RAFAH, Gaza Strip — A nurse from Portland is stuck over seas after volunteering in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war. Monica Johnston, a seasoned burn care nurse has found herself in an unexpected and challenging situation.
Holding 23 years of experience in her field and a member of the American Burn Association, — Johnston felt compelled to respond to a call for volunteers, despite her initial uncertainty about what she was getting herself into.
"Going from never watching the news, to consuming and immersing yourself with it. I was just appalled with what was happening here," said Johnston.
The journey to Gaza was grueling, with checkpoints and uncertainties.
"The fear is at any check point your team could be turned back, or one van could be turned back," said Johnston. "So every checkpoint we hit is a little bit of win — and that we're on step closer to helping."
Johnston says the all-day journey was worth it once she arrived at the hospital, swarmed by Palestinian children seeking comfort and affection.
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"I found out later that the girl I was holding and some of the other kids there had been orphaned — their entire families had been killed," Johnston recounts. "It makes me so happy now that I picked her up, hugged her and gave her everything that I had in that moment."
However, what was meant to be a two-week mission has been extended indefinitely as border closures prevent Johnston and her team from leaving Gaza. Despite the challenges, they continue to provide care to children who will live with the trauma long after they are gone. Johnston said that guilt has been the hardest part of this entire ordeal.
"At 6:30 this morning, a loud bang just shook our entire building and my heart jumped out of my chest," Johnston shares. "Israel says that their goal is about Hamas and defeating Hamas, but what about all these kids that are dying in our ICUs?"
Johnston and her partners have not received any guidance at this time. She tells KGW she was recently contacted by Senator Ron Wyden, whose team is working to facilitate the departure of her partners from Gaza.