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Maryam's Heart Surgery
 Monday, May 18, 2009
Visiting Maryam In Iraq
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Since
Maryam returned to Iraq about 18 months ago, her father has kept in
touch with me by email, sending notes from Maryam which ask how all of
us in Jerusalem are doing, and letting me know that Maryam is fine. I
was excited to think we'd have an opportunity to see them when we made
a recent visit there, and hoped it would work out. Because Maryam's
family lives near Kirkuk it was not possible for me to travel there.
But once the word spread that we were in Sulaymania, Maryam and her
father came with another family by taxi to visit us. It was a real joy
to find them waiting for us when we arrived at our designated meeting
place one morning, and we spent several hours together visiting.
Maryam continues in excellent health since her surgery, and is doing
very well in school. She is a beautiful young lady and exhibited none
of the childish ways we came to know when she was with us previously.
She was attentive to all the conversation around her, including while a
group of college students who were visiting for the day shared a Bible
story through a translator.
We rejoice with Maryam's family for her excellent recovery and health,
thanking God for all He has done for them. May her life give Him great
glory as she becomes the woman He created her to be.
Wednesday, September
19, 2007
Maryam's Final Departure
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Early this morning a sleepy but joy-filled Maryam
and her father made their final departure from us. Since several of our Shevet
staff were in Jordan for a meeting, it gave another opportunity to say goodbye to
them and seal the preciousness of the relationships which have formed during
their time away from Iraq.
These
goodbyes are special times... the parents are always very grateful for
all that has been done for their children, but it seems to me that
often the men are impacted in a way that is more powerful than they
could have imagined. Typically they arrive with very few child-rearing
skills and quickly discover the challenges of doing nothing but
caring for their ill and recuperating child during what can be a
several-months' stay.
Every family comes hoping for and expecting the
''perfect'' scenario for their child: immediate heart surgery, speedy
recovery, short stay away from home and family and job, and big celebration upon
return to Iraq. However this is rarely the case, as the children's unique heart
diagnoses and general health are woven together with the schedules of the
surgeons, and the conditions of other children who are also in desperate need of
heart surgery.
In
Maryam's case, her surgery was delayed several times due to life
and death demands of other children needing emergency heart
surgery. Then, as she began to recover, it was discovered that she
needed a pacemaker, but it took some time of observation before being
certain her heart rhythm would not return to normal on its own. During
this time, Maryam's father continued to take excellent care of her, but
he also began to become very, very tired. For our volunteers to be able
to come alongside him and encourage him and Maryam allows for
relationship like nothing else can. We are thankful for these
opportunities with every family, and somehow these goodbyes are a final
agreement on how fulfilling the experience has been for all of us as we
have shared with one another the boundless compassion of the heart of
God.  Because of this reality,
there have always been tears from one or another of us during our farewells, and
today was no exception.
Several of us said goodbye at Dirk's home where
Maryam and her dad stayed a couple of nights until their scheduled flight. The
bond formed with Alex and Maryam's father was evident as they said farewell. Several
more of us shared a sunrise with them as we travelled to the airport for the
flight which would carry them back to Maryam's mother and three younger
brothers. The final departure from us came quickly since the plane was beginning
to board when we arrived, so we shared hugs and handshakes mixed with tears of
joy and gratitude.
We watched our special friends clear the initial security
gate beyond us, and walk into the future with new hopes and dreams. Praise be to
God!
Thank you for your prayers for Maryam and her
family as she has received this opportunity to grow up and live a life full of
promise. I pray and believe she will become a woman with a unique wisdom gained
from the encounters she and her father had during this time, and this wisdom
will be used as a blessing to many. Please join me in praying that God's plans
for Maryam will be fulfilled, and that He will receive all the glory for
it.
Tuesday,
September
18
Celebrating in Jordan
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The
Shevet staff (gathered in Jordan for a mini-retreat) celebrated tonight
with Maryam and father their imminent departure for Iraq.
After cake and candles and a time of thanksgiving prayer,
Maryam's father took the occasion to say that without surgery his
daughter would have died within two years, and that he loves
us all. In a few hours we'll leave for the airport for their
early morning flight back home. Watch this page for Maryam's
final update Wednesday evening.
