At the time of her passing at 5 months old, Alma weighed only 5 pounds. She suffered from congenital middle lobe emphysema, pneumonia, interstitial lung disease, immunodeficiency, and critical malnutrition. Interstitial lung disease is a congenital defect that like traditional emphysema causes air trapping and poor oxygen exchange. However, unlike traditional emphysema, this affects one lobe of the lungs (in Alma’s case it was the middle lobe of the right lung) which could have been removed surgically, and if successful, would have resolved her primary issue. But this required evacuation for treatment abroad. She had been scheduled for evacuation on March 2nd, but due to the conflict with Iran, Gaza’s boarders were closed on February 28th. Her mother, with bags packed, sank into despair. She and her husband, Ahmad, had lost their first daughter, Wateen, to a prolonged delay of medical evacuation for the same genetic condition. Now these parents are mourning Alma and we are with them. 

To read more about her case: Al Jazeera article, March 16, 2026.