Heart Surgery for Aros
Sunday,
November 30, 2008
Aros Doing Well Back Home
Filed
by
Today we
received this photo and email from Iraq:
How's
everyone in your organization? I am Aros' father and I must thank all
those who participated in the rescue operation of the death of my son.
My son is healthy and playing and running.
Monday,
July 7, 2008
Much Anticipated Journey
Home For Aros
Filed
by Keleigh Glisson
On Monday, June 23,
Aros went to
the hospital for an echocardiogram, which is normal procedure following
heart
surgery. Unexpectedly, following the echo, the doctors said
that he was
healthy enough to be released to go back to Iraq.
Aros’ mother was ecstatic.
The only problem was that her visa to Jordan wouldn’t be
ready until the following
Monday. On Monday, June 30, after a week of patiently waiting
to finally
be reunited with her husband and family in Iraq, she was able to
travel to Jordan and begin the final
stages of her long
journey.
Monday
was a very long day.
We left Jerusalem at 8:00 a.m. bound for the
hospital. There was
the possibility that Ghaith
would be having his final echocardiogram that
morning and would be released to go home. If this were the
case, Ghaith
and his mother would travel to Amman with us.
A few
hours after we arrived to
the hospital and Ghaith’s
echocardiogram was finished we got the news… Ghaith
was free to go home!
Our
journey to Amman began around 2:00 p.m. It took
some time for us to cross
the border, but we did so without hindrance. We arrived to
the Shevet
apartment around 10:30 p.m.
I thought we would go right to sleep, but the mothers were so excited,
we
stayed up talking and munching on snacks. Finally around 1:00 a.m. we began to make our
way to our bedrooms.
On
Tuesday, the following day, we
went shopping and ate lunch at a mall nearby. On the upper
level of the
mall is a play area with rides for children. Jody, a close
friend of the
mothers, and also a pastor of a local church in Amman, volunteered to watch
the boys while the
rest of us went shopping. Aros and Ghaith were able to play around
while their mothers bought some last minute souvenirs. Later that day, Jody
took the
mothers by the apartment where Aros’ mother stayed for three
months while
waiting to travel to Israel.  They also stopped by the church to
say goodbye to their friends there.
When
we met back at the house
later that evening, I asked Aros’ mother how the rest of her
day was.
Aros’ mother said, “I don’t
know. I am very happy and very sad. I
go to the church and see my friends and I see the place where I used to
live. I saw the kitchen where Nari’s mother cooked for
me and it makes me
very sad.”
It
was difficult for me to believe
what I was hearing. From the first time I met Aros and his
mother she
made it very clear that she would do anything to make this process go
quickly. She was very much in love with her husband and was
counting down
the days until their reunion. Once Aros’ surgery
was over and she knew
she would be going home soon, her demeanor changed, but she was still
very
anxious to get home.
It is
impossible for me to
understand the stress these mothers are under as they come to the
unknown land of Israel in hopes of finding
health for their
children. It is a blessing to see them go in both joy and
sadness.
Aros’ mother had
picked out a
black, traditional Arab outfit to wear on the plane, but her husband
asked her
to wear something else.  He said that black is
for sadness and on this day
they would be happy. On Wednesday, around 4:30 a.m. Aros and his mother,
wearing blue and
gold, emerged from the house ready to
go. Through tears we said our
good-byes and as she got in the taxi she asked me to say thank you to
everyone
at Shevet Achim and to everyone who helped make her son
healthy. Many hours later,
after seeing
Ghaith
and his mother off, I made my way back to Jerusalem. Around 11:00 p.m. she called to say
that she was home
safely, her travels were over, and everything was good. She
was with her
family.
Click
to send an e-mail
message to Aros and his mother.
Notify
me when Aros's page is updated
at this
email:
 Tuesday,
June 10, 2008
Fast Heart Rate Corrected
Filed
by
Aros
is doing very well. His heart has been beating a little too
quickly lately, and, if left untreated long enough, this could
be
harmful. However, the doctors corrected the problem by giving
him
blood. Now his heart rate is normal, and Aros is healing just
fine.
Israeli
singer Achinoam Nini (“Noa”) visited the hospital
during
our visit, and Aros enjoyed being the center of attention for the few
minutes she spent playing with him.
