This evening, after four months in Israel and an amazing recovery after a major heart surgery, my good friend Mizgeen boarded his flight home to Kurdistan.
“I’m so happy today!” This was Mizgeen’s refrain all day long as he waited for evening to come. After his long-awaited farewell party last night, he was ready to get home to his dad and sisters, who are planning a special welcome party for him back home. He spent his last day in Israel as he spent most days– playing with volunteers and stirring up mischief with his good friend Ahmed.
Mizgeen and his mom have been truly wonderful friends to all of us here for the past months. I had the unique privilege to be with them not only for his operation day, but every day since his surgery as well. I’m especially grateful for the last month with them at our guesthouse in Jerusalem.
His mom has looked after me like her own daughter, always sitting me down for food and rest after long days at the hospital. She has a beautiful and caring heart and always has a big smile and sweet words of encouragement to share.
Mizgeen has inherited his mom’s big heart and joyful spirit. I’ll always remember one particularly challenging day, when I felt especially exhausted and discouraged, Mizgeen hurried to my side, grabbed my hand, and said “You’re so beautiful, my friend.” This sums up this little boy’s sweet and kind heart.
Since his arrival in Israel, Mizgeen has told us all about home– his city, his school, his dad and his sisters. I’m so very glad to send him home healthy to go back to school, to play football with his friends, and most of all,
to grow up in the love and care of his family, and the God who will never let him go.
Mizgeen was all smiles today for his very last echo at Sheba hospital.
Today marks one month since his major open heart surgery, and his heart is doing very well.
After monitoring his situation carefully for the last weeks, his cardiologists have cleared him to return to Kurdistan!
As soon as we told him he could go home, Mizgeen started squealing and dancing, saying “My dad, my sisters!” over and over in Kurdish.
He told me he could feel his heart beating so fast because he was so excited. He’s especially looking forward to his farewell party, which he has been anticipating for some months now.
Mizgeen has become good friends with all of us here during his stay in Israel, and we’ll miss him very much. “I’m going to Kurdistan and you’re going to cry about it,” he reminded me with a mischievous grin today.
He is absolutely right, but they will mostly be tears of joy that this sweet little boy is going home to his dad and his big sisters with a healed heart.
This morning, Mizgeen and his mother and I made the trip to Sheba hospital once again for another echo, ECG, and INR blood test. Just like last time, his tests look very good and the doctors don’t see anything concerning.
As always, Mizgeen made the best of his time in the waiting room, greeting all the hospital staff he has befriended during his time at Sheba. “I have a lot of friends here,” he told me in Kurdish with a shrug and a grin after running to hug a staff member. He was especially excited today to see his favorite cardiologist, who he described as “a very, very good friend.”
Mizgeen has a blood test on Sunday, and another echo and blood test in a week. If his tests are all good, he may be discharged to Kurdistan. Pray for good outcomes for all his tests in the upcoming week.
Mizgeen had an echo, ECG, and blood test today, the first after his discharge from Sheba hospital yesterday. Since he had such a big surgery, the doctors are being especially careful to monitor his progress. His echo today looked good and his cardiologist wants to see him again in a week.
As always, everyone enjoyed Mizgeen’s company in the waiting room. He passed the time playing superheroes with me, saying hello to all the hospital staff he has befriended over the last few weeks, and practicing his kung fu moves.
Mizgeen’s doctor in the pediatric ward at Sheba hospital called me this morning to say Mizgeen’s tests all look good and he could be discharged to our house in Jerusalem today. When I translated this for Mizgeen’s mom, I could hear Mizgeen’s joyful “YES!” in the background.
Mizgeen has made a lot of friends during his hospital stay, and this morning one of the educational assistants from Sheba stopped by to deliver a special farewell gift the educational team made for him.
As soon as the discharge report was in my hands, Mizgeen took off running for the door, but he stopped to say goodbye to all the doctors and nurses he passed.
We’re very glad to have Mizgeen and his mom with us in Jerusalem. Mizgeen has been so excited to see Ahmed for several days now, and they’re enjoying their time together playing superheroes. Meanwhile, Mizgeen’s mom has made me laugh till I cried more than once in just a few hours in the house.
Mizgeen will have a checkup at Sheba tomorrow and then again in a week. Pray for good echo results, and thank God for his recovery so far!
Mizgeen had an echo at Sheba Medical Center this morning to evaluate the condition of his heart after his surgery last week.
