It seems the time has rushed past since Sunday, the day Shadi died. His mother has been doing her best to draw on the loving support of the other families at the house, all the while interspersed with heart wrenching comments, such as, “How will I sleep without Shadi?” and being unable to contain her tears of grief.
Today, Shadi’s mother began her journey home, with Samem and his mother travelling with her. They have become very close friends, and Samem’s mother determined that there was no choice but to fly back together; they have become family.
Shadi’s mother bravely faced the day, leaving the house where she had last held Shadi behind, and holding up well during the long airport check in. The airport staff were very kind to her, and did their best to ensure that they were supporting her through the procedures.
It has been a big blessing to know Shadi and his mother. As we sat together at the airport, our hearts were thankful together for the gift of eight months of Shadi, to which his mother was quick to add that these past two months in Israel have also been a beautiful time.
We will continue to remember Shadi, the boy who loved everything, and to pray for his sweet family.
Shadi had a difficult weekend, holding onto life with the full support of the ECMO, and many medications at high doses. It was a blessing to spend time with his beautiful mother, and to stand by her as she steadily took in all the information she received about Shadi’s declining condition.
She kissed his head and feet and hands over and over again, and she loved him, and prayed for his every minute. I think it is the instruction of Jesus to watch and wait and pray in these difficult times, when we are choosing not our own will, but His.
Today, Shadi’s mother watched as the doctors assessed and discussed and concluded that Shadi’s heart was no longer working. She watched as the machines were switched off and the numbers on the monitors fell to nothing, and Shadi died.
Shadi was very well loved by everyone who met and knew him; as was his dear mother. Many of the hospital staff said lengthy tearful goodbyes as she hugged them all, thanking them for their help and devotion to Shadi.
Please continue to pray for his family in this time. Shadi’s mother is being comforted by the other Kurdish families who have become like her own siblings during the stay here. She would like to visit the Temple Mount in Jerusalem tomorrow to pray, before returning home to her husband later in the week.
Shadi was taken into the OR at Sheba Hospital this morning at around 11 am. The doctors needed to adjust some of the cannulas of the ECMO. The whole process took quite a lot longer than we had expected, and at around 2 pm, the surgeon and doctor from the ICU came out to speak to Shadi’s mother.
They explained to her that they had finished the work in the OR; and the ECMO was now working very nicely for Shadi, hopefully being a good help to his heart and lungs at this time.
The difficult news was that the ECMO is working at full function, and Shadi is now receiving the maximum doses of the medications which would be helpful for him. It means that if his condition deteriorates, there is no additional treatment which is available to help his body survive.
Shadi’s mother understood this means Shadi is in a very critical condition, and after thanking the doctors in tears, she rushed to her room to pray. On the way, she sent messages to her family and friends to let them know the update on Shadi, before she began to pray, throwing herself facedown onto her prayer mat.
She is a strong lady and full of character and life, and for the first time I realised how tiny she is. She wept her tears onto the floor before God in prayer, pleading for God’s healing for Shadi’s heart and body. Her main response when anyone has asked since how Shadi is doing, is to say, “just pray for him.”
Now we have entered into the new phase of watching and waiting and praying. Shadi is currently considered stable, but with extremely low blood pressure.
After the long surgery yesterday, we received word this morning that Shadi’s condition had deteriorated. His blood pressure and heart rate were low and he was requiring a lengthy resuscitation. His mother was unable to stay next to him, due to his chest being open, so we had to contact her, wake her up and break this news to her. I could hear the speed at which she was getting herself over to Shadi’s room, rushing to be beside her only son. Thankfully there were some other Kurdish mothers in the department who could support her, as Shadi was taken to surgery and put onto ECMO.
We arrived with two other mothers two hours earlier than we had previously planned for their appointments, due to Shadi’s condition. I will add that as soon as we explained what had happened, these two mothers were ready to leave within 5 minutes; one of them was Samem’s mother, one of her closest friends. The other was Sulaiman’s mother. She has the memories of Sulaiman being put onto ECMO fresh in her mind. Shadi’s mother has been a supportive friend to all throughout her time here, and it is clear that to all, she and Shadi are dearly loved in return.
Shadi has spent his first day on ECMO now. The doctor explained that it is a good machine for doing the work of the heart and lungs, but has the complication that it increases the risk of bleeding in the brain. He will have a head ultrasound each day to check, and thankfully today they saw no bleeding.
We hope and pray with all our hearts that Shadi will make a full recovery, and that the Spirit of God will surround Shadi’s dear mother in this time.
Today marked the beginning of a holiday celebrated by all of the Muslim families. Shadi’s mother pointed out yesterday that Shadi’s surgery would be on the same day as this blessed day. His surgery began at 8:30 in the morning, still it was yet to be decided if his heart could handle a one-stage surgery which would repair his multiple heart defects, including a large VSD and transposition of the great arteries, and the decision would come after the surgery started, and the doctors could view his heart.
