Early this morning, Lilly and I brought Khonav and her brother to the airport for their flight back to Kurdistan. After long lines and some help from several kind airport employees, they made it to the gate just in time for their flight and are now safely on their way home.
The past two months with Khonav and her brother have been such a joy and a blessing. They have been good friends to all of us volunteers, as well as to all the other families in the house. It’s been sweet to see how much love and attention they give to the babies and toddlers. We’ve spent lots of time practicing Kurdish and English together, and I’ve learned quite a bit from both of them.
While the doctors are discussing the best time for her surgery, Khonav will spend some time with her family back in Kurdistan. Please pray for blessed time together for her family.
This morning, Lilly and I brought Khonav to Sheba hospital for her first echo since her interventional catheterization. Khonav was very hopeful that the echo would show good results and she could go back home.
The echo showed that the catheterization last week was successful in dilating her narrowed pulmonary arteries, allowing for better blood flow to her lungs. Her oxygen saturation is much better since the cath and for now, she is stable.
However, Khonav’s pulmonary arteries are generally not in good condition. While she is stable at the moment, the doctor expects that in the future, the arteries will worsen, as will her condition. She can have surgery now to repair them, but the operation is very difficult and the doctors cannot promise good results.
The doctors will discuss Khonav’s situation together and give their recommendation as to further treatment for her. In the meantime, Khonav and her brother have decided to return home to spend a couple of months with their family before she may come back for the surgery.
These are very difficult decisions for Khonav and her family. Please pray for them as they spend time together and decide what to do next.
Today, when coworker Amelie and I went to Sheba Hospital, we got very good news. Khonav said to us with a smile on her face, that she was discharged to our Ashdod community house, just one day after her catheterization. We were all so happy!
Before we could go, the nurse took out her indwelling cannula, about which she was really scared, but happy when it was over.
We spent a very nice and funny time with beautiful Khonav and her brother, who is always next to her and helps her where he can. It’s special to see what a good relationship Khonav and her brother have with each other and that they can trust each other.
In one week, Khonav has to return to Sheba Hospital for a follow up echo. Probably she doesn’t need a surgery for now. So we will wait what the doctors finally say after her echo. For now, Khonav is enjoying the time again back in Ashdod with the other kids and mothers. We are really happy and thankful to have her and her brother back in our home. Let’s pray for blessings over her, her brother and that she can fly to Kurdistan soon.
Our beautiful Khonav had her long-awaited interventional catheterization at Sheba Hospital this afternoon. The procedure took five hours and there was a lot of work for the doctors, but thank God everything went well. The doctors were able to dilate her pulmonary arteries and the stent that was placed during surgery two years ago, as well as make some images of her heart to examine what remains to be done for her.
Khonav and her brother are hoping to be able to go home without surgery. She has told me and her doctor many times, that she will do as many caths as necessary as long as she doesn’t need surgery. As she was waking up from anesthesia in the cath lab after the procedure, the first thing she said to the doctor was “Amaliyat niya?”– Kurdish for “No surgery?”
The doctors will discuss her situation and decide what the next steps are. For now, she is recovering in the secondary ICU at Sheba hospital, and eagerly awaiting her return to our community house in Ashdod.
First thing this morning, coworker Junko and I brought Khonav and her brother to Sheba hospital in preparation for her interventional catheterization tomorrow morning.
Khonav’s pulmonary arteries are very narrow after her central shunt surgery two years ago. Tomorrow’s procedure will be to dilate these arteries with a balloon. She’s hoping this is the only intervention needed before she can go home to Kurdistan.
Please pray for a successful procedure and a good outcome tomorrow.
This morning we got the very spontaneous and surprising news that Khonav will have a Cath tomorrow. Coworker Doro and I brought her and her brother to Sheba Medical Center. After Khonav had an echo, an ECG and an x-Ray, we had to wait a while till the doctor told us that an emergency child will come and Khonav unfortunately can’t have her cath .
She was quiet disappointed, but still happy and in a good mood. For now she will go back to our community home in Ashdod and as soon as a spot opens up, she will have her cath.