The cardiologist said everything looks good and there are no major problems. He would like the contractions of Mizgeen’s heart to be a bit stronger, so he’s increasing one of his medications.
Mizgeen will likely be discharged as soon as his INR test is within a good range.
Mizgeen continues to be the only child I’ve ever known to really love echoes. He was so excited to show me the images of his heart on the screen, and enjoyed some rest on the examination table, which he says is “so, so nice.”
After the echo, co-worker Rachel and I enjoyed lunch with Mizgeen and his mom along with another Kurdish mother whose child is also in hospital.
Mizgeen, as always, kept us laughing with his big personality and endless supply of energy.
Thank God for Mizgeen’s recovery, and we look forward to bringing him to our guesthouse in Jerusalem soon.
When I visited Mizgeen at Sheba hospital this morning, I found him playing with clay with a hospital staff member. “This is my friend, she came to play a game with me,” he announced to me in Kurdish. It seems that as usual, Mizgeen is making friends with everyone he meets.
I spoke with Mizgeen’s doctor this morning, and he said Mizgeen is doing very well. His tests all look pretty good, and he can be discharged as soon as his INR is in a good range. Mizgeen will have an echo soon to see how his heart is doing after surgery.
Mizgeen is excited to go to our guesthouse in Jerusalem because, as he tells me every day, he misses Ahmed and he can’t wait for the party we’ll have for him before he goes home.
In the meantime, he’s enjoying time with his roommate Mustafa in the hospital, and charming everyone with his adorable grin.
Mizgeen is recovering well enough to be moved out of the ICU and into the pediatric ward at Sheba hospital! He’s still very tired and uncomfortable from the surgery site, but the doctors are pleased with his progress.
Mizgeen is still on fluid restrictions at the moment to control fluid retention. He is very unhappy about this and doesn’t want to eat because he’s thirsty. As a result, he has lost some weight and is getting special nutrients in his milk.
Even though Mizgeen is not feeling well, his mom is staying in good spirits and keeping her eyes on the big picture. She explained to me today that he’s unhappy right now, but she knows he’s actually doing very well, praise be to God.
Please pray that Mizgeen will begin eating again and continue recovering well.
When I arrived at the Sheba Hospital Pediatric ICU today, Mizgeen’s mom greeted me with a big smile and the news that Mizgeen is extubated and doing very well. He isn’t feeling well, which is normal after such a big surgery, but the doctors said there is nothing to worry about.
Mizgeen looked fast asleep when I came into the room, but he opened his eyes just long enough to ask if I’d brought my iPad for him to play with. It’s good to see these glimpses of his personality even when he’s not feeling well.
After all the anxiety of yesterday, Mizgeen’s mom is practically glowing now that she knows everything is alright. When Mizgeen gets anxious or agitated, she holds his hand and says over and over, “Mizgeen, guli min”– Kurdish for “my flower.”
Mizgeen is still receiving medicine for sedation for now, as he gets too anxious without it, but the doctors plan to reduce it and wake him up a bit more this evening or tomorrow.
This morning at Sheba Hospital, Mizgeen had what will, God willing, be the last of three surgeries to correct his single ventricle.
I arrived at the pediatric ward at Sheba hospital to find Mizgeen and his mom taking an early morning walk through the halls before his big surgery.
Mizgeen’s mom was a bit nervous for the surgery. Mizgeen, on the other hand, was exuberant about everything from the Spiderman cartoons he got to watch before going to the operating room, to the small wheelchair the nurse brought for him. “Wow, so cool,” he kept saying under his breath as the nurse wheeled him down the hall to the elevators.
While his mom and I spoke with the surgeon, Mizgeen kept busy playing and, as usual, making friends with all the doctors and nurses.
Mizgeen’s surgery took five hours, during which time I got to enjoy waiting with his mother and another Kurdish mother who joined us. The waiting, while difficult and anxious at times, was really beautiful, and I’m grateful for these hours with them.
There’s a particular sense of overwhelming relief and gratitude when the surgeon comes out to say everything is okay, and today was no exception. Mizgeen’s mom and I both cried tears of joy. “Supas bo xwa,” she kept saying while we hugged– “thanks be to God.”
The operation today was successful and without complications. Mizgeen is still intubated and sedated for now, but the doctors plan to extubate him soon after surgery.
This morning, a day after his dental work, Mizgeen was wide awake and eager to play a game with me as soon as I walked into his room at Sheba Hospital.
