Cheating death...

Few years ago, my best friend, Wael, a 30 year-old civil pilot at the Syrian Airlines and a father of a beautiful girl, went to a hospital in Damascus to have his appendix removed, he ended up in the ICU for few days and several emergency surgeries were done on him because of a doctor's fault. All the surgeries came with even worse results. Few days later, the doctors announced that he was a hopeless case and that they would be surprised if he lived until the morning after. His father, younger brother Alaa, mother, and sisters couldn't accept that news. They got hysterical; how come one of the simplest surgeries ever results in death. They made few calls and in a couple of hours, an ambulance that carried Wael was speeding on the way to Beirut. More hours later, Wael was resurrected at the AUB hospital. At the time that he should be dead as per the doctors who operated on him in Damascus, he was stable and started to get better.

Wael has almost been back to normal ever since. With the exceptions of some minor issues and set backs, he is very good for someone who has been through all that. His family was saved from a tremendous grief. With their persistence and faith, they cheated death.

Just few minutes ago, I got this message from a friend of mine :

"j'ai la tristess pour t' nnouncer le mourir du frere de Wael Sasa ;Alaa le 13 mars en raison d'operation de son nez"

It reads:

"I'm saddened to announce the death of Wael's brother, Alaa, on the 13th of March during a nasal surgery"

I had to read it over and over…I couldn't believe it. I called Wael, nobody answered. I called the friend who e-mailed me. He told me what had happened, he told me the story of Alaa:

2 months ago, Alaa, a 22 years-old super nice youngman that I know so well, finished his military service and was about to start his life.

2 weeks ago, he started working in some company and was very happy….his life started to have a meaning.

2 days ago, he went to the hospital to have a minor surgery that is done millions of times a day; a Nasal Septal Deviation (in7eeraf wateera). He never left the hospital alive! He died after a multiplications caused by the anesthesia.

He left home…kissed his mom and dad and told them that he would be back for dinner, he asked his mom to cook his favorite dish. He left ...... but never returned. They never saw him alive again, never heard his voice and never saw his smile.

That family never cheated the death. The death was playing with them and caught them off guarded at a moment when everything seemed to be working out just fine for everybody in this family. The death claimed the life of the youngest member in this family reminding them and everyone else that no matter how young or old, no matter how healthy or sick…there is no guarantee that we will return once we leave our home in the morning.

I feel so angry…and very sad. Alaa is gone, now he feels and sees nothing; he is now resting in peace and calmness….so much unlike his family!