His surgery lasted twelve hours during which his mother was extraordinary. Co-worker Sabrina and I remarked that we’ve never seen someone hold up as well as she did for the entirety of the operation. As the hours wore on, she said that she was at peace.
We were joined throughout the time by old friends and new ones, the other Kurdish mothers, who were of course there supporting her, making sure she ate, and conversing about their own experiences of waiting for surgery to be finished. There were also two Palestinian families who showed much kindness and compassion to Shadi’s mum.
There were many extraordinary things that happened today. Beginning with the strength of Shadi’s mother, and the kindness of strangers, and the fellowship of friends, but while all this was going on, ending with the surgical team on the other side of the wall working for twelve very difficult hours to repair Shadi’s heart.
As he came out of this long and hard operation, his chest remained open; I think of the words of his mother from earlier today, “Ishi Xwa Chen khosha,” meaning, ‘how great is the work of God.’
Please pray for our beloved Shadi, who, as we’ve seen today, has the same strength of his mother. I’d also like to ask you to pray in thanksgiving for the doctors and nurses who worked for Shadi today. They are extraordinary.
Shadi is scheduled for surgery tomorrow, so today he was admitted to Sheba hospital. This is his second admission for surgery since last week’s surgery was postponed; please pray for the operation tomorrow, as his heart is very complex.
Samem, is like a big brother to another Kurdish child named Shadi, and wanted to give him a kiss before we left for the hospital. Between all of his blogs, we often write how much everyone loves him, he endears everyone with his toothless grin and big brown eyes. He is a beautiful boy.
This time is very difficult for Shadi’s mother. Please pray for her as well.
Shadi’s operation was postponed at Sheba hospital today, as there was no available room in the ICU. His mother was not dismayed and took the news in her stride.
As it happens, three of her closest friends, the mothers of Yadgar, Lava, and Samem, whose children are also in hospital, gathered together to be with Shadi’s mother. They sat outside in the waiting area, eating the cake they’d made, and drinking tea as she waited to be discharged.
Given the complexity of his heart, the doctors will further discuss Shadi’s case in the coming days. Please pray for him and his beautiful mother. They are back staying with us in our community home in Jaffa until they are called in for surgery.
As much as we enjoy our time with the extroverted and happy Shadi and his lovely mother at our community home in Jaffa, we and especially his mother, don’t forget the reason they are here. Shadi’s needs a heart surgery and today, waiting to be admitted to the hospital came to an end after a month, as Shadi was admitted today to Sheba hospital in preparation for his surgery tomorrow.
So far Shadi’s mother has had a beautiful attitude. She complains about nothing, Doctors had to discuss Shadi’s case today together which took some time as Shadi has many problems in his heart.
Both Shadi and his mother are easy to love. If you were to meet them, you would immediately love them. Our other Kurdish mothers think very highly of both also. They all went outside today when Shadi and his mom left our community home for the hospital, to say goodbye and wish them their best.
Shadi’s doctor said there still isn’t a decision as yet as to what they are doing for Shadi in the surgery, but they will decide before surgery tomorrow. So your prayers are much appreciated.
Shadi visited the orthopedic clinic today to have his a hip followed-up. He had a problem at three months old in Kurdistan, that needed to be checked via an x-ray and sonar, a few months later.
Because he is here, doctors at Sheba Medical took note of his mother’s question during his hospitalization for his catheterization a few weeks ago, and wrote a relevant referral to the orthopedic clinic.
After the x-ray and the sonar, the orthopedic doctor saw that his legs and hips are completely fine now, and he does not need further evaluations. It was good for his mother to hear this and have one less thing to worry about for her boy.
Shadi had a CT scan today, as doctors at Sheba hospital need to decide exactly how to proceed with his surgery. He does not eat very much in general, and so fasting for six hours was not too difficult for him. As always, during Shadi’s scan, it was very nice to spend the time with his mum.
Happily, Shadi fell asleep just before his turn to go into the CT scan, so he was not needing much anesthesia. He woke up quickly afterwards, and after drinking some milk, and sorting out a reasonable amount of bleeding from his cannula site, he was released.
We spent the rest of the day sitting together with another Kurdish mother who was waiting whilst her child was in surgery. The two mothers have become good friends, as they have been together at our community house. Both are hard workers and like to keep the house beautiful, in terms of cleanliness and the general atmosphere of being there. Shadi’s mum is a great supporter of all the other families, so of course today was no different.
We hope soon for an answer about what surgery Shadi can be scheduled for.
Shadi continues to have assessment before the doctors at Sheba hospital can plan the surgery for him.
