Today Shanaw left Israel. After a lot of hugs and goodbyes, she and her aunt got into the bus.
Shanaw is actually on the way to Jordan. From there she will leave for Iraq, to see her family again after four months.
We're already missing her cheerful personality.
When we arrived yesterday and met Shanaw, we would not have known that she had suffered from a heart problem. She was such an active and charming girl, smiling and talking with the staff and happily playing with the children at the center.
Our team from Cornerstone Church in Americus, Georgia, USA, was privileged to accompany Shanaw to the hospital today to have an echocardiagram made for a final report. The news was good. The test was clear, and the doctor released Shanaw to go home. She and her aunt will be leaving Jerusalem in a couple of days for Jordan and from there to her home in Iraq.
Keleigh and I went to WolfsonHospital today with Kale, her mother, Shanaw, and her aunt. Both girls were scheduled to have echocardiograms.
Shanaw was first to have her test and everything looked really good. The doctors were very 
pleased with the progress of her recovery. Shanaw is scheduled for another echo next Monday and if all continues to go well, that will be her final echo.
Following both Kale and Shanaws echos we walked down to the childrens department to visit Sara who, we discovered had recently been transferred out of the ICU and into the ward. We also were able to spend some time with Shada, the child from Gaza that arrived today and awaits surgery.
At the house and around the hospital Shanaw has been keeping us on our toes! She is very good at teasing and always makes us laugh. Shanaw, Kale and Hevi have been continual entertainment. Not only have they had fun learning some English songs and games (Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is their favorite so far), but they also have a very good doctor routine going. They use the plastic, medical play-kit to perform surgeries on the other children. It has been a hit with the kids (and us)!
Thank you for supporting Shanaw and her aunt as they waited for her surgery and as Shanaw recovers. Your support has been appreciated especially by Shanaws family.
father. Not only to uplift them but also to lift their own spirits. It's been a long wait for them as they are far from home and loved ones, at times they are coping from day to day. When we reached the hospital spirits were lifted and intimate connections made once again.
smiles all around. Last night things were very uncertain as Shanaw had come out of surgery only to be sent back to the O.R. three hours later and have her chest reopened because of what turned out to be a loose suture. With morning, however, Shanaw's prognosis was looking very good. While Shanaw's aunt prayed outside (since it is the day before the end of Ramadan), we sat in the ICU and thanked the Lord for mercy He has shown so far, and asked for continued healing. Having one's sternum sawed open and major arteries moved around is no small matter, and there is still a great deal of recovery ahead for Shanaw, presuming there are no further setbacks. Please pray that she will continue on the path that she is on, both in terms of physical recovery, and in terms of spiritual growth, so that many others can have the blessing of knowing this impish little fountain of joy.
My husband Andy and I first met Shanaw last Friday and were immediately impressed by her love of life, her infectious laugh, and her mischievous smile, as she showed us the numerous examples of her talented art work, transforming the walls of Shevet's house into an art gallery.
Early this morning, this bright young lady's face was still illuminated with smiles as she was wheeled through the corridors of the Wolfson Center on her way to the operation theatre. Looking at her, who would guess that she now was facing major heart surgery.
Together with Shanaw's aunt, two temporary volunteers from the USA named Mary and Linda, plus Alex and Ethan from Shevet Achim, we accompanied Shanaw like a press crew rushing after an adored celebrity! Click the play arrow below to watch it on video:
It seem apts to quote from Psalm 100:3-"With my whole heart, I will praise His holy name," and we show our grateful thanks to God for giving Shanaw peace at such a time as this. Later in the waiting room we sat and shared in the wait with Shanaw's gracious and lovely aunt.
UPDATE (by Alex Pettett):
Shanaw came through surgery in three-and-a-half hours. This is relatively short for open-heart surgery. All seemed fine until they noticed some blood in her chest tube. She was rushed back to the operating theatre to investigate. The surgeons discovered that one of her stitches had come loose. It was quickly repaired and Shanaw is once again back in the ICU tonight, sedated and on artificial respiration. Praise the Lord for His mercy and provision in her life.
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