I’m very happy that she is with us and enjoy every moment with her. Please pray for patience and that she can have her cath soon.
Our lovely Khonav had her CT scan this afternoon at Sheba hospital.She was pretty nervous for it and asked me and Amelie to come along with her and her brother. We enjoyed the time sitting in the waiting room and sharing pictures of our families.
The CT scan showed that Khonav’s pulmonary arteries are very narrow, which is the cause of her cyanosis (blueness in the fingers and lips). Her doctors will discuss the best option for treatment, likely a cath or surgery.
Khonav had to fast before the CT, but is now back in Ashdod to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr holiday–the end of the month of fasting for Ramadan– with the other Kurdish families.
This morning, coworker Joanne and I brought Khonav and her brother to Sheba hospital for her first appointment during this stay in Israel. The appointment was very quick, but since the doctor was unable to see her pulmonary arteries in the echo, she will need a CT scan before the doctors can discuss surgery for her.
Even though the appointment wasn’t as informative as we hoped, we had a very nice time with Khonav and her brother, sharing photos of our families and home countries.
After three catheterizations and one surgery, Khonav was very ready to receive her last Echocardiogram today.
She has been complaining about a pain in her chest when she lies down on her left side or right side. Her cicatrix, or the scar of her surgery, is also becoming red she said.
She has also become very stressed because of the long waiting and not traveling back home to Kurdistan due to the corona restrictions.
The cardiologist was very happy to hear Khonav’s heart and said the SHUNT and all the work they did on previous caths and surgery were giving its fruits and good results. She was also impressed by Khonav’s pink skin color; it used to be very dark blue when she first came to Shevet eight months ago. Her saturation was also high.
The cardiologist asked that Khonav and her mom not become stressed or too worried about the chest pain as this is normal after the surgery; bones and muscles are taking their place and will recover.
Khonav asked if she could play football. The Doctor said yes, and asked her to walk and do exercise every day as well.
Khonav may need to visit her Doctor after one month when she returns to Kurdistan. Please keep praying for her to have peace and trust that God has everything under control.
Khonav’s cardiologist kindly agreed to see her at short notice today, as we are hoping that it will be possible for them to fly home soon!
She had her echo and assessments carried out, and then had to wait for the doctor to finish the cath-eterisations which he was carrying out today. It was a long wait, and during the breaks, he informed us that he had seen the images of the echo, and that her oxygen saturation was satisfactory to approve her to return to Kurdistan! This is very long awaited news, which Khonav and her mum are very happy about!
Her doctor suggests that she needs to have a CT scan in Kurdistan in around 6 months to check how the arteries are growing.
As we had hoped, Khonav was discharged from the stay in Sheba Medical Center fairly early on today! The hospital staff were helpful as ever and thankfully felt that she didn’t need to continue with daily injections to help her blood flow.
She showed me some photos of her vital signs monitor from earlier this morning showing her oxygen saturation to be as high as 94%! The highest it has ever been, and such a huge improvement since the 30% oxygen which she arrived with!
She and her mum were happy to wait patiently with fellow Shevet House resident, Ramyar, for his echo, before we all returned home to the House together.
The doctor arranged to see her again next week to hopefully discharge her to Kurdistan!
Today was the day of Khonav’s catheterisation – possibly the final procedure before she can return to Kurdistan. I arrived at Sheba hospital to find her mum already waiting outside theatre. Much to my relief, the two-hour wait was a peaceful one. Khonav’s mum seemed calm and relaxed as we sat, walked and talked together.
Finally, Khonav emerged from the catheterisation. Suddenly there was a whirlwind of activity as the medical team, Khonav, her mum, and I all crammed into the elevator and headed to her room.
Khonav’s been at Shevet for so long, she’s really started to feel like a sister. I lost track of time as her mum, Shevet nurse Colin and I sat together by her bedside. Ever the hostess, her mum invited me for lunch and tea. Her ability to show hospitality in every situation never ceases to amaze me. No matter that she is in a foreign land and in a hospital, on the day of her daughter’s catheterisation, generosity still flows out of her.