Aros'
mother is very tired, but she continues to be a leader for the other
mothers. Even as she worried over her own son’s fast
heart
rate and blood transfusion, she maintained a cheerful face and
encouraged Nari's mother as Nari
came out of his surgery.
Click
to send an e-mail
message to Aros and his mother.
Notify
me when Aros's page is updated
at this
email:
 Thursday,
June 5, 2008
Extubated, Recovering in ICU
Filed
by
Today
Andrew and I went to the hospital to visit Aros. Aros is
recovering in ICU. He seems to be hanging in there very
well. Although he hasn't been very alert, the doctors say he
is
doing quite well. He's been extubated and now has an oxygen
mask. Aros' mother seems be doing okay and seems calm.
Andrew adds:
Aros
was asleep during our visit, but the nurse told us that he is doing
very well. Although she looked very tired, Aros' mother was
in
very good spirits. She is missed at the house in Jerusalem. I was glad
to see that Aros' mother has befriended Ghaith's mother, who speaks
only Arabic, whereas most of the families speak Kurdish, so she has
been a little lonely at times. As we were leaving, Aros' mom asked for
prayer for herself and her son. Please continue to pray for a
quick recovery.
Click
to send an e-mail
message to Aros and his mother.
Notify
me when Aros's page is updated
at this
email:
Wednesday,
June 4, 2008
Mother Sheds Tears After
Aros' Surgery
Filed
by
I
was able to meet up with Aros' mother this morning after Aros was taken
for surgery. Much to my surprise, she was very
relaxed. She
seemed very happy and  relieved that the surgery had finally
taken place. When I pointed this out, she quickly showed me
her trembling hands.
A
few hours later, after surgery, we were able to see Aros in the
ICU. Immediately her relaxed, happy demeanor turned to tears.
It
was a very emotional time as we sat with Aros post surgery, and the
complex operation that Aros had undergone became a reality.
Praise
God, the doctors reported that everything went well.
Pray
that Aros will have a quick recovery so he and his mother can return to
Iraq in order to see her father who is very sick. Click
to send an e-mail
message to Aros and his mother.
Notify
me when Aros's page is updated
at this
email:
Tuesday,
June 3, 2008
To Surgery Tomorrow
Filed
by
Aros left the Shevet house
in Jerusalem early this morning, to go to the hospital in preparation
for his heart surgery tomorrow. Originally,
Aros' surgery was scheduled to take place on June 1. Last week
we
were informed that the surgery wouldn't take place until Tuesday, June
3. On Sunday we were informed yet again that his surgery would
be
moved back one more day.
I was able to spend some
time today in the hospital with Aros and his mother as they prepare for
his surgery tomorrow. Aros' mother is no doubt excited that
her
long wait will soon be over.
Late this morning Zhino
was requested to come to the hospital for a catheterization that will take place on
Wednesday as well, and Shaima
continues  her recovery in the children's
ward. Aros' mother seemed
to be very relaxed this evening as Aros took a nap and I was
getting
ready to leave. I asked her how she was holding up and she
told me
that she was praising God that Zhino, Shaima and Aros could all be
together in the hospital. This was giving her much
comfort.
These women have become family to one another while they are away from
their biological families. It is amazing to see how they care
for
one another.
Please pray for Aros' operation that
will take place on Wednesday, June 4, and for his mother as she
anxiously awaits the completion of his surgery.
Click
to send an e-mail
message to Aros and his mother.
Notify
me when Aros's page is updated
at this
email:
 Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Infection in Blood
Filed
by
Two
days after last week's catheterization, Aros returned to the house in
Jerusalem. Saturday morning I received a call that little Aros had been
sick through the night and was still feverish and sick. After calling
the hospital, checking his fever, and administering some
over-the-counter meds, we waited for one of the doctors to call us
back. When I saw Aros, it was clear that he was not his usual happy
self. We wondered if it might be teething causing his symptoms, as he
is definitely cutting some teeth. The doctor let us know that we should
bring Aros in to be sure it was nothing serious, so by early afternoon
we were on our way to the hospital.
Just
as we were
arriving at the hospital, Aros began to vomit, adding another symptom
to report once we got to the children's ward. Upon examination, the
doctors found that Aros had a slight fever, but an x-ray showed his
lungs were clear. Aros remained very wary of the staff through
the
day after several attempts had to be made to find his veins for blood
tests, and each time we neared the nurses' station area where these
tests are done, he began to cry. The blood test showed infection in the
blood, so an antibiotic was started after other tests were finished. It
was necessary to admit Aros until the doctors were sure they'd gotten
the proper treatment for him.
