We received a call today from Nyan’s mother, who said that even though she couldn’t understand everything the nurse was telling her in Arabic, she believed that she might be coming home to Shevet Achim in Jerusalem. Inferring from the excitement in her voice, we called the hospital to confirm, and we were instructed to wait for the doctor’s official release.
We drove to Sheba Hospital, and on entered the children’s ward found Nyan and her mother walking around the lobby with their bags. I asked what they were doing, and the mother’s response was that they were waiting for us. Nyan smiled and walked toward us with her arms out, her mother following behind. We waited for Nyan’s medications to be prepared, and then left for Jerusalem in good spirits.
As a surprise for Nyan’s mother, I was accompanied to the hospital by Aryan and his mother, who are fellow Kurdish speakers and friends. Nyan’s mother enjoyed the surprise greatly. Nyan also became friends with another young boy in the hospital, who was admitted into the same room. Not knowing if they were going to see each other again, their goodbye was filled with tearful hugs and kisses. He is standing on the right.
Everyone posed for a quick photo as we were about to leave the hospital. Nyan’s mother asked to have a copy before leaving for Iraq.
We can pray for the doctors to have wisdom in handling Nyan’s medical case, and also for the ventricles in Nyan’s heart to begin functioning properly.
We turned the corner today into Nyan’s room and found her sitting up in her bed playing with her mother. She took one look at our faces and grinned. “Dada!” she said, which translates to “big sister.” Her mother looked at us and laughed. It is amazing how much children become acquainted with those around them, and it is always a blessing when our Shevet children consider us family.
As we waited for Nyan’s echo today, which would reveal the progress of her post-surgery recovery, we sat in the lobby that is full of children’s toys. Nyan playfully posed for a photo and we discussed her progress with her mother, who is always eager to ask questions and to get the full details.
Once we got around to the EKG and echo, Nyan wasn’t the least bit at ease with the little probes on her body. Her mother’s cooing helped somewhat but Nyan’s concerned expression lasted throughout the whole process.
After the echo, we were told that her condition is still under careful consideration with several of the ICU doctors. Within her heart, her right ventricle is functioning poorly. The combination of a new cardiac physiology and the aid of medication has not demonstrated sufficient improvement to dismiss the potential of a second surgery. At present she still suffers from the transposition of her arteries. The remaining question is when that issue will be taken care of, because it must be. Please keep her in prayer, as well as the doctors, since they have a big decision to make on her behalf.
Today´s visit at Sheba was really wonderful! Brian and myself were surprised at how well Nyan is doing after her surgery. She was a little bit shy, but so cute, and we were impressed to see her eating when we entered the room. She behaved really lively, and she didn’t stop eating and drinking, because her body needs more strength.
Also her mom was smiling and looked so happy. Brian and I were a little sad that we couldn´t talk with her, but I guess she understood that our team (including Stephanie, whom she asked for) is coming back tomorrow night from Jordan.
On Sunday the medical team at Sheba will decide when Nyan can return to Jerusalem to convalesce.
We are so thankful to the Lord and have a very good feeling about Nyan’s condition.
Just before leaving for the hospital on Tuesday morning, Nyan’s mother phoned us from there to say that Nyan did not sleep at all throughout the night because of hunger, and that she has no idea how to communicate with the nurses. She knows no English, Hebrew or Arabic, the languages that are used in Israel. She asked if we would be able to help her find out more information, and I said that we would be there within an hour to help. She let out a long sigh of relief, and you could hear the smiling through the phone when she said, “Inshalla, kwahafeez” (“God willing, bye”).
After we arrived we saw Nyan in bed, crying and helplessly shouting for her mom to give her yogurt. Her mother, looking at Nyan with a frown and then back at me, asked if I could please speak with the nurses about the possibility of giving Nyan food. It is hard for a mother to deny her child one of the most basic needs for the sake of medical reasons. Of course the child cannot understand this; which makes matters even harder. Hawre, another Shevet member who received heart surgery just a few weeks ago, tried to uplift Nyan’s spirits, but she wasn’t persuaded in the least.
Dr. Amir and Dr. Mishali were available to give us an update on Nyan’s progress: She is experiencing AV valve leakage, which is a common symptom after heart surgery. However, the worsening or improvement of this leakage in the next days will determine whether or not Nyan will require another surgery in the near future.
In any case, Nyan needs prayer. Please continue to keep Nyan in your conversations with our Heavenly Father and ask for His mercies on her progress.