Khonav was soon awake and in high spirits again. A couple of hours after the procedure she was already eager to be out of bed and moving again. “I want to walk” she kept telling us, her eyes full of determination.
Khonav’s doctor said they are happy to see that her arteries are growing. God-willing she will be able to go home to Kurdistan, before returning in a year for her next surgery. Please pray that this is possible. After almost seven months here, Khonav and her mum are anxious to be back with their family.
Khonav and her mum have had a difficult time over the past few weeks, worrying about whether the scheduled catheterization will prevent them from traveling back to Kurdistan with the other families at the start of July. Considering everything, the family naturally prefers that Khonav returns home to Kurdistan, but her cardiologist made it clear that this catheterisation is necessary for her to return to Kurdistan in the best health possible.
As God works in ways which are above our ways, the flights for all the families were cancelled by the airline. So it is likely, that all of the families we have convalescing here at the Shevet House are going to be able to travel home together later in July. This schedule change really took the pressure off Khonav and her mum. They attended the hospital appointment today ahead of the catheterization tomorrow.
It continues to be an unsteady time for them, as many of their questions can’t be answered until after the procedure has taken place tomorrow. As Khonav and her mum sleep overnight in the hospital, please lift them up in prayer, ask for them to be filled with peace, and for a safe and successful catheterization tomorrow.
We had all been eagerly waiting for an answer today to know whether Khonav could have another surgery or not. From the assessment done in the catheterisation a few weeks previously, and the echo assessment today, the doctor was able to explain to us that the pulmonary arteries have not yet grown enough to be able to safely carry out a surgery to fully repair Khonav’s heart. However, they are growing in response to the surgery which she has had. As there are no flights to Kurdistan until July, the doctor felt it would be best to carry out another catheterisation at the end of June, with the hope that her arteries will have grown sufficiently and she could have the surgery to repair her heart. Perhaps also during the catheterisation, they would be able to dilate her central shunt again and send more blood flow, which would help the arteries grow, if necessary.
The other possibility is that if her heart is not ready for surgery after the cath, then she could return to Kurdistan with the other families in July, and then come back to Israel again after some months for surgery.
Please pray for wisdom, peace and understanding for Khonav and her family in the light of this uncertain plan.
Our dear Khonav returned to the base today after her interventional cath yesterday! Despite receiving a medicine via injections she and her mum were in very good spirits! She said that the nurse who gave the injections gave her chocolate after, and thereby suggested this is what our nurses also do to help with it! We love this girl and are so happy to have her back. She will have an echo in two weeks, and the question of another surgery during this stay in Israel is still to be decided. Please pray for her heart, that she would not be discouraged, but that she would know and trust that God is sovereign in all things.
I received a few voice messages from Khonav this morning, and it was sad to hear the shaky change in her voice as she said “esta bo castera,” letting me know she was on her way to the cath right now.
I joined her mum waiting outside the doors soon afterwards. We agreed on a few ‘landmarks’ of time, based on the Doctor’s prediction yesterday, that if this cath was purely to assess her, then all being well she would be out after two hours, by ten o’ clock. Then Khonav’s mum suggested if the doctor would be treating her condition, then perhaps she would take another hour and be out at 11 o’ clock.
As we waited together, she received phone calls from all of the mothers at our house in Jaffa, of course missing her and Khonav and hoping for the very best, all of them remembering this tense time of their children being in the hands of the doctors.
When the clock passed 10:45, we agreed that the doctor must be doing a treatment for Khonav, as it was taking so long. Her mum grew more anxious, until finally at around 12.30, one of the nurses came out to collect her and say it was all over. As we walked (rather unsteadily…) to the bed in the hallway, Khonav’s mother received the single word she was hoping for from the doctor (in Kurdish!) “bash”, meaning that Khonav was doing well. We thanked God together as we followed the faithful medical team up to the ward where Khonav is staying.
The doctor explained that the catheterisaton had been very successful. He had found that her shunt had been extremely narrow, and they were able to widen it and place a stent there to keep it open which would allow the blood to flow well. He also found that there has been growth of her coronary arteries, which could indicate that she is suitable for a surgery soon, although it needs to be assessed further and discussed with the rest of the medical team.
