When a young man arrives at the hospital unidentified, with a bullet exploded in his brain, no CT scan available, and no anesthesiologist to be found for three hours — the world might say there is no hope.

But in Gaza, hope is a decision.

We are honored to share the story of Hossam Saada, a survivor of a catastrophic brain injury, and the two neurosurgeons who refused to give up on him: Dr. Ahmed Alkahlout and nurse Ahmad Salem. A year and a half after performing lifesaving surgery in impossible conditions, they reunited with Hossam. Not as doctor and patient, but as friends. Hossam is walking. He is studying. He is alive. This is true resilience. This is humility. This is the SUMUD spirit.

But Hossam still needs a skull bone graft — care that is not available inside Gaza. And countless others suffering from neuro-related injuries have nowhere to go.