Little miss Meera, a six year old from Hebron, was contently playing in the music room at Sheba Medical Center when I found her today. She had just received an echo and was waiting to leave the hospital with her mother. At first, she was very quiet and shy as she silently nodded her head when I tried asking her a question.

This went on for some minutes, until something caught her eye: coloring sheets. Immediately her face lit up as she ran over to draw. Also with the coloring sheets were plenteous amounts of stickers. Rather than coloring, she was soon decorating her paper with every sticker in sight. I’m afraid if Sheba is wondering where all their stickers went, we have the answer. The more stickers she found, the more her face lit up with delight! She was entertained by this for a long time, and only stopped when it was time to go.

The doctor shared that Meera’s heart is looking good, and she will not require care beyond routine checkups every once and a while for now. But, she is very thin and small for a six year old, so the doctor did request that she see a gastroenterologist to see if this can be helped. Overall, she is doing well, and we praise the Lord for this!

It has been a challenge to track the schedule of Meera’s catheterization at Sheba Hospital these past few days. Just yesterday I was notified that her catheterization would be next week, and then suddenly I learned that it would be today.

Despite the quickly changing schedule, I was thankful that the catheterization this afternoon was successful and that Meera was placed back into the secondary ward.

When her catheterization was complete, I found Meera resting peacefully with her mother faithfully by her side. I was thankful to be able to see Meera and grateful that she is recovering. Please pray for Meera to recover quickly.

Meera and her mother have been staying at Sheba Medical Center in the secondary ICU since her catheterization was postponed. When I talked to Meera’s mother today, she said the new catheterization is scheduled for this Thursday. I felt bad for Meera and her mom that they would have to be in the hospital for a whole week before the procedure even started.

Although their circumstances aren’t ideal, it didn’t seem to diminish the joy in sweet Meera. She is a very happy girl and her joy brightens the day of everyone around her. Please pray for Meera to have a successful catheterization procedure on Thursday, and that she would recover quickly.

Today was supposed to be Meera’s catheterization at 10 in the morning at Sheba Hosital.

I arrived early and waited in the waiting room for a couple hours. The curtain was drawn where Meera and her family were staying. I asked the ICU secretary a couple times and she told me the catheterization would be in a couple hours. I waited longer. I contacted Meera’s parents and they had not been told when the catheterization would be.

Finally, at 2 o’clock, her parents told me that the catheterization had been postponed. During my wait time, I was looking at photos in the waiting room outside the ICU and found three photos of Meera with the Sheba doctors and nurses from a surgery she had when she was younger. She was much loved by all the staff. It was so nice to see that.

Pray that Meera can be rescheduled for a catheterization soon.

Meera of Hebron was admitted to Sheba Medical Center with her mother and father today. Meera has a catheterization procedure tomorrow morning. Her father and mother were lovingly taking care of her, giving her food and drink. Meera looked happy and confident that everything would go well tomorrow.

Please pray for Meera and her catheterization to go well.

Meera arrived with her mother today to Sheba Medical Center’s Pediatric Echo Department.

She was quite preoccupied with her Kinder Egg and was eating it happily whilst waiting for the Echo.

On echo exam, Meera’s cardiologist found she’ll soon need another catheterization to widen a pulmonary artery, allowing her heart to work more efficiently and improve the level of oxygen in her bloodstream. We expect she’ll be invited back for this soon.

We thank God for the life of this sweet girl and for the good future which he has prepared for her.

Five-year-old Meera from Hebron was smiling, looking healthy and happy, after she had undergone a successful ECHO this morning at Sheba Medical Center. Her mother told me that everything went well. Meera was most recently in for a catheterization in late October, when she had an artery ballooned.

Pray for little Meera to continue to be strong and in good health.

Mira had her Catheterization, which went very well. The doctor said that all they had to do for Mira was her Cath, and a slight dilation. Mira was able to be discharged the next day, and she is now home with her family in the West Bank. She will have to come to Israel for another Cath sometime in the next year.

Mira had a follow-up ECHO today at Sheba Hospital. I did not see her until she had finished with the scan. She appeared to be relaxed and in good spirits. She agreed to allow me to take a photo of her with her mother.

Mira’s mother informed me that the ECHO went well. I confirmed this with the doctor and was also told that Mira could go home today. Her next appointment was for a catheterization in a month.

Thank you for your supportive prayers for this little girl.

I ran across Meera and her mom in the waiting area when you first walk into the pediatric cardiac unit at Sheba Hospital. Coworker Kate and I had planned to visit them, but were informed that Meera had been discharged that day.

Meera was smiling and friendly. Later Kate was told that Meera no longer required supplemental-oxygen.

Today at Sheba Hospital, we were pleased to see further improvements in Meera. Her chest drains had all been removed.

Most exciting of all, we were able to play with some sparkley slime!

Meera will stay under observation of ICU while they are assessing her oxygen levels with and without supplementary oxygen. Doctors are hopeful if all continues well, Meera could be discharged home in time for next weekend.

Today at Sheba Hospital, I gave Meera a visit. I found her awake and happy, calmly playing on her mum’s phone.

She is extubated and gradually recovering. Her chest drains remain in place and she will stay in the hospital until she has recovered enough for discharge. Both Meera’s mother and father are able to be in hospital with this lovely girl – what a treat!

Mira returned to Sheba Hospital today to check in for her surgery which will be tomorrow.

Mira was very happy to be in the hospital, playing on all the playgrounds in the waiting room. We waited for a short time and then she had her EKG and was checked into her room in the ICU. Mira promptly changed into her PJs and climbed right into her bed. I’ve never seen a child so at peace with being in the hospital. We praise God for her peace and pray that it continues for her surgery tomorrow.

Pray with us that her surgery goes well and that she comes out of it smoothly.

Today smiley Meera and her parents saw the dentist at Sheba Hospital to check her teeth before her heart surgery.

She had good reason to smile as the dentist said her teeth are great and there is no need for treatment or intervention before her surgery – praise God. The dentist was so kind in her assessment of Meera making the potential for an uncomfortable dentist-y experience fun and relaxed.

Meera was allowed to lie back on her mum and then had a great time playing with a singing and dancing cactus!

Meera was discharged from Sheba Hospital after a successful catheterization occuring just the day before. Doctors excelled in their initial task and Meera recovered quickly, getting the go ahead to return home.

Her family essentially slipped out and were gone before we even had someone awake! God bless them until we meet again.

Today at Sheba Hospital, Meera from Hebron was scheduled for a catheterisation heart procedure.

Meera and her Mum went into the pre-op room and Meera was examined and then taken into the operating theatre and we were instructed to go to the waiting area until the cardiologist came to update us after the procedure had been completed.

Around three hours later, the cardiologist informed us that the procedure had gone very well, above their expectations, and that they had dilated some arteries to improve Meera’s blood flow from her heart and that she would be in recovery for some time before being taken back to her room.

The doctor spoke to Meera’s Mum in Arabic and then told us she had only a small amount of time and gave us gave us a brief overview in English. This has been disclosed already in this blog. We were unable to ask when surgery or any other procedure would be scheduled, however the doctor mentioned she would be cleared for surgery after a period of recovery.

Once Meera was taken to her room, her Mum and we were allowed to go to her room after the attending team had ensured Meera was stable and had all the prescribed instructions from the cardiologist completed.

Several photos were taken with consent and having said our thanks and goodbyes, we left the ICU. All in all it was a day of significant positive outcomes.