My Right Hand’s Name is Yusra…

 I am Dr. Badee’a.
Since I was little, I’ve had creativity in everything I do, and that’s why I decided to become a healthcare clown, to focus my energy with children who deserve to always be happy.

During my last visit to the children in hospitals, which was last month, I accompanied my colleague, Dr. Noqta Bint Batta. I was very excited, but at the same time nervous, because the hospital was full of difficult cases. And that’s where the moment of struggle begins: you either fall down in the situation, or turn it into a point of strength, focusing on your role in that place… because a single word or small action from you can profoundly affect the emotional state of many people there.

As soon as we left the changing room and got ready to start our rounds, we met the little girl Yusra (Yusra means left side in Arabic)in the hallway, before entering the children’s rooms. Yusra is a girl from Gaza. My colleague Noqta started playing with her; we played, talked, and even took pictures with her, all by her choice, and sang together. Then we continued to visit other rooms.

At first, Yusra was very curious and wanted to stay with us, watching what we were doing with the children and their families. In the first few rooms, she stayed with us out of her own curiosity. She was alert and attentive; whenever we said something, she would respond spontaneously, producing words full of life, balanced and clear.
 

She said things like:
“Tik tik tik, O Umm Suleiman… tik tik tik, where was your husband?
Tik tik tik, he was in the field picking peaches and pomegranates…
O Yusra, O Mrs. Badr, look at the moon how it turns.”

At first, she didn’t fully understand what we were doing, but gradually she became very excited and confident. We introduced ourselves to her as “the future doctors,” and my right hand in the future… She laughed and said, “I’ll be a police officer… but yes, I’ll be a doctor too!”

By the end of the visit, Yusra walked us to the door of the changing room and waited for us to return. Her eyes and facial expressions were full of joy and gratitude. She brought me her drawing notebook, proudly showed me her drawings, and thanked me with pure happiness.

Even though we only spent two hours with Yusra in the hospital, she stayed with us in memory long after the visit. I saw in her a rising healthcare clown, capable of touching hearts and spreading happiness.

We love you, Yusra.