Shadyar 's Heart Surgery

A happy Shadyar and his mother were waiting for us in the hall when we arrived at Schneider Hospital late this afternoon. We'd been longer than expected at Wolfson with the admission of Akram, and I think she was worried that maybe we'd forgotten her! Shadyar was glad to see us, recognizing us as old friends from before his surgery. We were able to get a picture with Shadyar's heart surgeon Gabi Amir (at right) while we waited to have translation for the dismissal report, as clearly little Shadyar has made his place in the hearts of those on the ward during his brief stay there. A highlight of his day was seeing the airplane on display on the grounds of the hospital as we left - he remembered it from the day he arrived for admission!
The only medication Shadyar will need is aspirin. Much to his mother's anxiety, there is no way to be sure when Shadyar's second surgery will be needed. It will depend on his unique healing time and growth and development, and the doctor in Iraq who monitors his heart will know when to be in contact with us again. This could be two years or ten years according to the consultation today; or perhaps God will heal Shadyar and he will not need another visit at all. Let us pray for His touch on Shadyar's life to bring such healing.
For now, Shadyar and his mother are delighted to come back with us here in Jerusalem, and we're glad to have them. He will return for his next echo in a week's time, and we'll be monitoring him here along the way. Pray with us for his recovery to continue speedily, and his mother to find true peace over Shadyar's future.

Our coworker Kirsten and I arrived early this morning to find Shadyar's mother standing in the doorway of his hospital room waiting for us as Shadyar slept. Her face was full of fear and she was clutching her stomach due to nerves. Despite several invitations to sit in the chair beside Shadyar's bed, Um (mother of) Shadyar was so anxious she just stood near the bed, alternately praying and crying. Eventually she sat next to her son on the bed, and after a few minutes I asked her if I could pray for both of them. As soon as I began to pray I knew in my heart that God wanted them both to know how much He loves them, for not only is this knowledge life-changing, but this perfect love allows a trust which casts out our fears. It was only a few minutes later that a nurse came in and asked Um Shadyar to bathe her son in preparation for the surgery, and after the bath, we waited for a little while yet until it was his turn to go. Even this short wait was difficult for Shadyar because he was hungry but not allowed to eat or drink, which made his mother more anxious, but all in all he remained pretty calm snuggled in his mother's arms.

Once it was time to go we were allowed to walk with Um Shadyar as she carried her son to the pre-op room downstairs. The doctors decided to bring the sedative into this waiting area and carry Shadyar out after he fell asleep in his mother's arms. However, just before he fell asleep one of the doctors reached for the pacifier hanging around Shadyar's neck, and he began to wail. At this his mother became very alarmed, and even though Shadyar fell right to sleep, and even though everyone around her was telling her all was ok as they carried Shadyar to surgery, she was overwhelmed with the events and swooned onto her chair and then the floor. The staff responded excellently and helped bring her to, then allowed her to rest quietly on a gurney there with the curtains pulled and Kirsten and I by her side. They checked on her constantly as she settled herself by reading her Quran, while Kirsten and I prayed for her silently as we all sat together.

After a short while I encouraged her to go back upstairs to wait. As we waited she received many calls from family in Iraq, and then other parents with children in the ward began to pass by to check on how Shadyar was doing. Um Shadyar didn't want to talk much except on the phone, and after about an hour she said she wanted to go get some sleep. This was one of the best things she could do, and after a few minutes, she fell sound asleep. I was hoping she could get a good nap, but her phone continued to ring as concerned family members called. After each call she would pray herself back to sleep, up until the time came when Bruska arrived for her follow-up echocardiogram today. Um Shadyar didn't want to be left alone in the room, and instead accompanied me to meet them and walk together to the echo department.

Then Kirsten called with the surprising and wonderful news that doctors had come to say Shadyar's surgery was over, and he was doing well, praise to God!
Kirsten escorted an elated Um Shadyar to the ICU to see her son, and hear that he'd had an excellent surgery. When I joined them a little later it was evident that Shadyar was doing well from looking at his joyful mother.
Upon entering the ICU I too was delighted to see Shadyar with his newly oxygenated skin-coloring looking very pink with an oxygen level of 86%. His mother was beaming as she received more phone calls and shared the good news with her husband and family members, and gave her heartfelt thanks to the medical staff.
Shadyar is expected to be extubated tomorrow and hopefully will be returned to his room in the ward. We look forward to seeing him and his mother again to check on his progress as God's work of healing the body continues. Please join us in thanking God for how quickly Shadyar's surgery was completed and how well he has responded. This surgery is the first of two which he is expected to need for a total repair of his heart problems; the second is expected after a year or two, depending on his body's needs.

Shadyar and his mother, along with Delbak and her mother, arrived late last night from Jordan after a long day on the road. This morning we took care of changing money to Israeli shekels, buying phone cards, and making sure that family members in Iraq and those here at the house knew how to contact one another, and then we left for the hospital.

Even with the excellent explanation from Um ("mother of") Rasan here at the house of what to expect, and encouragement not to be afraid, Um Shadyar was tearful before we left. As we gathered for a brief prayer time before driving away, the tears began to pour as fear took over in anticipation of seeing her precious son heading for the hospital and imminent surgery. It is helpful at times like these if we can remind the parents that this is an event for which we can thank God. It is also important to be available as a friend, to allow these tears to flow as a vent to release pent up emotion - normal parental emotion - and allow the comfort of the Lord to fill the need of the moment. We also played some beautiful music to help minister to our guests as we drove, and shortly Shadyar was sleeping and his mother was calm.

We were thankful that Bruska and her mother were still there to help introduce the new arrivals to the hospital and the routine before Bruska's dismissal today. The mothers greeted one another and talked intently about each other's situation --- there was no denying what a miraculous change had occurred for Bruska since they last saw each other in Jordan about 10 days ago. Along with the evidence before her eyes, she met a number of Palestinian mothers whose children are also recuperating from surgeries at Schneider. They had befriended Um Bruska and her daughter, and immediately welcomed Um Shadyar and her son to their "community" there in the ward. This lessened her anxiety and made the fact that Bruska was leaving today more bearable for Um Shadyar.

We waited for shift change and availability of translation as the moms visited.

Finally all was in order for Shadyar's procedures to begin. First there was a consultation with the doctor on the ward, then Shadyar went for an echocardiogram. I was surprised to find him watching TV during his echo when I entered the room a few minutes later than the others - this kept him contented for most of the echo.

After heading back to the room for a few minutes, it was time for Shadyar's chest x-ray, but he was beginning to tire of such things, and cried through most of it. Thankfully dinner was waiting in the room when we returned, and we knew that Shadyar would settle into his pajamas and be ready for bed soon after. We left him and his mother in good hands.

The report from today's admission is that after the doctors confer about the echo and x-ray results, and review records Um Shadyar brought from Iraq, they will decide on a surgery date. It is expected it will be next week, but Shadyar will remain admitted until then. Will you please pray for Um Shadyar to remain settled during this waiting time? Kirsten and I share the opinion that Shadyar is an active little boy who will find simply waiting in a hospital a tough assignment! But given his cyanotic condition, we're all thankful that he will be there under the watchful care of the medical staff. We will trust God's perfect timing for the surgery for Shadyar in the coming days.