Aros's Heart Surgery

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 wouldnt 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 Ghaiths 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.

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 dont 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 Naris 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.

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.