 Monday
September
17
A Wonderful Day
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Even
before the sun rose this morning in Jerusalem, there was a hubbub of
activity happening at the Shevet facility. The breakfast was being
prepared so it could be eaten before sunrise (Ramadan dictate), showers
were being taken, and final packing was transpiring. You see Mariam and
her father, Jamal, were already on the telephone with family back home
in Kurdistan, expounding on the possibility that this was the day for
them to begin their return journey home. Their smiles were so radiant,
as were their countenances. Their conversations were joyful and small
bursts of glee from Maryam were common. Her healthy heart, now a happy
and joyful heart, was contagiously spreading to those around her.
Truly, this was a beautiful thing to behold and a wonderful way to
start a day!
By mid morning, their passports had
been returned to them and the okay had been given for their transport
to the northernmost Israeli-Jordan border where Iraqi citizens must
cross. Suitcases and miscellaneous bags were loaded in the van and we
were ready to depart, when LC and Raneen, both Shevet staff volunteers,
arrived. LC had brought with her visitors from Singapore.
The trip to the border took about
two hours. As we passed through the differing landscapes of Israel, I
often saw Mariam's father jotting down notes of what he was seeing. I
offered him my camera, telling him that I would send the pictures to
him later via email. His face shone as a boy with a new toy and the
time passed by all the more quickly as he snapped picture after
picture. Mariam, on the other hand, was quite content coloring with the
new colored pencils that Raneen had given to her upon departure.
The
Israeli/Jordan border loomed ahead of us and once again, the statement
was made of 'goodbye Israel,' a place that had birthed within them many
many memories, as well as, the beginning of a new life for Mariam.
 Sunday
September
16
A Transform-
ation
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Maryam's
eyes danced as I arrived at the Shevet Achim facility in Jerusalem this
morning. As she stood in the courtyard and the sunlight shone richly on
her auburn hair, she was a radiant young lady full of life and energy.
This was quite a different picture than what our staff had seen upon
her arrival into Israel. During the last three months a definite
transformation has taken place. Not only did faithful and generous
sponsors made it possible, but the Hand of God had perfectly directed
the hands of the surgeons. The results were easy to see.
Our
trip to the medical center was nothing out of the ordinary, but the
opportunity to take her picture was just too hard to pass up. Her white
Domino's Pizza cap was a treasure to her!
Once
at the center, the nurses made over her with kisses and hugs. No one
could deny that with a reception like this, that Mariam holds a special
place in their hearts! What special ladies!
They
began the preparatory procedures and soon she was on her way to the lab
where they would once again check her pacemaker. In a short time, the
results were given. It was very good. Now there was time for lunch. Oh,
what a great appetite she had! This might account for the healthy
weight gain she has had (2.5 kg./5-7 lbs.) since her operation.
After
lunch, Mariam was transferred to the clinic where Dr Tamir would
oversee and analyze the echo once it was administered. There were other
babies and children to visit so I did not accompany them, but
eventually I caught back up with them.
As
I entered the examination room where the echo had taken place, Dr.
Tamir's eyes met mine. His eyes were now the ones that were dancing! As
my gaze turned to Mariam and to her father, I saw faces filled with joy
and almost to the point of tears. Mariam had passed her exam and had
just been told that she was able to go home!
 Saturday
September
15,
2007
More To Hug
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These
days, when I put my arms around Maryam, there's a lot more to hug.
She's gained a considerable amount of weight. I can feel it in her
embrace, and you can see it in her face if you compare it to her
pictures from the early days in Israel. Just when we thought she
couldn't get any cuter!
After the pacemaker was implanted,
Maryam's hospital stay turned out to be shorter than expected. We're
all thankful for that. She
and her father have been staying with us at the Shevet house in
Jerusalem since Tuesday. Within that time, we've celebrated
the Jewish New Year (Rosh
HaShana) and the beginning of the Muslim holiday of
Ramadan. Maryam's father spends most of the day resting as he fasts.
Autumn and my kids have put together puzzles, colored, and watched some
movies. In the evenings, when it's time to break the fast, we've been
eating together--not only dinner, but also walnut-filled pancake rolls
that are a traditional sweet during Ramadan.
Tomorrow (Sunday) Maryam will have an
echocardiogram, and then she and her father will move to the Save A
Child's Heart house near the hospital. Here's a picture of Maryam
independently packing her suitcase in preparation.
It will only be a few more days until
she packs for the last time, when she leaves Israel for Iraq on
Thursday. I'm pretty sure her mother and three brothers will agree...
there's more to hug.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
 Thursday
September
6,
2007
Out of the O.R.