Upon walking into Nyan’s hospital room, we were met by her graceful mother and Nyan’s playful smile.
Nyan’s only complaint was that we did not bring anything with us for breakfast. The difficulty for all children prior to surgery is the fasting. Fortunately in Nyan’s case she was the first on the day’s operation list, so her fasting only lasted until 9 a.m. Her mother appeared calm and put together, making small talk about the night and Nyan’s disapproval of this whole experience.
In the hour before Nyan would be rolled away by the anesthesiologist, we played with Nyan using bubbles, balloons and all sorts of voices that caught her off guard. Although she was distracted from the various nurses coming in and out of the room in preparation for her procedure, she remained close to her mother and reached up for her hand several times. We managed to photograph the moment and her mother, who took notice of our camera saying, “She is sweet isn’t she?
We were so grateful for Dr. Mishali who took a few minutes to explain Nyan’s situation. He stated “For now we are not sure what we will do. Our hope is that a VSD repair will be successful. In the event that we are unable to perform this procedure, we will end her operation without fixing the VSD. If that occurs, a Fontaine shunt procedure will be performed within the next few weeks, or maybe months. This will consist of three operations to repair the hole in her heart and the transposition of her pulmonary artery.” This information was enough to cause Nyan’s mother to fear, especially since she held high expectations and hopes that one surgery would be enough to correct her heart. Her face read like a book. Each blink looked as if she was in slow motion, carefully taking in the reality of Nyan’s medical condition.
The hardest moment for Nyan’s mother was watching as her little girl was being put to sleep. Nyan’s last words before the medication put her out were soft whispers of “Dya” (the English equivalent of momma). This shattered her mother’s strength into pieces and her face was instantly drowning in tears. The nurse peeled her hand away from Nyan’s and took her outside in the corridor where she whimpered and helplessly fell into my arms, covering her face. She sobbed until she caught her breath and began praying in between breaths. Many times she stated (not to me but in prayer) that God was big and that our lives are in His hands. I waited for a moment of pause and affirmed this truth about our Heavenly Father being big and having authority over life.
When the surgery ended, Dr. Mishali walked toward us and Nyan’s mother was quickly on her feet. His expressions told me that good news was to be expected, and it was. He stated that a VSD repair was performed and that Nyan is doing well. He also said that for the next two days they will keep close watch on Nyan, and decide after that which steps are next. Nyan’s mother hugged everyone around her, smiled from ear to ear, and went off by herself to pray and give thanks to God for this outcome.
She walked toward Nyan’s bedside and gently stroked her hair. The day, and the element of the unexpected, put our emotions on a rollercoaster ride. And although the time went by slowly, each minute feeling like an hour, we all had the deepest gratitude for God, who gives life. Today He gave Nyan another chance at a healthy life, and while we may not know fully what to expect in the coming days, today’s events were a miracle to this family.
Please join us in giving God thanks for this wonderful outcome, and continue to pray that her heart will respond positively to the corrections made today, even that a solution will offer itself regarding the transposition of Nyan’s great arteries.
The wait is over. The fortnight delay on Nyan's surgery that was communicated in the last blog is no more, and now we are expecting to see her enter into surgery tomorrow morning, praise God. One phone call from the doctors at Sheba brought excitement and anticipation for Nyan's mother, who smiled big and asked several times, "Really, it's tomorrow?" With the same level of excitement, those of us at the Shevet responded over and over with, "Yes!"
At the sight of Sheba hospital Nyan became slightly distressed. She is quite observant for a two year old, and recognized her surroundings within minutes of entering the children's ward. She let us know quickly of her disapproval and let out cries of "Dya, nah" (meaning "Mom, no").
After an x-ray and a bit of waiting for the next steps, Nyan was rewarded with an ice cream and that changed her behavior completely. She became friends with everyone and held conversations without hesitation and without regard to where she was.
We hope to report again tomorrow after Nyan’s heart surgery.
A sudden call from Sheba Hospital this afternoon brought us to little Nyan's bedside, as she has been released to return to Shevet until her surgery, which has been planned for a fortnight's time.
However, on arrival, we found her still connected to the monitors, and with cannulas on one wrist and one foot. But it was not long until a nurse quickly removed everything. Nyan was very brave, but the pain was too much for such a little girl, and her monitors registered noisy interference (from her cries).
