Yesterday evening the time to say goodbye to Azhan and his mother came closer and closer. Over the last few days, our small guesthouse was filled with joy and anticipation for this great day when they would finally start their journey back to Kurdistan. It started with our little farewell party. The past few weeks, Azhan’s mother and the other mother who was staying with us, were taking such good care of us and always cooked such delicious food for us.
Last evening, it was then our turn to cook. We were glad that Azhan and Mohammed (the other Kurdish child) were enjoying our pizza so much. The rest of the evening got a little emotional when Azhan’s mother called her husband to translate for us how thankful she was. She told us how much she loves us and will miss us. I felt so much love for our little band. Azhan’s mother told us that during this time, we became like little sisters to her. In the same way I will miss this family so much. They have been such a big blessing to our community and we all are so thankful for the time we spent together with them.
Last night, Azhan and his mother, and another Kurdish family staying in our guesthouse, Mohammed and his mother, and coworker Berith and I, all of us took the train together to Ashdod where we could get a few hours of sleep. At 3 am in the morning we then finally made our way to the airport and after another two and a half hours, we had to say goodbye for the last time.
I must say how much I enjoyed the last few days with Azhan and his mother. I’ve never experienced so much joy and laughter in our house than in those few days. From when they were told that they could finally fly back to Kurdistan until this day, our two boys suddenly became so active and were almost every single minute together. And Azhan’s mother always had a big smile on her face when she saw us.
In the end, all of us were so happy for Azhan and his mother, that they will see their family again after almost two months. We will miss them in our small community here in Jerusalem, but wish them all the best. Thank God for healing Azhan and for bringing him and his mother safely back to his family.
Today Azhan had his long awaited Echo appointment at Hadassah Hospital. He and his mother were looking forward to this day since all of us knew this could be his last appointment here in Israel, and that possibly his cardiologist would discharge him back home to Kurdistan.
On our way to the hospital our little boy sat in the bus with a big smile on his face, waiting very patiently until we arrived at the hospital. After he could finally have his Echo, something he is very experienced in now, we had to wait until his doctor would come and talk to us. When he entered the Echo-room, the first thing he said about Azhan was that he looked really good and his scar is healing as it should. From there on, our hope for a discharge increased.
Azhan’s doctor continued with the instruction, that he should see a cardiologist in Kurdistan in three months. This was the moment we knew that Azhan would be discharged back home to Gaza. As soon as we translated for Azhan’s mother, she had tears in her eyes; she and her son couldn’t stop smiling and Azhan was running and jumping through the hallway. All of us probably won’t forget this moment so fast!
As soon as we came back to the guesthouse in Jerusalem we had some cake and cookies, celebrating the discharges from Azhan and another Kurdish child he became really close friends with. We still have to wait for when he and his mother will fly back to Kurdistan, but until then we will enjoy our last days with our boy and his lovely mother. Let us all gather in thanksgiving for this wonderful, long awaited message. Our Lord is surely a caring and loving God, who was guiding this boy and his mother through a hard time in a strange land, where they could find people, who became helpers and even friends. Please keep praying for them, for a smooth journey back home.
I don’t know how many times I have seen the children in Shevet Achim’s care bringing joy to their environment, and our little sunray Azhan is sure one of those children. Even though he is only six years old, he seemed proud today when his mother showed us his scar after his heart operation. You can tell he is a brave little guy, because all his being bare witness about it. Every time I look at him, he puts a smile on my face. This little boy’s eyes are wide open for everything that is going on around him, and he seems to always be content. When I hear him singing, that is a sure sign he is happy. It doesn’t matter that he is as little as he is, you recognize him when he enters the room.
In one week, he will go to Hadassah Hospital for an echo to see his heart condition, and hopefully he and his mother will be able to go home after that. Please pray for this precious little boy and his mother. They miss their family.
When I wanted to visit Azhan today in Hadassah Hospital, I didn’t find him in his room but in front of the X-ray and Echo rooms. He got his last check-up before leaving the hospital.
During the waiting time, I got Azhan a burger and he spent some time with his uncle who to Israel just to see him and to help with translating in the hospital.
