Since his release from the hospital, Rebar has been recovering at the Save A Child's Heart house.
This week, Save A Child's Heart arranged an overnight trip to the northern part of Israel, for Rebar, Juliana and Shinyar and their moms. While they were packing the van to leave, Rebar sat patiently on the curb with some warm milk and his pacifier.
Thank you for continuing to pray for Rebar and his mother during the recovery process.
A discussion with Dr. Ilan confirms that the closure of VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect) is complete and in 1-2 days he will most probably move from the critical care unit. He still is being medicated for the presence of some level of pain as a normal precaution for his condition.
It was a big Shabbat today for Rebar (above right), who received word Friday that his heart surgery is now scheduled for Sunday. In the morning he raced, leaped, and cavorted as he led a group of four Iraqi families to attend worship at the Narkis St. Congregation in Jerusalem, where friends gathered to pray for his surgery.
After Shabbat's end we drove to the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, and a sleepy Rebar marched into the surgical ward in soldierly fashion, though occasionally clutching at his pacifier.
Once admitted to the hospital, it was time for a pre-op shower, weighing, and examinations by the Israeli doctors:
I trust these pictures will encourage you to join us in praying for this spunky and courageous young man during Sunday's surgery. We'll update this page Sunday night.
Rebar is currently staying at the Shevet House in Jerusalem, waiting for his surgery. He has been a joy to everyone here. His bright smile lights up the whole room! He is a very affectionate boy, and loves the camera. Without exaggeration, he can conjure up a dashing smile on command at almost any moment. I probably snapped a good 10 shots of him, and every time without fail his smile was impeccable. Martha Berg referred to him as "a little model."
Cunning nurses know that the first thing one has to do in testing a child is to stick him with a needle. This is the only chance they get to do this without a tantrum. From then on, even taking his temperature can be a challenge.
Rebar was no different when he began his tests today at the Wolfson Medical Center. Here is a young boy willing to smile at anyone for anything, but try to examine him, and you get the full fury of a boy unwillingly poked. Still, as all children, his attitude changed quickly once he was reclothed and given free reign of the hallways.
Just an hour or so after the prodding, Rebar found Baveel in the ward and offered him potato chips. It is wonderful to watch children quickly forget recent wrongs, and then use the same hand stuck by a needle to offer help to another.
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