Dr. Adnan Bursh is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon who lives in Gaza City with his family. Dr. Bursh went to medical school in Romania and did his orthopaedic training in Jordan and at Kings in London. He is certified by the Jordanian Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has a fellowship in Limb Reconstructive Surgery from Kings College Hospital.
What are your most vivid memories of the most recent attacks on Gaza?
My strongest memory is when I see children and babies killed and amputated and injured. In every child that came here injured and dead - I saw my children in them.
How has your work changed as a result of the attacks?
Sometimes I worked three days, four days. When there were hours for ceasefire, we went home and then back again, continue two days, three days, four days. Once thirteen days in a row when I had no continuous sleep. Maybe 1, 2, 3 hours sleep between operations. I got 5 hours sleep when I had the chance. But anyone could call me at any time and tell me I am needed.
How have the attacks affected you personally and your family?
During my work here in the hospital, they called me from the morgue – “There is someone from the family Bursh here in the morgue. Do you know him?” I said “Tell me what is his name”. They told me. “Yeah this is my cousin”. I told his brothers and his mother. He was killed while he was in his home. Unfortunately he was in his room that was attacked, sleeping.
Also my brother. His home of four levels, a big home was attacked. Completely destroyed. There were about 40 people in this home. They were not hurt.
Is it possible to describe a typical day for you?
We start the day at 7:30am. I start to see my patients, morning rounds. Then some theatre, some outpatients. I finish at 2:30pm. Then I go back to my family. Then my private clinic from 4pm to 6pm and I go back home to my family to eat and have a good time. Of course this is the time to support my family and my children, mainly psychologically. Most of the time I spend with them in the sea, playing. I try to go out of the home. Just go home to sleep. I want them to forget the time of the war, the sound of the bombs, the sound of the rockets. This is important for them.
Once, after one of the ceasefires ended while I was at home, I was getting ready for work. My wife dressed the children in nice clothes and she got them to take a photo with me. The feeling was, this was a farewell for me. She said “Maybe you will not come home again.” The photo is nice now. Really it’s a happy photo.
Is there a recent patient you can describe who especially stands out in your memory?
The patients in orthopaedic surgery, we will follow them for one or two years. Most of the injuries are major injuries. The management was temporary during the time of the war. We started revising their treatment now. I had a patient called Abdulla. He is 24 years old. He’s from Beit Hanoun, north of Gaza. He was seriously injured on the day he got married. He had gone to get his marriage certificate from the sheikh. His leg was severely damaged and couldn’t be saved. He also had very serious injuries to his hip and abdomen on the same side. The doctors from the UK came to consult on the case. His leg had to be amputated to save his life but his family were reluctant. One of the UK doctors, Dr. Graeme Groom, spoke to them and convinced then that it needed to be done. We took the limb away and used the muscular and skin flap to cover the large raw wound area along his hip and abdomen. This is the first time we did this surgery in Gaza. It took four hours.
What kinds of shortages are you and your hospital facing? What do you urgently need?
When Dr. Graeme was here he saw the shortages of orthopaedic surgical equipment and items such as screws and drill bits. We urgently need these now.
What is the most difficult part of your job right now?
My time is not owned by me. I can be called during the night or any time to come back to the hospital.
What is the mood among your fellow surgeons and medical staff?
We thank God we are still alive. During the war there was no safe place – not mosques, hospitals or homes
What are your hopes and fears for the future?
Gaza will never die. And remember that today, tomorrow, the next day. Our sons will lead Gaza to peace. Gaza will be a nice place like London. I am just afraid about time. I am afraid I will not see this in my life.
What role has Medical Aid for Palestinians played in your hospital in recent months?
Many thanks for MAP who helped us by bringing the doctors and consultants to Gaza to support us. They did consultations, saw patients, went into theatre.MAP is always in hospitals and we know them very well.
What would you say to someone who said ‘the attacks are over, so the crisis has passed’?
For us as doctors, the war starts now. There are 10,000 people injured. 70-80% of them need orthopaedic surgery. The management of their injuries during the war was temporary. Now we need to revise all these patients, schedule surgery and resupply equipment.