When Azhan could finally have his Echo, the doctor confirmed that our little boy is getting discharged only half a week after his surgery. He is recovering very fast and although he still has some chest pain sometimes, he is getting better and better. So after packing everything together, having one last meal in the hospital and talking to Azhan’s doctor for one last time, we were ready to go.
Although the bus ride was long and exhausting, Azhan followed his mother everywhere in the guesthouse and didn’t want to sit still at all. The two of them sure have a strong bond! She is trying her best to make him take it slow so nothing goes wrong within the next two weeks before his next follow-up Echo.
Please pray for a peaceful recovery for Azhan and that he continues to gain his strength back day by day. And let us gather in thanksgiving for the successful surgery he went through and this fast recovery that will make him the little boy, full of energy, we came to know before!
Today Azhan was feeling very well, only three days after his surgery at Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem. He was already sitting up in bed, smiling, and talking. His uncle, who lives in America and speaks English well, is visiting him and he is very pleased to see Azhan looking so well.
Azhan had some building toys that the nurses had given him, and he and I spent a long time building tall towers on his bed. The doctors say he’s recovering very well, and that he could be moved to the pediatric ward in less than a week. They are decreasing his pain medication and want to watch how he reacts to that over the next few days. He seems to have a lot of energy, and not to be in so much pain. When his mother told him that he should take a rest after playing, he shook his head and didn’t want to lie down. But when I left, he happily waved goodbye to me before closing his eyes.
Praise God for his recovery! Please pray all will continue to go well for him.
Today was the long-awaited day of Azhan’s surgery at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem. When coworker Luisa and I visited him and his mother today in their hospital room, Azhan was already crying and really scared of what was going to happen.
But when a nurse rolled the bed in to bring him to the surgery, he was very brave and sat on it. During his way to the pre-surgery room, he was making sure to hold his mother’s hand the whole time. In the pre-surgery room we had to wait for a bit and so Azhan was asking his mother about all the things he was seeing there. In those minutes he seemed to forget his fears and just enjoyed talking with his mother. Even when some doctors came in to make a last check-up, they were really nice to Azhan so he didn’t seem to be afraid. But as soon as he got prepared for the surgery, and had to put on a pajama, he was crying again and refused to change. We could feel his fear and even his mother started crying and held him very tight. Finally, some doctors entered the room to bring Azhan and his mother to the OR. She was allowed to remain in the OR for the anesthesia only, prior to surgery. When she returned to the waiting area, she was weeping and very devastated, so we tried to comfort her as much as possible.
During the waiting time, Azhan’s mother was calling a few family members and now and then she started crying again, scared of what could possibly happen to her son during this surgery. So we tried to explain to her that his surgery is not that dangerous and the surgeons are very experienced. And after only 2.5 hours, we got the message that the operation was over. They were able to fix his VSD and also removed his subpulmonic membrane!
After some more waiting time, we could finally enter the ICU and see Azhan. He looked very good! However unfortunately, when the nurses made an X-Ray and sat him up to put a steel plate behind his back, he woke up and looked really terrified. He even tried to remove his ventilator! But the nurses calmed him down and so he fell asleep. The next time he woke up, medical staff was able to extubate him, so now he is breathing on his own with just a bit of oxygen support!
Later some of his family members were able to visit him and were so happy to see him again. It was a great ending of the day. We were able to leave Azhan’s mother, knowing she has some company and is relieved about how this day went.
We are so thankful to the Lord for how Azhan’s surgery went. Let’s gather in thanksgiving all around the world! Please keep on praying for strength for Azhan’s mother and Azhan himself, to be able to deal with their time in the hospital. May the Lord provide for them!
Today Azhan was finally admitted to Hadassah hospital for his surgery tomorrow. What should have been an easy job, was in fact a little more difficult.
At the beginning, everything was okay and all the examinations weren’t a problem for Azhan. Even though the upcoming surgery isn’t the most difficult, Azhan’s mom was worried a lot, probably because one of our children died unexpectedly one day after his surgery a few days ago. And after Azhan saw that child’s mother crying, he also started to cry. From then on he suddenly didn’t like the hospital at all and was eager to go home. He even refused to talk to anyone and ran away several times from his mom and everyone around him. Thankfully he never ran away that far and always came back to his mom who hugged him and talked to him about the things that were happening.
