active, healthy, and in good spirits.

Amirah, age nine, has suffered from leukemia for the past year and a half. She is awaiting surgery to remove her cancerous growth and will continue chemotherapy afterwards. Her grandmother stays with her in the hospital while her parents are at home in Bethlehem caring for her three brothers. Amirah explains that it feels normal to be here in the hospital, and she appears to be friends with everyone in the hospital – the nurses, doctors, and fellow patients. Today, Amirah and the other children in the pediatric department play with balloon animals. Full of energy, Amirah blows kisses to the nurses in the adjacent room through the window.

Ghadah, 12 years old from Hebron, suffers from chronic chest infections and has been admitted to the hospital four times since January. She has already missed 80 days of school this semester due to her illness, but studies hard for her exams and is still able to pass. When Ghadah comes to Augusta Victoria Hospital for treatment she stays for at least one week, sometimes even ten days. Ghadah usually stays in the hospital without any family during this time because her mother cannot get a permit to enter Jerusalem. She feels "alone, away from home and family." Rather than confining Ghadah and the other children of the pediatric ward to their beds, the staff encourages their use of the new play room that features toys, games, books, a computer, and art supplies. Ghadah takes time to paint colorful pictures.

Ni’mah was born in 1953 in a small town called Baktir, near Bethlehem. Caring for her six children can be difficult because both Ni’mah and her husband suffer from diabetes. She comes to Augusta Victoria Hospital’s diabetes classes three times a week by herself because her husband is too ill to walk. After attending these sessions for the past year she noticed positive changes in her life regarding nutrition and increased activity. Ni’mah hopes to better the lives of her children by sharing this knowledge about healthier living habits with them.

Halim, age 12, suffers from recurrent urinary tract infections, a post-transfer problem that resulted after he got a kidney transplant that was meant to relieve his renal failure. Halim arrived at the hospital this morning with his mother, a trip that should take between 15 and 20 minutes by car. But it took Halim and his mother nearly three hours, using four different transportations and walking most of the way. Halim's nurse explains that patients often arrive exhausted from their journey to the hospital. AVH has served as a second home for Halim, who has spent nearly two weeks each month for the last two years here in the hospital. Halim's grandmother usually stays with him in the hospital so that his mother can be home and care for her four other sons, the youngest of which is two. Halim misses his dad and his brothers and is sorry he is always away in the hospital. As a male without a permit to enter Jerusalem it is nearly impossible for Halim's father to ever visit him in the hospital.

Jamila, on the right, is paralyzed from the waist down as the result of a car accident three years ago. In order to relieve her constant pain, she has undergone several unsuccessful spinal cord operations. Jamila now lives in the sub-acute care department receiving continuous care from the nurses who are available 24 hours a day. Her family visits daily, providing her with support, encouragement, and company. As the head nurse jokes with Jamila he explains that she is always laughing, acting as a constant source of support and friendship for the other patients.

Muna, age 11, and Haddiyah, age 13, are both renal failure patients from the Hebron area and share a room during their dialysis treatment. The dialysis treatment takes four hours to run beginning at seven am. During this time the children sing, dance, draw, and play together to pass the time. The children will often turn up the music on the television or play a cassette tape of Arabic music, dancing along to the music while still attached to their machines. After just 10 minutes of dancing and singing the children are noticeably "tabaana" or tired.  Still smiling, they sit to rest. The children tire easily because of their condition and treatment. Around 11 am their treatment for the day is finished, and they pack up and head home.

Kahil, a father of eight from Betiksa, suffers from colon cancer. He taught Arabic at the secondary and college level for over 35 years. While being transported to the hospital for his treatment the ambulance was refused entrance at a checkpoint into Jerusalem for two hours. His wife and daughter, who sit with Kahil as he receives treatment, express fear about not being able to reach the hospital when the wall around Jerusalem is completed.

Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) provides diabetes patients with the tools to better their lives through education that focuses on nutrition and physical exercise.  Younis is a 55 year old father of seven who has type-two diabetes.   He and his entire family have modified their lifestyle to adapt to the healthy model proposed in the AVH classes, including a more responsible diet and daily exercise. These changes will help reduce the risk of diabetes in Younis’ children, ensuring them a brighter future.

Qasem, a 25 year old baker living in the Old City of Jerusalem, came to the endoscopy unit of Augusta Victoria Hospital because he trusts the skills and experience of the nurses and doctors. After suffering from abdominal distension for the past nine months he scheduled an appointment to undergo a colonoscopy. As Qasem lies in bed after the procedure, he laughs with anticipation as he tells the nurse that he will marry next week.

Noor, age 15, suffers from chronic renal failure (failure of the kidneys). She clings to this yellow teddy bear who is wearing the same bandages that the children undergoing dialysis treatment wear, explaining that the bear just got a kidney transplant. Noor also received a kidney transplant but her body rejected the kidney, causing the kidney to fail and forcing Noor to again rely on the dialysis machines to clean her blood three days a week.

To ease the strain of the countless visits that Noor and the other children must make to the hospital, the staff maintains a familial and welcoming atmosphere for them. Noor and her close friend Abra, age 16, call out for Abu Nasser, referring to the Head Nurse as 'Abu', which means father in Arabic. Noor and Abra met here in the dialysis ward of the hospital and have become close friends, they are always sure to sit next to each other while they receive their treatment.