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Maryam was wheeled out
of the operating room today at 1:45 PM. She has been
implanted with an internal pace maker. Due to her age, the
operation has caused some arrhythmia. My first concern was
her need to return to Israel for a new battery. Luckily, the
pace maker batteries are better than Energizers. Each battery
should last five years.
Please keep
Maryam’s father in your prayers. It is obvious that
he has not slept well in days as he tries to be strong for his
daughter. This latest procedure will keep them in the
hospital for two more weeks. The father is supposed to start
teaching on the 15th of September but it is obvious he will not make it
back in time. Please keep this in prayer as well.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
Tuesday,
September
4,
2007
Pacemaker To Be Implanted
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Today when I
visited, the nurse told me Maryam's fever is gone... praise
the LORD!
Maryam will have an
echocardiogram tomorrow to check on the presence of fluids around her
heart. If all goes well, she will proceed to have a pace-maker
implanted on Thursday.
Today
Maryam had a visit from a very special person: Dr. Sion Houri,
who
is the director of the pediatric intensive care, as well as a founding
member of Save A Child's Heart. Dr Houri, pictured above, has just
returned to Wolfson after being away in Los Angeles for the past year
and a half. Dr Houri is pleased to hear
that Rambam
Hospital in Haifa is also receiving Iraqi children for heart surgery.
Maryam
was fussy with her food during lunch and would only eat the
peach on the tray. It was timely that I had brought  along some grapes and an apple,
and Maryam promptly stuck two grapes into her mouth to show me
her cheeky (excuse the pun!) 'kebab-kebab' look... that
is, if she would eat well and put on some weight!
Later,
her devoted father saved two-thirds of the fish on his lunch plate and
brought it back from the canteen for Maryam, yet she would eat only a
bit of it. She seems to be missing her mom's cooking very badly, being
away from home for nearly three months.
Let's
press in to pray for Maryam's rapid recovery so that she and
her father can be soon reunited with their family in Iraq.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
Monday,
September
3, 2007
Fluid Around Maryam's Heart
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After a week
of not being able to see Maryam at the hospital in case my
"itchy-throat" cough would adversely affect her condition, I surprised
Maryam and her father when I turned up at Wolfson with Alex this
afternoon. I had my camera ready as I walked into the intermediate ICU
to capture their reaction... but sorry, I forgot to put on the
flash.
I
greeted Maryam's father with, "Chor-nee barshi?" (ie. "Are you good?",
the Kurdish equivalent for "How are you?")  and Maryam was thrilled to hear me
speak in their language. They lost no time in testing my
ability to count from one to ten in Kurdish!
The
nurse, who came to put some ear drops for Maryam, said
that the girl has been running a fever in the early hours of
the morning for the past 3-4 days, and that there are now
signs of possible infection. This morning, the medical staff detected
some fluid present around Maryam's heart. Please pray for Maryam who is
now on medication to treat this condition.
Neverthless
Maryam was in great spirits during our visit, and she
particularly enjoyed watching the video clips captured on my digital
camera of Halo's
demo of "dance" and "clap" in the van a couple of days ago when he was
on his journey home via Jordan, and of Dirk singing and
strumming his guitar when Halo and his father were at his
house before leaving for Iraq.
Maryam's
father was cheered up by our visit today, although we are aware that he
is anxious to return to Iraq soon, as he has to get
back to his teaching job when the school term starts.
Besides, with Zinar's
and Halo's
recent return to their home country, Maryam is the only Iraqi
child remaining in Israel for medical treatment. Let's continue to
uphold both Maryam and her father in prayer, and may the rest of their
time in Israel be filled with opportunities to get to know the LORD
who gives life, now and eternally.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
 Thursday
August 30,
2007
Keep Praying for Maryam
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Maryam continues to wait in the
intermediate ICU due to the AV block she's had since
her surgery. She is wearing the external pacemaker, and taking it easy
as she goes with her father outside the room for short visits to the
playroom, other patients, or around the hospital.
When
I visited her yesterday we had a few laughs making funny faces for
awhile, and watching a bit of a Mickey Mouse movie. Today I did not
have so much time  with her as I helped both Halo and Zinar prepare
for dismissal. One of the times I stopped by to see her, she was on the
phone to her mother, which made her very happy! And I'm sure her mother
(who also needs our prayers for healing from a sickness affecting her
stomach) was extremely happy too. As
we prepared to leave with Halo
this afternoon, Maryam and her father were waiting outside the door,
and Maryam looked so cute in her new Dominoes pizza hat which LC got
for her.
