I was able to make a short visit to Alaa in the ICU today to check on her progress after yesterday's surgery. When I arrived the pulmonary doctor was doing a procedure to drain fluids from her chest, and as soon as she finished, an echocardiogram was done by Dr. Katz. I know Dr. Katz from his former work with Save A Child's Heart, so he is now a known friend to us on staff at Tel HaShomer. This is an answer to prayer, as I was hoping to have better connections in the ICU for information. (The staff there is wonderful, but we simply do not know each other as well as we know our long-standing partners at SACH.)
 
I was able to speak with him both before and after the echo, and was encouraged to learn that they feel Alaa is a little better today. He said that the echo was good, and that the procedure to drain fluid from her chest was normal post operative. I also asked about her enlarged heart, and if it was possible that it might go back to normal size. He said it is possible, and now that the heart does not have to work so hard to pump so much blood into the lungs, they hope to see this happen. I was thankful for this good report, and passed it on to Alaa's mother. She was also thankful, although she was concerned about Alaa's oxygen saturation dropping into the mid-70% range today compared to the low 80% range yesterday. Since the doctors feel she is doing better, I believe this means that the drop is not a significant factor at the moment, and tried to reassure her with what the doctors said.
 
Please keep praying with us for Alaa's healing to be complete. Ask God to continue to draw near to her mother with His peace and comfort during this extremely long process. Thank Him with us for every new opportunity for Alaa to be healthy as her heart is repaired.

I was unable to be at the hospital today when Alaa left for surgery, so I went straight to the ICU to find out the estimated timing of her return. I was told that she should be out of surgery in about 10 minutes.  I decided not to try to walk to the building where the operating room is to wait with her mother, but instead I sat outside the ICU.  

After a few minutes of waiting, I was told by one of the staff that the surgeon had been up to the ICU following the surgery and said he hoped Alaa "would be able to pass this surgery."  I knew what this meant ... that they didn't know if she'd come through it.  I began to pray fervently and notified the staff to do the same.  

After about half an hour Alaa was wheeled out of the nearby elevator and into the ICU.  Although her color was not very good, I was thankful that she had indeed come through the surgery.  Her mother came by a minute or so later and we walked together to look into the ICU as they took Alaa in.  Then began the long wait while they cleaned her up and attached all the meds she needed.  I counted five machines and two IVs.  In addition to these, a nurse told me that Alaa was receiving blood because she had lost a lot during surgery.  

After a little over an hour Alaa's mother was allowed to go in.  Because she cannot understand Arabic, I went downstairs to stay with Rasan so his mother could come translate for the doctor into Kurdish.

I went back upstairs to the ICU after visiting with Rasan and his mother for a while.  I was hoping to get as many details as possible about the surgery.  I was thinking that I didn't understand the explanation I'd heard because it seemed too simple for the seriousness of Alaa's condition.  The staff verified to me what Rasan’s mother had already said: the surgeon was able to successfully band the shunt in Alaa's artery to reduce the blood flow into her lungs.  Now they would have to wait to see the effect this would have on her condition.  They confirmed that now she is in very poor condition.  The ICU staff told me that they never give up hope for the children.  They are still hopeful despite the severity of her condition.  Her oxygenation was around 80-82% when I was with her.

During the time I was there, Alaa began to wake up from the anesthesia, and was mouthing words to the nurse who was comforting her. I was able to put on the sterile gown they'd brought earlier and walk over to Alaa's bedside, and stroke her head. She opened her eyes immediately and looked straight at me, mouthing the word "mama" twice.  I went to find her mother who was in the family room nearby.  She stopped eating the meal she was sharing with the Palestinian mothers and joined me in the ICU.  As she went over to the bed and called Alaa's name, Alaa opened her eyes again, and told her mother she wanted to drink some Pepsi or water.  Her mother found it amusing, as did the rest of us.  Of course the nurse had to say no, which made Alaa cry for a minute.  She then turned to the nurse after a few minutes and asked again.  I was very encouraged to see her alertness, responsiveness, and interaction with the people around her.  As all who have spent time with her have noted, she is a fighter and wants to live.

Please join us in praying fervently for Alaa's life.  I believe we should ask for a miracle as we have done for Ali.  Keep praying for her mother, and her family in Iraq.  We were able to help Alaa’s father speak to an Arabic speaker on staff at the hospital.  He is now able to get news first-hand, allowing him and his wife to discuss things more easily.  She seems more peaceful now even in the face of the circumstances at hand.

We must hold Alaa up in prayer.  I went to see her today and she wasn't doing very well. When I first got to the hospital, I went directly into the ICU.  Alaa didn't have anything on and her body was swollen.  She didn't even look like the pictures I had seen of her.  Quickly I went out to ask where her mother was.  Before they could tell me, I saw her in the little room across from ICU.  I went to her and she was crying.  She tried to tell me about Alaa, but with our language barrier, she could not. I knew that Alaa's problem had to be related to her kidneys due to the way she was swollen.

I sat and prayed and cried with her mother for a while and then motioned for her to go with me to see Rasan and his mother.  Rasan's mother speaks some English, so she was able to give me an updated report on Alaa’s condition.  Alaa is unable to urinate because her kidneys are not functioning.  Since her heart attack, her enlarged heart is pushing on her lungs causing fluids to build up.  The tube coming out of her throat seems to be helping her breath.  

Rasan’s mother and I went up to the ICU to see if we could talk to a doctor or nurse, but they were all busy.  This time when I entered Alaa’s room I noticed that they had a catheter in her and there was only a very small amount of dark yellow urine.  

Alaa's mother had stayed with Rasan while we went up. We came back down and Rasan's mother bathed him and then handed him to me.  A few minutes later Alaa’s mother came over and asked to hold Rasan.  I gave him to her and she sat and held him for a little while.  I believe that this was therapeutic for Alaa’s mother because as Rasan was cooing and smiling I saw the hint of a smile on Alaa’s mother’s face.  I felt like she really needed a break from the ICU.  

We stayed there for a little longer, and then she left.  When I went back upstairs to the ICU the nurses had Alaa covered with a sheet.  I asked if I could take a picture of her, and they said, “yes”.  You can tell in the picture she is swollen.

I plead with you to pray for a miracle for her and pray that God will give her mother peace.  It's not too late for Him to do a miracle.  He says "let the little children come unto me."  That is what we need to do.  We must hold her up in prayer and "only believe," that just as He did in biblical times He is still doing today.  If nothing else our prayer can be- "I believe Lord, help thou my unbelief." Remember nothing is too hard for God to do.

Today Donna, Kay and I went to visit precious Alaa in the ICU and to be with her frightened mother to give her some support and comfort. Alaa had the tracheotomy performed this morning. She was under heavy sedation afterwards and will remain there for several days. As she responds to her treatment and gets stronger, the doctors will consider doing another surgery to repair another heart defect, one of six defects she has. An ultrasound performed to evaluate her kidneys today was basically normal. That report along with one that she has no brain damage was such good news!  Her mother was very concerned if Alaa would be able to talk and eat again since she had the tracheotomy and she was reassured by the doctor through an interpreter that once she got stronger and could breathe on her own she could have the tracheotomy removed and would be to able to talk and eat. She can take sips of water after she is no longer under the heavy sedation and is responsive. Alaa’s mother seemed somewhat relieved from the news, but was still frightened and apprehensive.

My days have be