He’s getting a bit more confident with his new smile, and he was excited to brush his teeth with the new toothbrush the dentist gave him.
Mizgeen will remain hospitalized until his surgery on Sunday morning. I spent a bit of time with him today so his mom could get some things ready for the rest of their hospital stay.
He’s full of energy and enthusiasm as always. “Please let’s go to the elevators, they’re so nice!” he kept telling me, so we took a walk and rode the elevator down to the play area downstairs.
He loved the ship and we spent quite a while playing sailors and hunting for treasure.
I’ve loved every moment I’ve spent with this sweet, funny little boy, and I’m so grateful he’s finally getting his important surgery.
Please pray for a successful surgery with no complications.
This morning, Mizgeen had his long-awaited dental procedure.
The doctors repaired some cavities and damaged teeth and removed three baby teeth that were ready to come out.
Mizgeen has been quite excited for this appointment for some time, so he was all smiles before the procedure. “Is that the doctor for my teeth?” he asked me again and again in Kurdish as one after another, nurses and the anesthesiologist arrived to get him ready. His whole face lit up when the dentist finally arrived– I’ve never known a child to be so eager for medical procedures.
After the procedure, Mizgeen was a little shy about his newly gap-toothed grin. Help came from across the world from my mom, who immediately sent me a picture of myself at Mizgeen’s age, also missing my two front teeth after having them removed. This, along with lots of reassurance from his big sisters via video call, cheered him up, and by the time I left, he offered to show off his new smile for a picture.
Now that this procedure is done, Mizgeen is ready for his big heart surgery. God willing, it will take place on Sunday. Please pray for him and his mother as they approach the operation.
After being admitted to Sheba hospital early Saturday morning, Mizgeen is still being monitored closely for arrhythmias and any more episodes of tachycardia. The doctors in the pediatric ward are still not sure why these episodes have occurred, so they will soon consult with his cardiologist and determine a plan of treatment.
In the meantime, Mizgeen had an appointment today with the anesthesiologist in preparation for a dental procedure later in the week. He’s been looking forward to this appointment for some time, and was thrilled when a hospital van came to pick him up and take him to the dental clinic. “Wow, so cool!” he kept exclaiming all the way to the clinic.
When it was time to go back to the children’s hospital, the driver let him sit up front and even showed him how to turn on the siren. Back in his room, Mizgeen was excited to find a bag of treats waiting for him on his bed. “The hospital is so nice,” he kept telling me in Kurdish.
Please pray that the doctors will find the cause of the tachycardia and can proceed with the dental procedure and heart surgery as planned.
Late Friday evening, we learned that Mizgeen has recently had episodes of tachycardia (elevated heart rate) with low oxygen and blueness in his face and hands.
Coworker Rachel and I took him and his mother to the ER at Sheba Hospital, where the doctors did an x-ray, ECG, and blood test to determine the cause of these episodes. When they didn’t see anything out of the ordinary in his test results, they decided it was best to admit Mizgeen for observation and monitoring.
Thankfully, Mizgeen likes the hospital and has been quite excited to go, so he was one happy guy for the six hours in the emergency room. He loved the big fish in the waiting room, as well as the bed in the examination room, and he thought the x-ray and ECG were pretty exciting. When I explained to his mother that they would need to stay for a night or two, she was a bit disappointed, but Mizgeen gave me a big grin and a wave and said “Okay, bye!”
Please pray that the doctors would be able to determine the cause of these episodes and a good plan of treatment.
Mizgeen had an appointment today in the Neurology area of Sheba Medical Center.
The doctor did ask some questions which Mizgeen’s mother’s friends could translate via cellphone. Also the doctor did some tests and said everything is fine with Mizgeen. He did notice however, a tremor during some tests.
Mizgeen had to paint and write something on a paper and to walk and move a certain way.
All in all, the assessment went very fast and successfully. Let’s thank God for it.
Early this morning, I brought Mizgeen along with his mother to Sheba hospital for a CT scan.
These mornings are often difficult for the kids, as they have to fast for some time before the scan, but Mizgeen was in his usual bright mood all morning.
He passed the time playing games and coloring pictures,
including one of our dog, Shevie. It’s always a lot of fun to spend time with this little guy and his mom.
The doctors will use the results of the scan to prepare for his surgery. Mizgeen will need to have some dental work before the surgery and this will likely happen in early January.
In the meantime, we’ll enjoy time with him and his mother in Jaffa.