Both
she and her father were visibly tired today, and seeing their friends
leaving was emotional for them. Please keep praying for God's
touch to set the rhythm of Maryam's heart back in alignment. Pray for
her father who is persevering with her, but tired and anxious to get
home. He has hung the picture of her three younger brothers by
Maryam's bed, and is looking ahead to returning to his teaching job in
a few weeks. The whole family can be covered by your prayers as God
does what He knows is needed to heal this beautiful young girl's heart.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
Monday,
August
27, 2007
External Pacemaker
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As
you begin reading today's blog about Maryam, will you also begin to
pray for the rhythm of her heart to come back into the proper timing?
Currently Maryam has an external pacemaker which is, as the nurse
explained today, "beating her heart for her." The issue of her age
causing an AV block (meaning that her heart may not be conducting its
electrical pulses in a way it should) still has not come into
proper timing. Therefore Maryam is being held in the
intermediate ICU until the doctors determine through this waiting
time how to address her needs.
When I
set off to find Maryam, I found her and her dad enjoying the
computers in the playroom. Sometimes they were both focusing
on a funny chicken game, and  sometimes she was playing the game and
her dad was watching the news from Iraq. I continue to find it amazing
that our patients can watch their local news here - even in the
hospital. Then Maryam had a turn to play at the keyboard, and her face
lit up as she composed the tunes which came to her.
The
happiest moment was when the nurse came in to let Maryam know that her
lunch had been delivered to her bed. She has a great appetite and was
happily eating her lunch while Simantov and I accompanied her father to
the cafeteria. Afterwards when we returned, she was watching TV - one
of her favorite pasttimes under these circumstances.
Upon
hearing the report from the nurse, I took a picture of Maryam with her
external pacemaker after explaining to her that I would put the picture
on the internet with her need for prayer. Please lift her to the Lord;
I believe your prayers will make a difference to Maryam and her father
as God hears and responds.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
 Sunday
August
26, 2007
Getting Stronger
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Maryam was visiting with Halo and his
dad in the ''fish room'' at the hospital today when we arrived. Her dad
had pushed her down in a stroller from the
intermediate ICU where she is still being watched to be sure there is
no fever present. As I inquired of the nurse, she assured me that
Maryam is doing well, but they'd rather keep her one extra day in the
intermediate ICU than release her too soon to the children's ward, and
have to bring her back. We all agreed with that!
Even though Maryam is not yet her active
self again, it was clear that she is regaining strength as I watched
her climb into her bed after the nurse examined her. She is
smiling more and more of her beautiful smiles, and I even coaxed a
little giggle from her. Her dad reports that she is eating and drinking
well, and I am sure that his faithful encouragement helps her along.
I look forward to a longer visit
tomorrow when we return to the hospital. Please pray for any fever that
may be present in Maryam's body to be healed so she can continue on her
journey back home. And pray for continued stamina for her father as he
attends to her. Hopefully by tomorrow she will be in the children's
ward where she will have more freedom of movement and they
can also spend time with the other children and
parents who are there.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
 Thursday
August
23, 2007
Quick Recovery Continues
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Day Three after her
surgery, Maryam is looking great, and smiling in spite of the pain she
feels. She was game to pose for the camera showing off all the
contraptions hooked onto and into her body.
Maryam
could not eat nor drink before she was extubated and
have her X-ray taken. The hungry girl was crying
"janagah" ("pain" in Kurdish) every now and then, and
became increasingly fretful after 12 noon, the time when the doctor was
said to arrive to remove the tubes from her body.
After
her ordeal, and when she was happily satisfied
after her long-awaited lunch, I showed Maryam the
photos of her being extubated. She grinned when she saw
herself in tears and with her hand over her forehead... "seram
janagah" ("headache" in Kurdish) has become our favourite word and
joke! With Maryam's permission, we post one of
the photos mentioned.
While waiting for the
"go-ahead" for Maryam to tuck into her meal, Maryam's father dutifully
cut up the chicken into bite-size pieces. As I was capturing this on
video, Maryam started to show off her acting skills --
"I'm thirsty, I'm famished... Look at what I've gone
through... see, I've got these 'battle wounds' on my body...