On Sunday he
was doing better, and happy to see his friends Nari and Ranj
when they came for further tests. By Monday Aros was ready to be
dismissed back to us in Jerusalem, much to everyone's delight. Please
pray for Aros and his mother as he waits his turn for surgery. She is
very concerned that he will become sick again, and the planned surgery
date of June 1 will have to be changed. We are instead focusing on
thanking God that he is doing well now, and that his surgery is already
scheduled.Click
to send an e-mail
message to Aros and his mother.
Notify
me when Aros's page is updated
at this
email:
 Tuesday,
May 13, 2008
Admitted for Catheterization
Filed
by
Aros
was admitted this afternoon for his catheterization tomorrow morning.
He arrived happy, and was happy when we left him. But this bright
little boy has already figured out that doctors and nurses mean pain
sometimes, and his afternoon contained some tears along with the
smiles.
Please pray for him and his mother as the
doctors do this
procedure tomorrow. His surgery is expected to be simple, and after the
catheterization, the doctors will know how best to treat him.
Click
to send an e-mail
message to Aros and his mother. Notify
me when Aros's page is updated
at this
email:
 Thursday,
May 1, 2008
First Echo Reveals Three
Holes in Heart
Filed
by
Aros
had his first echocardiogram in Israel today. Aros' mother was
obviously shaken, and even began to tremble, as the nurse informed her
that instead of having one, her son actually has three minor holes in
his heart. An obvious look of relief swept over her face,
however,
when the nurse assured her that it would be an easy
surgery. Immediately after her son's echo, Aros' mom called
her
husband to tell him the news. We left them a very tired baby
and
a hopeful mother.
Notify
me when Aros's page is updated
at this
email:
 Tuesday,
April 29, 2008
Aros Arrives in Israel on
His 1st Birthday
Filed
by
After
waiting in Amman for over seven weeks, the mothers of Aros, Shaima, Zhino and Cheya
were overjoyed to be travelling at last to Israel. Of course the
children too were excited about moving on to the next place in their
journey to get well. We were all thankful for the cooler weather which
had moved into Jordan a few days before so that the trip to the border
was pleasant for us as we crowded into the van. Even so, the cooler
weather didn't stop us from enjoying some ice cream while we waited to
board the bus which would carry us over the Jordan River into Israel.
In
spite of the excitement and along with it, there are the contemplations
and stresses of what will be next, which are evident in the moods of
the group. We use the time travelling to address this as questions are
asked and we can discuss in more detail what is about to transpire, and
when and where they will be as the process unfolds. At this point, I
believe a new reality begins to develop for each family as they
recognize that each child's specific heart condition determines the
course of the lives of that child and parent for the extent of their
stay with us for treatment. None of us or the doctors can foresee how
each child will respond to the treatment they need; only God knows
these things. We find this a source of comfort, and we encourage the
families that we trust the work of the doctors, but we especially trust
God in everything that happens to help their precious child. I believe
each moment we spend with them reaching out in love helps them know the
love and encouragement of God.
I always
enjoy spending
time with the children and parents, and find each group seems to have
its own sort of personality. This is a close-knit group who have been
able to pull together and encourage each other through the ups and
downs they experienced while waiting.
The younger
children look up to Cheya
as the 'big brother', and he fills the role well. The mothers trust him
with their children as he is gentle but playful, and able to offer
correction to them as well as entertain them. I found out yesterday
Cheya is learning English in school and has some vocabulary, but is
very good in Arabic.
Zhino
is very weak from her condition and is often found squatting to force
air into her lungs so she can breathe. But she is a very spunky little
girl, and I predict that she will be a boundless source of activity
after her surgery.
Shaima
is also very weak, and is more the pensive, quiet type. She is very
smart and quick though when there is something to be figured out, and
seems to have a growing English vocabulary as well.
Aros,
as the baby of the group, gets lots of attention from everyone and
thoroughly enjoys it.
The
children
will go to the hospital in a couple of days for their first
echocardiograms here which will determine the doctors' course of
treatment. Let's join our prayers for God's work to be fulfilled in
them and their mothers in every way.
Notify
me when Aros's page is updated
at this
email:
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