Until then he wasn’t yet admitted and for the nurse and the doctor in the ward, it was really difficult to deal with him. For a moment, I and his mom sat down together with him until he calmed down. Since he was really hungry, I got him a hamburger. After some food and encouragement from his mother, Azhan was okay with having an X-Ray first. After that, we went back to the ward were he was admitted. Thanks to the special trained psychologist who encouraged Azhan and made the IV canal less frightening, the admission went from then on more relaxing.
After a couple of hours and many tears, Azhan was finally okay with staying in the hospital, but even so, he doesn’t like it for some reason.
Today Azhan had his first echo in Hadassah hospital. We took the light train to go to the hospital. He enjoyed the view and the experience.
It took time for the doctor to identify Azhan’s heart condition, but when the echo ended, he said, “It’s a good diagnosis for a good surgical repair.”
Azhan has a heart defect between the two ventricles that needs to be closed and in his right ventricle, Azhan has an accessory muscle that needs to be removed. The valve from his heart to his lung of is leaking a little bit, but according to the echo, and to the doctor, Azhan’s valve condition is not serious and doesn’t need to be touched.
His family is relieved with the news. I had the opportunity to talk with Azhan’s father via cell phone. He expressed how much he’s grateful for and feels blessed through us. He refers to the medical staff at Hadassah as being part of the Shevet Achim team.
Azhan doesn’t have a complex condition to repair, and God willing, what he does need done, will be repaired with the upcoming surgery. The doctor expects to admit Azhan next week to the hospital for the procedure.
Azhan, our cute boy from Kurdistan who arrived this morning, is having a good time with his visitors at home and he’s exited for the food they bring him.
Also Hazhan looks happy receiving some kisses from another Kurdish mom who is also staying in the guesthouse in Jerusalem.
Azhan is still waiting to have his first assessments at Hadassah Hospital.
On Monday evening, our new child from Kurdistan arrived at Ben Gurion with his mother: adorable little Azhan. He is coming to Israel to treat several congenital heart diseases, including a ventricular septal defect (VSD) and a double chambered right ventrical (DRCV).
When coworker Luisa and I arrived at the airport to pick them up, we had complications with finding them and eventually brought them safely to the car. From the airport we started our long car drive to Jerusalem, for they will stay with our community there. Most of the time both of them slept and at 1 am, we finally arrived at the Jerusalem guesthouse. We just showed them their room and everything that’s necessary and gave Azhan’s mother her new SIM-Card, then we let them get some sleep after their long trip. I was very impressed by Azhan who still was awake enough to smile and say “Bye bye.”
Both Azhan and his mother seem to be such kind and grateful people; I haven’t met that often yet. Let’s pray for them, to make themselves at home as much as possible and of course for Azhan’s treatment at Hadassah Hospital. Praise the Lord our God, for these two who are so adorable, for their trip which went really well, and for the grace He is showing them through the opportunity to treat Azhan the way he deserves.
Yesterday evening the time to say goodbye to Azhan and his mother came closer and closer. Over the last few days, our small guesthouse was filled with joy and anticipation for this great day when they would finally start their journey back to Kurdistan. It started with our little farewell party. The past few weeks, Azhan’s mother and the other mother who was staying with us, were taking such good care of us and always cooked such delicious food for us.
Last night, Azhan and his mother, and another Kurdish family staying in our guesthouse, Mohammed and his mother, and coworker Berith and I, all of us took the train together to Ashdod where we could get a few hours of sleep. At 3 am in the morning we then finally made our way to the airport and after another two and a half hours, we had to say goodbye for the last time.
I must say how much I enjoyed the last few days with Azhan and his mother. I’ve never experienced so much joy and laughter in our house than in those few days. From when they were told that they could finally fly back to Kurdistan until this day, our two boys suddenly became so active and were almost every single minute together. And Azhan’s mother always had a big smile on her face when she saw us.