But I am strong and I'll survive!"
And if you are
wondering why Maryam puffed up her cheeks and poked them with
her fingers... well, that's "Kebab-kebab", a term I had used
to refer to Younis'
chubby cheeks. Now we often say "kebab-kebab" whenever we want to say
that an Iraqi child will put on weight, thanks to
having a great appetite when recovering
from the surgery which corrected the heart defects.
And we can see
that Maryam is determined to put on some weight and get on
with her active life as soon as she can! The medical team is
indeed pleased with her quick recovery, and we are all
thankful to GOD for answering
prayers.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
 Wednesday
August
22, 2007
Out of ICU!
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God is answering our
prayers for Maryam as she has been able to move to intermediate ICU
already! It was a great surprise to get this news while we
were at the hospital with Halo, who had a fever and pain
while here at the house. Maryam's father heard we were there and found
us so he could check on Halo, and then told us the great news about
her.
After Halo's echo, I could leave Halo
and go check on Maryam. I found her looking very well as she
nibbled some cucumber and watched TV.
Because of the IVs still in her arms,
she is getting assistance from her dad with eating and other
things, but soon she will be able to do everything normally again. She
also demonstrated how well she could use the breathing therapy
device, to the encouragement of her father.
Abu Maryam is so delighted with Maryam's
progress, he is beaming. Please continue to pray for him though as he
maintains the bedside vigil with only a little sleep between calls from
his daughter. He shared with us today that he had a headache from so
little sleep last night as Maryam needed his attention.
Overall, we're seeing a wonderful work
of the Lord in progress as Maryam's healing comes forth speedily, and
we are giving Him thanks for all He is doing.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
Tuesday,
August 21, 2007
Doing Great and Feeling
Terrible
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Entering
the children's ICU, I encountered a very encouraged and
satisfied medical staff and one disgruntled little girl. In
the words of the cheery Dr. Eli Gilad, "Maryam is feeling terrible and
doing great." Maryam was mostly awake but the pain medicine
had dulled her reactions to almost anything. (Click the arrow below to
play a video clip.)
Dr.
Gilad remains confident that the surgery was a complete
success. The only issue is that her age has caused an AV
block (an atrioventricular node). This means that her heart
may not be conducting its electrical pulses in a way it
should. Often this clears up with time. There is a
small chance, however, that Maryam will need a pacemaker.
Please pray that this clears up on its own.
We'll be
checking on Maryam soon and hopefully we will find a little girl once
again full of smiles.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
Monday,
August 20, 2007
A Sigh of Relief
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As
I walked briskly to the waiting area outside the children’s
ICU
at the Wolfson Medical Center, I watched Maryam’s
father
rise from his seat with his usual calm demeanor, extend his hand, and
smile warmly. I was there to visit him and check on his
daughter’s surgery.
Her
surgery had been delayed at least five times, extending their tiresome
hospital stay by weeks. The
day before the surgery, Maryam herself announced she was ready to go
home. She wanted to see her
mother and her friends and leave this behind her.
Now
almost five hours after the surgery’s early morning
beginnings, she lay recovering in the ICU.
I journeyed first into the ICU to make sure she was
covered and ready to be seen by her father.
Shortly thereafter, her father followed me in and
approached Maryam as one would approach a wrapped present, uncertain of
liking the very gift inside. It’s
not that these parents do not love their children, rather that they
themselves do not know how the condition of their child will affect
them. His eyes ran
over the tubes inserted into her chest, sides, and mouth and he held
his breath unsure of how to react or what to say.
A
doctor approached us to explain that she will remain intubated and
asleep until tomorrow morning. Also
that her surgery was a complete success, but that these next 24 hours
are critical. Maryam’s
surgery was simple but her old age of 11 increases the risk that the
body would reject the operation. Without
it she would surely have died.
As
the doctor left, Maryam's father turned to me for translation since the
explanation of her surgery was
done mainly in English. He
made me tell him three times that the surgery was successful and that
there were no mashakl (problems). He reached over and put
his hand on this life given to him by caring Israelis and believers
from all over the world. This
gift of new life seemed good to him, and for the first time in months I
watched him heave a complete sigh of relief.
Friends,
let us give thanks for this new life of Maryam, and be in prayer that
her time in the ICU would be one of healing.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
Sunday,
August
19, 2007
Introducing Hopson...
