Upon walking into the MRI clinic this morning, I was greeted by the sweetest smiles from five year old Arjwan and her father. They had come to Sheba Medical Center early this morning for Arjwan to receive both an MRI and CT scan in preparation for treatment soon to be received. That treatment will likely take the form of a Fontan open-heart surgery. The scans she received today should provide a clear picture of what exactly needs to be done during the operation.
Because she is so young, Arjwan was put under general anesthesia for both the MRI and CT, which means I didn’t get to see her awake very much. Even so, one thing was exceedingly noticeable and worthy of mention, that her sweet father loves his little girl deeply. Arjwan’s father did every possible thing to make sure she was comfortable and cared for. He faithfully attended to all her needs; it was precious to see such a deep connection between father and daughter. His concern for her life and eagerness to do every possible thing to preserve it, was evident. Seeing this love made me marvel at the thought of how much more the love of our eternal Father is. He has a deep longing for each of His children to rest safely in His love and saving power, just as Arjwan’s father longs for her to feel loved and safe.
After her MRI and CT, it was a delight to see Arjwan awake for a few minutes. She is a vibrant little girl with beautiful eyes and a cute smile as her two front teeth stick out a little bit.
While she was awake, she avidly blew bubbles, and also tried to eat a few of them while she was at it. Obviously eating bubbles doesn’t work too well, and every time she made the attempt it would end with a pop in her face and a sweet giggle. We also colored together for a little while.
In addition to her sweetness, this little girl is quite smart and knows exactly what she wants as she insisted on using a yellow pencil and not a pink one. Our time was soon over as she and her father had to head home. I greatly look forward to seeing Arjwan again, and hopefully getting to spend more time with her.
We praise the Lord for the sustaining power which is evident in Arjwan’s life, and we ask that you join us in continuing to lift her up in prayer for health and healing!
Early this morning, I ran into my friend Arjwan from Yatta and her father. They came to the cardiology department at Sheba Medical Center for an echocardiogram. She was ready for a long day at the hospital with her drink box in her hand. Her father does such a good job taking care of his beloved daughter. Pray for Arjwan to continue to grow and remain healthy.
Four-year-old Arjwan from Yatta was discharged from the hospital today. She had an interventional catheterization yesterday and it went well. Her parents warmly welcomed me into the hospital room where she was snuggled up in her mother’s lap. She was feeling a little shy, but feeling well.
We are happy for Arjwan and her kind parents, that they can return home to their family. Please pray for Arjwan to continue to be healthy and pray for her upcoming Fontan surgery. The Fontan surgery will be the third of the series of three surgeries needed to correct her congenital heart condition.
I found Arjwan and her parents in their room in the secondary ICU today. Arjwan was not a happy camper because she understood that she would be going into a catheterization. She didn’t want me to take a picture of her and I felt bad for her, but I knew she would be in good hands with the cardiac staff at Sheba Medical Center. She came out of the operating room a few hours later, the doctor gave her parents a good report.
The doctors performed an interventional catheterization today in which they ballooned Arjwan’s arteries to remedy the narrowing and improve circulation. We look forward to seeing Arjwan awake and back to her normal bright and smiling self.
Pray for her to recover quickly and to return home soon. Also, pray for her upcoming Fontan surgery that will be in another month, Lord willing.
Four-year-old Arjwan was admitted to Sheba Medical Center today in preparation for an interventional catheterization tomorrow.
It was a long wait to get checked in, examined, and room assigned, and Arjwan was fearlessly exploring the length and breadth of the congenital heart center.
She’s a sweet child from a sweet family, and as we parted in the afternoon she blew us a farewell kiss:
Early this morning, I set out for the Sheba Hospital after Arjwan’s father messaged me to tell me he had arrived at the hospital. When I was only a kilometer away from the hospital, a siren went off warning of incoming missile/s from Iran. I pulled the van over to the side of the highway. I could hear the sounds of distant interceptions.
After I arrived at the hospital, I found Arjwan and her father in the imaging department. Arjwan is a cute and funny five-year-old from Yata, near Hebron. She was having fun exploring the lobby and walking, sometimes too far away from her dad and I. We needed to call her back many times. One time she walked away and sat by an older woman. This Israeli woman smiled and glowed with happiness at the sight of little Arjwan.
As we sat waiting for her appointment for an MRI, the television in the waiting area was showing scenes of the missile strike that just happened. One of the missiles was not intercepted and hit a building in Tel Aviv not far from the hospital. Shortly after, Arjwan received her MRI but we have not heard the results yet, as the doctors need time to analyze the information.
