Khonav update

Posted January 17, 2020 by Alena

Today our beautiful Khonav had a blood test to check her uric acid levels. But the day was not a normal one for me, because my sister and her husband came with us to the hospital! They got to meet Khonav and her mum, and to spend the day with them. After the blood test, we waited to have the results and speak with a doctor. In between time, we got ice cream and coffee, and then were treated to lunch by little Halbast’s mum, who put out a spread of hospital food! This was my family’s first taste of Kurdish hospitality!

When the blood results came back, we got the good news that the medicine was working and her uric acid levels are normal! The day ended with Jonathan and Yousef coming to pick them up to take them back to Jerusalem, where they are very happy, as they have enjoyed their time in the guest house very much.

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Welcome home

Posted January 10, 2020 by Georgia

We welcomed Khonav and her mum back home to the Shevet base today. They are a delight to have here with us. The catheterisation went ahead as planned, and her case will be discussed by the doctors next week.

Khonav has been given some medication for her blood, and this was particularly appreciated by her mum, as she says in Kurdistan there was no medicine for her.

Thank God for the beautiful patient spirit of Khonav and her mother. Please pray that the doctors will soon agree on a plan to help Khonav’s condition

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Finally a Catheterization!

Posted January 9, 2020 by Lisa

It finally happened!

After being called in many times without having a procedure, Khonav got her Cath today. Her mum was very happy about this even though she was scared at the same time. Hope for a better quality life for her daughter however, gave her strength.

As I entered the hospital room in which Khonav was recovering, I found a sleepy smiling, beautiful Khonav. Her smile widened as I approached her bed. Khonav‘s Mum hugged me and I could feel how relieved she was. After the Cath, Khonav’s oxygen saturation dropped, but the amazing hospital staff took care of it.

Khonav and her mum were filled with so much joy which spread to me! They received all the instructions of the staff with love and patience. Together they were able to understand and communicate – a beautiful duet.

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Lovely Khonav

Posted January 7, 2020 by Alena

Lovely Khonav will, God willing, have her cath tomorrow! Even though it has been canceled twice before, we are hopeful because I talked to the nurse who said she was the only one scheduled for tomorrow! We went to the hospital in the late afternoon, and her bed in the secondary cardiac ICU was ready when we got there. It was crazy because the room was so empty! I’ve never seen the room with just one bed in it, usually there are four!

After that, we spent some time together doing what we love to do: braid Khonav’s hair! So she got out her brush to comb through, and then I french-braided her long, beautiful hair. We looked at pictures after. it’s funny because many Kurdish families love taking pictures, and it’s not until you go through the camera albums in their phones that you realize you’re in some of them! It’s a funny experience, but I also value this because they have documented many of the special moments we have together.

Please pray for Khonav’s cath tomorrow, she has waited long for this, and we pray that the results from the cath will be able to inform the doctors as to what surgery she needs. Thank you God for the wonderful medical staff, and for creating a way for beautiful Khonav to receive treatment.

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Trusting God for Khonav

Posted December 20, 2019 by Alena

Today, Joela and I brought lovely Khonav home to the Shevet house! She was supposed to have a catheterization on Thursday, but instead had a CT scan, so the hospital called to say she could come home until her catheterization. Hopefully it be scheduled for next week.

Her mother greeted us with her inherent warmth and benevolence, embracing us and saying a blessing. It was a very quick discharge, so we were done in about five minutes! They were happy to be back at Shevet upon arriving, to sleep in their bed and eat their own food! Please pray for our beautiful Khonav as she is looking towards her cath! Please also pray that we could continue to be like older sisters to her.

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The teddy bear

Posted December 20, 2019 by Michelle

written by Helen

We went to Sheba hospital today with a little lad called Rovar. Whilst there I visited a young lady of 14 years called Khonav. She had just been told she was allowed up out of bed to visit the bathroom, but was concerned that the nurse had walked away leaving the blood pressure cuff on. I took the cuff off, so that she was free to go.