Her mum soon quieted her with a bottle of water, and the concentration required by a little girl when her mum is dressing her with clothes to be pulled over her head, which have only a very small head opening.
They both seemed to be delighted to return to their fellow Iraqi friends here at Shevet.
Waiting is difficult no matter how old you are, but for a two-year-old who has not eaten since the night before, it is insufferable. Stephanie and I arrived at Sheba Hospital early in the morning, presuming Nyan to be the first or second case of the day. Alas, the hours turned from morning to afternoon and Nyan grew restless and hungrier still. "Dya, nan! Dya, nan!" ("Mommy, food!") Her lips repeated these words over and over again with increasing agitation. Her little scowl seemed to say, "Why don't you understand?" We used every method of distraction until Nyan, exhausted, was lulled to sleep by her mother's rocking.
Nyan's mother is a beautiful and endearing woman, who can put anyone at ease with her gentle ways. Both Stephanie and I experienced an immediate affinity with her and felt like we had been friends for years, not days. Likewise, we observed how naturally she mothered Nyan in a very foreign environment. Many women feel helpless or uncertain in their ability to comfort their child in the hospital. This mother, however, met each need naturally and with confidence.
After Nyan woke up from a long nap, we entertained her in the play area by building towers for her to knock over. Her delightful giggles spilled out into the hallways. A child's laughter is the sweetest music!
Two o'clock arrived and so did the transport team to escort Nyan to the catheterization lab. Her mother calmly stood by her side until cries faded under the effects of anesthesia. It was then that this mother's strength crumbled momentarily and her body shook with sobs. Even though the catheterization is only a diagnostic procedure, it alludes to the challenging reality of Nyan's need for open heart surgery. This is no small weight to bear for a mother who deeply loves her daughter. As we sat waiting, I read the scripture which says, "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb," (Psalm 139:13). I thought about the way God fashioned Nyan's heart, even with its problems, and that He has a greater purpose for her life then I could ever begin to comprehend.
Two hours later, Nyan emerged from the cath lab, along with good reports from the nursing staff. Doctors were able to gain valuable information from the 3-D computer imagery that the cath produced. Tomorrow, Sheba's cardiology team will gather to discuss Nyan's results and move forward in their plans for her surgical repair. When Stephanie and I bid her mother goodbye, Nyan was still sleeping peacefully in the recovery room. For the sweet time spent with Nyan and her mother and for a successful outcome of today's test, we give God praise. Please continue to pray for His perfect plan to be carried out in this beautiful little girl's life.
Our newest addition to the Shevet community has now arrived in Jerusalem – Nyan! Kristina and I, ourselves returning from a two week trip in Kurdistan, had the honor of traveling with Nyan and her mother all the way from the Sulaymaniah Airport to Amman, and then on to Israel.
Once we landed in Amman, Nyan’s mother graced us with her big, warm smile and commented that Amman was beautiful. She formed this opinion while still in the air, looking out the window of the plane.
The trek to Jerusalem was long and tiring, but Nyan and mother ended the day in our community home in Jerusalem, the smiles still on their faces. We relayed to her mother that Nyan would have her first echo at Sheba Medical Center in the morning. Her mother glanced back at me, and with a hint of surprise in her face said “inshalla” (“God willing”).
At Sheba, Nyan took a quick liking to the play equipment in Sheba’s children lobby.
She was also not hesitant to make some friends with local Israeli girls as she waited for her name to be called for the appointment.
After the echo, the doctor stated that she is to be admitted this very day in order to have a catheterization tomorrow morning. This quick step is important because Nyan’s diagnosis consists of a large VSD with several other complications. A catheterization will help provide a better picture of how to handle her heart situation. With a large VSD, Nyan suffers from a hole between the right and left ventricles of her heart, causing oxygenated and deoxygenated blood mix, and her heart to be comparable to an inefficient pump.
It was a long day for the two of them, but it proved to be fruitful. Nyan completed her echo, miscellaneous tests, blood work, x-ray and room check-in for overnight, and is ready for what will come tomorrow. When we left the hospital, both Nyan and her mother were in good spirits. Nyan’s mother shed a tear when asked about her expectations for tomorrow. She expects things to turn out well and trusts those who are here in Israel and at Sheba Hospital to help them. Even so, this is unfamiliar territory, both physical and emotionally; please keep them both in prayer for tomorrow’s procedure.
Nyan's applications for visas to Jordan and Israel have been filed, and we hope to bring her to Israel within the next two weeks.
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