Mizgeen’s stay in Sheba Children’s Hospital was quick, he was discharged today to our community home in Jaffa after his catheterization yesterday.
The same infectious sweetness and joy was there in his smiling face as he sat up in his bed to greet me.
The nurse said that she thinks he will be called for surgery in the next week; this operation will hopefully be the last three surgeries he needs and it is a big operation.
Today we waited with Mizgeen’s mother at Sheba hospital, while Mizgeen was having his diagnostic cath. Also another mom was waiting with us, who’s child was in surgery. Both mothers know each other very well, since they were together in quarantine and I think both enjoyed accompanying each other.
The cath went very well and the doctor told us Mizgeen was very stable and is ready for a surgery. Mizgeen’s mother was very worried and cried throughout the day from time to time, but after the good news she was relieved and happy.
Praise God for these results and please be praying for a good surgery; the date for this still to be determined.
Today this lovely boy got admitted to Sheba Medical Center for a catheterization tomorrow.
During the last weeks that Mizgeen and his mother stayed at our community home, we all enjoyed it a lot to spend the time with both of them. His mother shared that Mizgeen has three older sisters at home and that he loves them a lot and is missing them very much. He is a very calm and smart boy and knows a lot of English words and even some sentences, which makes it easy and a lot of fun to be together with him and spend the time. He is coming over to our staff house many times and likes it to spend time with us, as we are like sisters to him.
Please be praying for him and his lovely mother to settle in well at the hospital and that the catheterization goes well tomorrow and can bring some more clarity of how they can treat him in the best way.
Mizgeen had his first assessment at Sheba hospital today, which coincidently was not just an echo, blood test and x-ray, but included battling a clown in the x-ray department…
and eating a special Hanukkah donut called a ‘sufganyot,’ that was delivered by a robot.
He had two previous operations abroad, one of them was the Glenn surgery, so it is recommended that he have the completion of that which is known as the Fontan procedure.
First he will need further assessments at the hospital, which we will know more about in the coming weeks. Please be praying for this wonderful boy.
Mizgeen is from Kurdistan. He arrived with his own mom and another mom and child just today. Jen is a nurse who traveled with them.
Mizgeen is six years old and in his young life he has already had two operations. He is a really charming boy and despite having low oxygen saturation, is extremely high energy.
His mother is so patient and kind. We are excited to get to know them in this time!
“I’m so happy today!” This was Mizgeen’s refrain all day long as he waited for evening to come. After his long-awaited farewell party last night, he was ready to get home to his dad and sisters, who are planning a special welcome party for him back home. He spent his last day in Israel as he spent most days– playing with volunteers and stirring up mischief with his good friend Ahmed.
Mizgeen and his mom have been truly wonderful friends to all of us here for the past months. I had the unique privilege to be with them not only for his operation day, but every day since his surgery as well. I’m especially grateful for the last month with them at our guesthouse in Jerusalem.
His mom has looked after me like her own daughter, always sitting me down for food and rest after long days at the hospital. She has a beautiful and caring heart and always has a big smile and sweet words of encouragement to share.
Mizgeen has inherited his mom’s big heart and joyful spirit. I’ll always remember one particularly challenging day, when I felt especially exhausted and discouraged, Mizgeen hurried to my side, grabbed my hand, and said “You’re so beautiful, my friend.” This sums up this little boy’s sweet and kind heart.
“I’m so happy today!” This was Mizgeen’s refrain all day long as he waited for evening to come. After his long-awaited farewell party last night, he was ready to get home to his dad and sisters, who are planning a special welcome party for him back home. He spent his last day in Israel as he spent most days– playing with volunteers and stirring up mischief with his good friend Ahmed.
Mizgeen and his mom have been truly wonderful friends to all of us here for the past months. I had the unique privilege to be with them not only for his operation day, but every day since his surgery as well. I’m especially grateful for the last month with them at our guesthouse in Jerusalem.
His mom has looked after me like her own daughter, always sitting me down for food and rest after long days at the hospital. She has a beautiful and caring heart and always has a big smile and sweet words of encouragement to share.
Mizgeen has inherited his mom’s big heart and joyful spirit. I’ll always remember one particularly challenging day, when I felt especially exhausted and discouraged, Mizgeen hurried to my side, grabbed my hand, and said “You’re so beautiful, my friend.” This sums up this little boy’s sweet and kind heart.
to grow up in the love and care of his family, and the God who will never let him go.
to grow up in the love and care of his family, and the God who will never let him go.
