Heart made whole, and heart made well, little Zheer enjoyed his farewell party last night at our Jerusalem Guesthouse with the company of many onlookers who shared in the joy of Zheer and his mother.
She was a tireless, patient and kind example to all of us as the months ticked by and Zheer’s discharge remained always just out of reach.
But after careful and thorough medical care on the part of Sheba Hospital’s doctors, nurses and staff, when they felt Zheer was in the clear and could safely be returned to Kurdistan, finally the discharge came.
Zheer and mom are now on their way back to Kurdistan and it happens to be just in time to celebrate the coming of Springtime in that country, a holiday known as ‘Nawroz.’
What joy awaits as Zheer and his mother are reunited with their family.
Thanks for coming alongside these two people with your prayer support. You are, as always, so important to the work of Shevet Achim.
This morning, Zheer had another follow-up echo at Sheba hospital. It only took a few minutes, as Zheer’s mom kept him calm with milk and YouTube videos.
The doctor only needed a quick look at the results to say everything looks good and Zheer can go home! The VSD they repaired in surgery is better and the doctor doesn’t expect him to need another surgery in the future.
Today, coworker Dorothee and I brought Zheer and his mother to Sheba Medical Center to do a blood test. At his last echo, his sodium levels were still low so the doctors wanted to check them again and did a blood test to check if they’re improving.
Even though he cried a lot, Zheer was very brave during the blood test and we were done pretty fast. We still have to wait for the results but we hope to get them tomorrow.
I really like Zheer. Every time I look at him I immediately have to smile. I really enjoy spending time with him and his mom.
Today, coworker Sabrina and I brought Zheer and his mom to Sheba medical center for his first check-up since he was discharged to our home in Jaffa two weeks ago.
The doctors made an ECG and an echo. Zheer’s heart looks pretty good, but his sodium levels are still low and he needs to come to Sheba for some more tests next week.
I really liked that during the waiting period, Zheer’s mom didn’t just take care of Zheer, she also asked about the well-being of the other children at our community home. She’s a great woman and I enjoyed spending time with her.
We thank God that Zheer is doing so good right now.
Today, Zheer went with his mother and me to Sheba Medical Center to get a blood test.
The test took a while because his veins didn’t release enough blood. After his mother warmed him up some milk and fed him with love, the blood draw was finally successful. Zheer was so brave and at the end he smiled again.
For me, Zheer is very special, because he is the first baby I held in my arms at Shevet Achim. It’s amazing how strong, brave and cute he is. Thank you for all your prayers for Zheer!
It’s been just over a week since the surgery to repair a VSD and valve in Zheer’s heart. After a good echo this morning, Zheer was discharged to our home in Jaffa. The doctor said the VSD they repaired looks much better, and the valve looks alright.
Zheer will need a blood test in a couple of days to monitor his sodium levels, and he’ll have an echo in a week.
In the meantime, his mum is quite excited to be back in Jaffa, and we’re glad to have her and her sweet little boy with us.
Yesterday at Sheba Hospital, Zheer had a fever and was given medicine to bring it down. Thankfully the medicine worked and his fever was gone today.
He had an echo this morning, the results of which were very good. Zheer’s mother was very happy and is always so pleasant to chat with. She is so welcoming, asking after all the other families, making sure that the other children are well.
The day after his surgery, Zheer was extubated today! As they lowered his sedation this morning his mother was busy multitasking–holding his hands down as he woke up and became more aware and also talking with her other children back in Kurdistan. It was a delight to speak with her oldest son on the phone for a little bit.
Praise God that he brought Zheer through another operation and that he has been taken off of mechanical ventilation and is breathing on his own.
Little Zheer had a successful surgery today at Sheba Children’s Hospital to correct a VSD (a hole between the ventricles) and repair a valve that wasn’t functioning correctly.
During Zheer’s first surgery, the doctors placed a patch over the VSD, but in today’s operation, they discovered that it had begun to detach, so they placed a new one.
Additionally, they were able to repair the valve, and Zheer is now recovering in the Pediatric ICU.
This lovely boy came down with a fever today, and in his echo, the cardiologist saw that there are still some things that need to be resolved before he is discharged from Sheba Medical Center.
He may need further intervention in the coming weeks, but this will be discussed first at the doctor’s conference.
His mum is in good spirits at the hospital and is very intelligent and understanding.