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This
morning brought news from Maryam's father that Maryam had cried all
night for her mother, and was refusing to eat or go to the
hospital. And when I saw her, she was clearly in distress. There was
nothing to do except pray as I comforted her, and encourage her to eat
and get dressed, and to tell her I was certain her mother wanted to be
with her even more than Maryam wanted her mother here, because this is
how mothers are. She continued to fight the reality of the situation a
bit longer, but gradually it was insisted that she prepare to leave
this morning.
She received more encouragement from a phone
call Maryam's father placed to her mother, who I'm sure said the things
little girls need to hear.
Another one
of the helpers for the journey was a cute ''beanie baby''
bunny named Hopson, who was donated to us for just such times as
these. When I explained that Hopson wanted to
go to the hospital with her, Maryam and  Hopson became instant friends, and the
last time I checked, Hopson was taking a nap while Maryam enjoyed some
creative expression in the children's playroom at the hospital.
Maryam is currently
being prepped for surgery but has settled herself with the idea that
she is going to have something less than that somehow. Please pray for
this precious little girl as she approaches tomorrow morning's big
event; she is scheduled to go in at 7:30. The doctors have
explained that the surgery she needs is a simple one, but that without
it she will not survive. Pray for her dear father too. He is so
wonderful with her through these trying times of emotional upheaval. We
look forward to thanking God that tomorrow will be
the beginning of a new life for Maryam when her heart is repaired.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
Saturday
Night, August 18, 2007
In Jerusalem Again
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by
After the disappointing
news that Maryam's surgery was delayed until Monday, we were pleased to
get a call yesterday that she and her father could come up to Jerusalem
to stay at the house with us and Halo and his father until Sunday
(tomorrow). Since we were shopping at the shuk (outdoor
market) when we got the call, we picked up some more food, and came
back to welcome them here. After some lunch, everyone enjoyed
opportunities to play and  work on email together.
In the picture above, Maryam is preparing a meal for her friend.
Please
keep praying for her, and her father, as her surgery
date approaches.
Maryam
has wanted to get her hair cut for a couple weeks. Now that she's been
out of the hospital for a couple days, we were able to take her to
Jameel's salon in the Old City. She looks wonderful with her new, short
hairdo!
After Maryam's hair appointment, we took
her to the
United Nations bear exhibition. Many countries of the world are
represented. Maryam posed between the Iraqi bear and the Israeli bear!
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
Thursday,
August
16, 2007
Surgery Re-Scheduled for
Monday
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by
 We had
unexpect-ed news as we drove to the
hospital today. We received a call informing us that Maryam's
surgery had to be postponed again. When we arrived, we found
Maryam and her father returning from the store, which was a sure
diversion from the disappointment they felt at having to wait until
Monday for her surgery. One of the nurses told us that she had been
crying earlier throughout the morning, but after we arrived
she seemed to perk up some since we brought Halo and his dad along. They came
with us because they wanted to sit with Maryam's father during
the surgery. Instead everyone had a chance to visit one
another and discuss the latest about their respective progress
toward going home.
Maryam and Halo had
lunch together, and later each enjoyed some ice cream from the canyon
(mall adjacent to the hospital).
Maryam was chipper for
awhile, but it was evident before we left that the waiting is becoming
frustrating for her as she endures the boredom of each day. Games and
other items of entertainment can only go so far for a little girl who
wants to get on with life. This is our prayer for her, as she has so
much life to enjoy, and so much to offer others. Please pray for her
father to remain strong in perseverance, and for Maryam to be as
patient as a little girl can be. Pray that the doctors will be able to
complete her surgery on Monday so that she will soon be
recuperating. Pray that all of us will
remember that, even though we do not understand why
this delay, God's timing is perfect.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
Tuesday,
August
14, 2007
Maryam's Surgery Scheduled
for Tomorrow
Filed
by
Today Maryam had a lot
of company to help her last day before surgery
fly by. Many Shevet staff were at Wolfson today,
as they wanted to visit her as well as help out
with a number of visiting patients from Gaza. We
enjoyed having lunch with Maryam and her dad in
the canyon (mall). Another child from Gaza, also named Miriam, join
Maryam for a McDonald's Happy Meal.