When she came back, I asked her if she was too big for a teddy bear. She held out her hand. I placed the teddy in her hand, and she smiled and held it close to her. Mum got up and hugged me. Funny how a teddy bear can cross the language barrier. When I left, she smiled and waved.

Khonav was supposed to have a catheterization but the plan got changed during the day. Instead of a cath, she had a CT Scan which confirmed her diagnosis. After that, Khonav and her mum were taken to their room.

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First assessment

Posted December 18, 2019 by Georgia

Today was Khonav’s first “official” day at the hospital, despite her ER visit when she first arrived. She is settling in well and I think really enjoying her time in Israel. She went to the beach for the first time yesterday, although she was too tired to walk the 5 minute journey home, and we had to collect her in the car. It seems like they have grateful hearts for everything and I know this attitude of not grumbling is very beautiful to God.

Thankfully, today at the cardiology clinic, things went smoothly. It was very special to spend the day with Khonav and her mum, and with many of the other families. It felt a bit like everyone in the hospital was Kurdish today! Israa’s father was able to help navigate the new families around the hospital, and translate into Bahdini.

Khonav’s mum held my hand as we sat behind the curtain separating Khonav as she had her echo done. It was nice to be together and I hope she feels welcome and confident with the doctors here.

The cardiologist explained that despite the low saturations, he saw on her echo that her heart is functioning relatively well; she has a VSD and a problem with her pulmonary artery. Tomorrow he will carry out a diagnostic catheterisation, and get a better idea of her situation including the state of her coronary arteries so they can plan a surgery.

We all enjoyed a lunch together, and then Khonav was admitted into the secondary ICU. She will have the catheterisation tomorrow, so please pray that she will be safe and it will be successful for her

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Welcome to Israel

Posted December 14, 2019 by Georgia

Khonav and her mother arrived in Israel this morning, traveling from Kurdistan with another child, Halbast, and his mother. They were escorted from Kurdistan by our Shevet head nurse Colin, as we were concerned that both of these children might need oxygen given during the flight and could become unstable during their journey here.

I woke up to Colin calling me, saying that they had arrived and Khonav’s oxygen saturations had dropped dangerously low, so the airport doctor in Israel wanted to call an ambulance and transfer her immediately to Sheba ER. Co-worker Jana and I got up quickly as we realised a second car was needed to bring Halbast home, releasing Julio to translate for Khonav at the hospital.

The updates kept coming from Colin: “Her saturation has dropped to 40%”… “she’s improving, she’s stabilizing…” “the airport has not called an ambulance….”. Thank God that we don’t have to do any of these things in our own strength, but only we are joining in with what God has already laid out before us!

So, after we met them, Julio and I took Khonav to the emergency room of the hospital. Khonav is 14 years old, and very beautiful. She was very tired during the time I was with her today, and her whole body looks blue. Her main diagnosis is Tetralogy of Fallot, which is a combination of different structural heart defects. In addition to this, her body has developed some additional blood vessels to help provide oxygen to her body. She has never had any surgery before, and isn’t on any medication. Her normal oxygen saturation is around 60-75%. It seems a miracle that she has lived this long with a heart with so many complex problems.

Today we observed the problems of her heart condition in the ER. As her blood was drawn for the test, we were stunned by the colour of it; almost black, and very thick. Khonav was put on IV fluids to help hydrate her and improve her oxygen, however after one bag had infused, her oxygen saturations were as low as 30%.

Praise God that after another few hours of lying down and another infusion, she was stable at her usual saturations of between 60-75%.

Her mother was strong throughout the difficult day, despite her tiredness. I loved to see how she was caring for Khonav, and was able to be in a good spirit. We also received news from the mums back at our home, that they were waiting to welcome them, and wishing Khonav well.

We were able to bring her home after many hours in the ER. She will return to the hospital for her “official” first assessment on Wednesday, and hopefully to be admitted for a diagnostic catheterisation. Please pray for Khonav, that she will settle in well to our home, and that she and her mum will feel loved and welcome. Please also pray for her safety and healing of her heart in God’s timing and under his perfect care.

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