Please be praying for this family as they wait for the outcome of the meeting.
Coworker Margarita and I visited Zheer today in Sheba Hospital Children’s wing, in their Pediatric ICU.
He was dehydrated and had low sodium levels over the weekend. He went to the ICU for treatment and then was moved back down to a ward floor this morning. His sodium levels are within a good range today, thank God.
Zheer’s mother was very happy to see Margarita and Zheer seemed like he knew Margarita from their days in the Jerusalem guesthouse.
Please continue to uphold this little person in your prayers. He was feverish today and needing more time to properly recover from his surgery.
Overall, Zheer is doing well after his surgery yesterday. However, his doctors were unable to extubate him as planned yesterday afternoon, so he is still on the ventilator for the time being. They will try again today to remove the breathing tube.
“If it works, hallelujah. If not, we’ll try again tomorrow,” the doctor told me.
Thank God for the medical staff at Sheba who are taking such good care of this precious boy, and please pray that he can be removed from the ventilator soon.
At eight this morning Zheer went in for a surgery which would repair his condition of AV canal. Joanne and I waited with the mother. She was very calm, and frequently praying. At one the doctors came out to say that the surgery went very well. They were able to close both holes, and he is recovering well. When the mother of Zheer and I were able to enter the room Zheer was already starting to wake up. The doctors hope to extubate Zheer by the end of the day. Please continue praying for Zheer’s recovery.
This morning, Zheer got called in from Sheba hospital for surgery tomorrow. Due to a fever that he developed in the hospital however, and evident inflammation markers, the surgery is postponed to another day. He is admitted to the hospital anyway for observation.
Zheer’s mother has three more children at home and Zheer’s father is at home with them, which makes the waiting time difficult for both of them, but God knows why Zheer is not having his surgery yet.
Please pray for ongoing patience for Zheer’s lovely mother and that Zheer is getting better soon so that he can have his surgery. He is a very cute and calm boy and I like it a lot to spend time with him and his mother, who is taking great care of her beloved son.
After a diagnostic cath last week, that found his heart was ready for surgery, Zheer was discharged back to the Jaffa house to wait until he is called in for the operation. Zheer and his mum have been staying in Jerusalem, so this was their first time in Jaffa, and it was really nice to welcome them to our home and for his mother to be introduced to the other Kurdish families as well.
Please keep Zheer in your prayers as he wants for surgery.
Happy Zheer was admitted to Sheba Hospital today for a diagnostic catheterization tomorrow. We are very thankful that he will have this cath tomorrow as it has been delayed now several times, due to a fever that he had and other reasons.
His lovely mother had a beautiful attitude in all of that and said many times, “God knows best,” which I totally agree with.
The diagnostic catheterization is bringing him one step closer to his surgery which he needs. Please pray that Zheer’s mother will adjust well to the whole new situation and to the hospital, and that the cath tomorrow will go well and will help doctors in deciding on Zheer’s overall line of treatment.
Zheer had his first assessment at Sheba Hospital today. He had to do an x-ray, ECG, a blood test and an echo. During all these tests he was crying a bit, but his lovely mother took the best care of him and managed to call him down really well. In between be was really tired and fell asleep.
The hospital staff was lovely and caring as always, which was really nice on Zheer’s first hospital visit. Zheer’s cariologist said that before Zheer can have his needed surgery, he must have a diagnostic catheterization. Doctors will discuss the case in the following days and make a decision soon for little Zheer.
Today co-worker Julio and I went to the airport to collect three new families from Kurdistan, including a little baby boy named Zheer, seen above center.
Zheer is a nine month old, diagnosed with AV canal among other things. It was really nice to meet this lovely boy and his lovely mother for the first time today. I’m glad that God provided everything for them during the travelling and that they all arrived safely and Zheer in stable condition upon landing in Israel.
Zheer and his mother must quarantine for a week in our Jerusalem Guest house. After that, Zheer’s first assessment at Sheba hospital will be on Tuesday.
Please pray for a good settling-in time for both Zheer and his mother.
Little Zheer has finished and won!!
Heart made whole, and heart made well, little Zheer enjoyed his farewell party last night at our Jerusalem Guesthouse with the company of many onlookers who shared in the joy of Zheer and his mother.
She was a tireless, patient and kind example to all of us as the months ticked by and Zheer’s discharge remained always just out of reach.
What joy awaits as Zheer and his mother are reunited with their family.