Today it was a routine check-up for Shadi before undergoing surgery for his brain and kidneys. His mother told me there were concerns for his brain function previously in Kurdistan, after little Shadi experienced an episode in which he went very, very blue and his arms went stiff. She explained that she isn’t as concerned now as she was before, because she can see that he is responsive to many things which he can see and hear, he can make noises, hold things, he remembers things and recognizes when places and people are new.
Shadi did not enjoy the experience today of having the head ultrasound. His next test will be a CT scan, scheduled for Wednesday of this week.
Shadi was asked to arrive for an early appointment to Sheba Medical Center. We left our community home a little after 6 a.m. When we arrived at the hospital, we realized that Shadi’s outfit (a blue shirt and blue jeans) was a very popular choice amongst the male doctors arriving into work too. Shadi’s mum says she hopes he will become a doctor in the future also.
It’s taken some time gathering assessments to decide about Shadi’s surgery because his heart is so complicated. His mother says her main fear is that after all the assessment, the doctors might say they will not be able to make any surgery to help Shadi. We hope this is not the case, and the doctors so far seem to be saying its likely a surgery will be possible.
Shadi had a tracheoesophageal echo, which required sedation, as it is performed by a tube going down his throat. He then had a 3D echo, before he was discharged home.
We hope to hear soon that a surgery is possible for Shadi.
Our lovely Shadi has been discharged from Sheba hospital after his catheterization yesterday. While the procedure itself was without complications, Shadi’s heart is very complex.
Please be praying for him and for his plan of treatment. His mum is hoping for a surgery date soon!
Happy man Shadi’s catheterisation went ahead today. His mother was touched by the doctor’s apology that the procedure had to be rescheduled. She is very impressed with the hospital here, and says that Shadi’s oxygen levels are better than ever before, even reaching 100% on the monitors during the evening yesterday.
Shadi was the second catheterisation slot today at Sheba hospital, and his mother happily joined the group of other Kurdish mothers congregating outside the surgery area. Shadi’s mum is worried for her son, her only child. She was feeling positive however, and strong in her faith in God, that he will have the best for Shadi.
The doctor afterwards reassured us that the procedure had gone ahead without complication, and Shadi was taken into the intermediate department of the hospital to wake up.
The doctor explained that Shadi does need to have a surgery, but his heart is very complex and it requires a lot of thought now from the cardiology team to plan a good and appropriate surgery for Shadi.
Shadi was recovering in the ICU next to his favourite puppet toy, and he may likely be coming home to our community home in Jaffa tomorrow.
Happy boy Shadi celebrated turning seven months old today in Sheba hospital. He really is a lovely and happy boy, who loves to interact with other people.
The scheduled cath for him today was postponed as there was no place for him yet in the ICU. They are planning to do the cath on Thursday therefore and until then, he will stay in the hospital.
It is lovely to see how much the hospital cares for all the children and that they always love the children immediately. Shadi’s mother had a nice attitude when she was told that the cath is postponed for now.
Shadi captures everyone’s attention, and today at Sheba hospital, it was no different! He is such a lovely boy.
It is still amazing to me that he does so well for his echo exams; very rarely does he cry. Today as we went to the hospital to admit him for his catheterization tomorrow, he was supporting a pacifier with a mustache on it that was so cute. With the pacifier and his favorite hand-puppet, he went through a few exams until his room was ready in the late afternoon.
Please pray for him as he goes into his cath tomorrow.
Shadi’s first appointment showed his uniquely complicated heart. The echo was extensive and better at the end to get good images because he fell asleep at that point. Usually to calm children down during the echo, parents will use music or videos, and Shadi’s mother did do that, but what was new for me to see was when she brought out a hand puppet which mesmerized him. He loved it!
Because of his complicated heart, he will likely need a cath before any surgery. Given his complexities, please pray for him and for the doctors.
Shadi arrived today in Israel with his mother all the way from Kurdistan. One of the mothers who arrived earlier in the week is from the same city in Kurdistan and knows them. It must be nice to know that there’s someone who has gone ahead of them and that they will be joining a familiar face.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget how big the task ahead is for these parents to travel to a new country with a severely unwell newborn baby, without anyone else they know. Many of the families have never been on an aeroplane, or left Kurdistan before. They are bravely putting any fears to the side, in the hope of life-saving surgery for their baby.
Shadi was in a stable condition when we met him at the house of Jonathan’s friend, close to the Jordanian border. This helpful friend had kindly collected the families as they waited for co-worker Sabrina and I to collect them.
It has been a big blessing to know Shadi and his mother. As we sat together at the airport, our hearts were thankful together for the gift of eight months of Shadi, to which his mother was quick to add that these past two months in Israel have also been a beautiful time.