 We were delighted to
hear that Maryam's surgery is scheduled for
tomorrow! Hopefully it will go forward. Maryam will
have to fast starting tonight. Last time she
did this for her catheteriza- tion, she
was unhappy from being hungry in the morning, so
please pray for her to handle fasting okay this time
around. Good sleep is another prayer request
this evening for Maryam and her dad.
Check back Wednesday for
a post-op update, Lord willing!
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
Sunday,
August
12, 2007
Active Girl
Filed
by
Maryam was delighted to
see me again, and gave me a big hug when I arrived at Wolfson.
(Maryam is pictured above with her father, and our Jerusalem
director Alex.)
She was rather
disappointed that her surgery today was postponed, somewhat
indefinitely until the next available slot.
Nevertheless, this
spritely girl was all ready for some fun -- a simple
game hitting a paper-ball with Halo.
Maryam also
enjoyed teaching me a few Kurdish words, such as those for orange,
apple and teddy bear!
Please continue to pray
for Maryam and her father, as the time of waiting can be quite tiring.
Besides, all of us are eager to see Maryam get well enough to
lead the active life she's so naturally geared towards.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
 Friday
August
10, 2007
In Hospital Until Surgery
Filed
by
Maryam ran to greet
Donna and me as we entered the children's ward Friday.
It's been five days since I've seen my little
sister (or so she feels like after spending the
summer with her!) in Jerusalem at our house. Since
then, she's been at Wolfson Medical Center and I've
been in Haifa. It was great to see her again!
She doesn't appear to be having any chest pain
currently, though she'll stay in the hospital for
monitoring until her surgery. Her
operation was set for Sunday, but a child from
ICU has taken that slot. We don't know yet what day her surgery will be.
This week must've felt
like an eternity for this young girl, who
is very energetic and likes to be in the
middle of any activity. I can't help but wonder
what Maryam and her dad do all evening in
particular, as they are such night owls. It wouldn't be
uncommon to see Maryam's father cooking dinner at 10 or
11 pm at the Shevet house. Though they are
restricted with space, I am very thankful that
she's at the hospital, where they have a
watchful eye on her, in case her chest pain were to
get worse.
Since Maryam's father
was out with Halo and his father at the market when we
visited, we enjoyed entertaining Maryam
with dominoes and balloons. Maryam was
such a sweet hostess, offering us orange juice and making
us comfortable in her room. We hoped we could
stay to see the boys return from their
shopping trip, but with Shabbat quickly approaching, we
knew we had to get back to Jerusalem.
Public transportation shuts down around 5 pm around the
country, and we weren't too keen on getting
stranded in Tel Aviv! Maryam walked us out to the
door and we told her we would see her on the day
of her ahmaliah (surgery).
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
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Monday,
August
6, 2007
Late-night Chest Pains
Return Maryam to Hospital
Filed
by
Maryam returned to the
Shevet Achim center in Jerusalem Sunday, but late Monday night again
experienced a pounding heart and chest pain that caused her to cry out.
Israeli cardiologist Alona Raucher, contacted by telephone,
advised that although Maryam looks fairly healthy, she is a very sick
girl. Dr. Raucher believes that Maryam is experiencing
pulmonary
hypertension attacks, and asked us to return her to the hospital
immediately. We arrived about 1:00 am (pictured above), and
Maryam immediately had an EKG (click play arrow below
to see her waiting patiently) before she was put to
sleep for the night
under observation .
Please pray for her as
she deals with the fear caused by her chest pain, and for her father as
he anxiously awaits her surgery; Maryam will be the last of her group
from Iraq to go to the OR. Her surgery is tentatively
scheduled for next week.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
 Sunday
August
5, 2007
Stable Again
Filed
by
After having been
re-admitted to the hospital following a series of chest pains,
Maryam seems to be stable again. As I walked into the
children's ward and realized that it was one of the children's
birthdays, I saw Maryam and her father eagerly tucking into a
huge slice of birthday cake. Maryam is very much a dynamic
personality who loves being around and interacting with
people. If she is not happy, she won't hesitate to let you know
and today she seemed to be back to her usual self. If
anything, the main challenge for Maryam and her father is
fighting off the perennial boredom that looms as they wait for
her heart surgery at the end of August. At times Maryam
behaves like a sage; cool, calm, collected (and
commanding too). And at other times, well, perhaps just commanding.The good
news is that as she was discharged from hospital today, the
only main concern on behalf of the doctor was she keep on
drinking liquids. It was great to see how Maryam's father had
bonded so well with the other fathers who were accompanying their
children in the ward and dare I say I think they will be sad
to say their goodbyes to each other after the tremendous
banter they have all enjoyed.