Arjwan’s father is looking forward to his beloved daughter’s heart surgery in hopes to see her completely healthy. Join us in praying for her.
At Sheba Hospital today, Arjwan was in the mood to relax and scroll social media on her phone today. She reclined comfortably in her stroller and cozy sweatsuit. She had just returned from her throat appointment, which was a follow-up exam of her recent vocal cord surgery.
She was scheduled for a catheterization, but it has been postponed. Arjwan needs some rest before this intense procedure. Luckily, Arjwan is very good at that. She ignored all the grownups around her encouraging her to smile for the camera, she was not having it.
Please pray for this sweet little girl to be healthy and strong for her catheterization, and that the doctors would know the best course of action for her.
Arjwan and her father visited Sheba Medical Center today for her echocardiogram. She was in good spirits, and was looking very cute dressed in a lavender outfit.
Arjwan was enjoying the ride in the stroller, her kind father pushing her along. The echo went smoothly and provided the doctors with valuable information in preparation for her upcoming treatment.
Please pray for Arjwan to be healthy, and everything to go well for her upcoming treatments next week.
We happily sat with Arjwan’s parents this morning while she was having a minor vocal cord surgery to help prepare her for her upcoming heart surgery. We found her sleeping peacefully when doctors called her parents to come into the room after surgery, and were so happy to hear from the doctor that the procedure had gone well for her.
Later in the afternoon as Arjwan awoke, the first thing she wanted was to be in her mother’s arms.
Please pray for her vocal cords to heal and that she will be prepared for her upcoming Fontan surgery.
Arjwan is a cute four-year-old girl from Yatta, near Hebron. She came to Sheba Medical Center today with both her parents to see the doctors and prepare for a vocal cord surgery scheduled for tomorrow. As we waited to meet the doctor Arjwan was walking around the waiting room and all the Israeli people were enchanted by the sight of this adorable little girl sweetly saying “Shalom,”and touching their hands. She made the whole room smile and laugh. It was a beautiful moment for people who are struggling with bad health issues to have a laugh and feel lighthearted. I am sure that Arjwan’s presence made everyone’s day much better and brighter.
She is awaiting her last in a series of three surgeries to reconfigure her heart, which had only one ventricle. This surgery is the Fontan procedure. Please pray that Arjwan’s upcoming surgery tomorrow will be a great success and she recovers quickly. Pray also for her parents who have given their all to see their little girl healed.
Today brought sweet four-year-old Arjwan and her father to our very own Sheba Medical Center. This little girl is so cute and happy! I was very happy to meet her.
Sadly as hard as we tried to get there for her CT, she was already done by the time we arrived. During the CT they found that when she swallows, the food does not go straight to her stomach, instead it goes somewhere else, maybe towards the lungs. Obviously not a good thing.
Please pray for her, and also for her doctors to have wisdom. As well as peace for her parents.
We visited three-year-old Arjwan today in a town south of Hebron. She had two surgeries in the past in Israel, but is no longer able to get coverage for her third and final surgery.
Her parents are increasingly frantic as her health is failing. They’re willing to pay everything they have to get her back to Israel, but can’t do it alone. When we told them we will stand with them, Arjwan’s aunt asked “Are you just going to pray?”I confess I joked with her: “Yes, you pay, and we’ll pray.”
Because she is so young, Arjwan was put under general anesthesia for both the MRI and CT, which means I didn’t get to see her awake very much. Even so, one thing was exceedingly noticeable and worthy of mention, that her sweet father loves his little girl deeply. Arjwan’s father did every possible thing to make sure she was comfortable and cared for. He faithfully attended to all her needs; it was precious to see such a deep connection between father and daughter. His concern for her life and eagerness to do every possible thing to preserve it, was evident. Seeing this love made me marvel at the thought of how much more the love of our eternal Father is. He has a deep longing for each of His children to rest safely in His love and saving power, just as Arjwan’s father longs for her to feel loved and safe.
After her MRI and CT, it was a delight to see Arjwan awake for a few minutes. She is a vibrant little girl with beautiful eyes and a cute smile as her two front teeth stick out a little bit.
In addition to her sweetness, this little girl is quite smart and knows exactly what she wants as she insisted on using a yellow pencil and not a pink one. Our time was soon over as she and her father had to head home. I greatly look forward to seeing Arjwan again, and hopefully getting to spend more time with her.