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me when Maryam's page is updated
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Monday,
July 23, 2007
First Visit to the Beach
Filed
by
We
escorted Maryam, Halo
and their fathers to the tuberculosis clinic in Tel Aviv. Both
fathers needed X-rays to clarify whether or not they had
TB. Praise the Lord that we found both fathers to be clear of
TB. To celebrate we took them to see the Mediterranean.
I turned around and
asked the children if they had ever seen the sea. They responded, "No."
As our van began to turn onto the road that ran parallel to the sea, I
witnessed them craning their heads, straining to see this creation that
to them was only a word. When the expanse of blue came into their full
vision, they sat in awed silence for two seconds and then squealed
simultaneously, "The sea!"
When we finally got to
the beach everyone kicked off their shoes and waded in. Click the arrow
below to play a video!
Eventually
Maryam wanted more so she took off almost everything, as did her
father, and basked in the new discovery of this salty sea.
When we were finished we
ate ice cream at McDonald's. Upon leaving Maryam grasped her heart and
began crying. These pains come and go due to the nature of her heart
disease and will not subside until after her operation. Please pray
that as she and her father witness the Lord's beauty in Israel, they
will have the faith to witness the Lord's healing.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
You may
send an email message to Maryam and her father by clicking
 Sunday
July 22, 2007
Good Candidate for Surgery
Filed
by
Great news! Dr.
Tamir says that Maryam is a good candidate for heart surgery, after
reviewing
the results from her catheterization that took place last Wednesday.
Thank you
for praying for this outcome...God is so gracious! She will have to
wait up to
a month for the operation, as the surgeon is backed up at the moment.
But we
praise God that she will recieve a complete heart repair in the near
future!
After getting discharged on Thursday, Maryam headed back to Jerusalem with her dad. She was
able to experience
part of the city's unique flavor on Shabbat eve, when we took her for a
tour of
the Old City's Muslim Quarter. Abu
Maryam was in his
element, conversing freely in Arabic. He helped Zak and Tom, two Shevet
volunteers, get a good price on a chess set through good persuasion
techniques.
All of the shopkeepers were so warm-hearted as they discovered that
Maryam and
her dad are from Iraq. One of the vendors
let Maryam pick out a
ring of her choice from his stash.
The rest of the
weekend you could find Maryam playing in the courtyard with whoever
else was
around. Her favorite game seems to be volleyball. She is a very
athletic girl,
often challenging the boys in the various sports. This week she'll be
able to
see more of the city as she waits for her turn at surgery. It would be
wonderful if she were able to squeeze into a cancellation slot, should
that
occur in the upcoming weeks. We hope for this, as they have been away
from
their family in Iraq for many weeks now.
Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
You may
send an email message to Maryam and her father by clicking
Tuesday,
July
17, 2007
At the Crossroads
 Filed
by
After acquiring a
cute new headband and an ice cream cone--two survival pieces for muggy
Tel
Aviv--Maryam checked into the children's ward at Wolfson on Tuesday
afternoon.
Tomorrow, she might undergo a diagnostic procedure, so they
are keeping
her overnight in preparation. While visiting with Dr. Tamir today, I
started to
understand just how important it is that Maryam's heart be
fixed. From
outward appearances, the only thing you may notice about Maryam that
even hints
at some kind of medical condition is how skinny she is. However,
problems would
arise down the road for Maryam if she is not able to have the hole in
her heart
repaired. She would definitely face more medical problems as she got
older, and
ultimately her heart condition would shorten her life.
In the next couple weeks, Abu Maryam will hear a report from the
doctors as to
whether or not they will be able to go through with his daughter's
surgery.
This decision will have ramifications to last a lifetime. I long to see
this
radiant girl have a chance at a long, fruitful life. This is the
sentiment of
her father and the doctors as well, who have already sacrificed a lot
to get
her to this point. God, her designer and
sustainer, knows the future and the plan he has for Maryam's
life. We rest in knowing this, yet also encourage you to pray for
Maryam and
her father at this crossroads in their lives. Notify
me when Maryam's page is updated
at this
email:
You may
send an email message to Maryam and her father by clicking
 Thursday
July
12, 2007
A Long Day of Tests
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