For now, Khonav is recovering nicely in the ICU. Thank you for praying for her, and we are hoping to have her back home soon!
Brave Khonav came to hospital again today. The result of the corona test was negative which meant the plan for catheterisation can continue.Today she had a consultation with the doctor, who explained that they hope to see in the cath tomorrow exactly how the shunt is doing which was placed during her surgery. Its possible that it’s a little small, and maybe the doctor will be able to place a stent which will help the shunt to be wider, allowing more blood to flow through. Also, they can check her coronary arteries and see if perhaps a surgery could be possible to repair her heart. Everything should become clearer after the catheterisation tomorrow. Khonav understood this all bravely and calmly.
We enjoyed our time together waiting for a room in the hospital, walking near the beautiful trees, and taking photos. Khonav and her mum enjoyed meeting the cardiology secretary, Tali. Please pray for Khonav as she sleeps tonight and for tomorrow to be safe and successful for her!
To comply with hospital guidelines, before anyone can be admitted to their wards, Khonav needed to come to the hospital for a corona test. She helped Asmaa wait for her blood test, and soon was taken to the room to quickly have the swabs taken before she was released home. Her sweet and generous mum insisted on buying ice cream for me and Khonav, which we ate all the way up on the 16th floor of the car park.
We enjoyed the view, Khonav took a lot of pictures, and then drove the scenic route home, seeing the flowers and skyscrapers of Tel Aviv.
Khonav was in charge of the music in the car and of chose joyful Kurdish music. It was so fun being together and I am so pleased that Khonav was feeling happy today, as last week, the weight of being here for 5 months had taken its toll, and she had been quite upset.Thank God for this joyful spirit. If the corona test is negative, then she can return to the hospital tomorrow to be admitted for a catheterisation.
Khonav has been long anticipating her birthday celebrations…and today the day of the party had finally arrived. There was great excitement as we blew up balloons, put up decorations, and the smell of a delicious chocolate cake drifted in from the kitchen.
Having been here for almost five months, Khonav is such a special part of our family. It felt like a big moment for all of us as we celebrated her life together. It made me so happy to see the joy on her face. Despite being in lockdown, away from home, without the rest of the family, her smile was enormous. She seemed to dance round the room, taking photos, eating cake, and enjoying the music.
Here at Shevet we are so proud of Khonav and we are so thankful to God for her life.
Khonav attended an appointment today at the Sheba Medical Center, to have an echo and to hear the outcome of the CT scan which she had recently. She really enjoyed the trip out with many of the other Kurdish families, and as she was dressed so beautifully for the occasion, she wanted to take many photos.
The doctor explained that it was difficult to have a good understanding of her heart structure from the echo and the CT scan, and so he suggested that it would be better for her to have a catheterisation. This would enable him to be able to assess and perhaps amend the shunt which is placed, and also to assess her pulmonary arteries. He explained that Khonav’s case is complex, and needs to be assessed further and discussed with the medical team. I was very pleased to be able to describe the huge difference in Khonav’s quality of life which we have been able to observe since she has had the surgery.
Please pray for Khonav as she has received the news that she may have to have another catheterisation and is still beautifully saying “mshkila niya”; Kurdish for no problem. We are thanking God so much for the transformation of Khonav and also for the care of the doctor to ensure that everything possible has been done for Khonav.
It will be her 15th birthday on the weekend and so please also pray for a special blessing.
Looking at Khonav now, I find it hard to believe she’s the same person who arrived here a couple of months ago. I still remember the kind, but quiet Khonav I met on that first Sunday morning; she had an obvious blue tinge to her skin tone and could only walk a short distance before exhaustion hit. Before her surgery, her energy levels were so low we had to take the car for the 30 second drive to the beach. This all seems worlds away from the Khonav we now have at Jaffa. Her energy is increasing every day, and with it her confidence and joyful spirit. More and more, despite the language barrier, we are seeing her beautiful personality shine through – her sense of humor, her creativity, and her care for those around her.
This past week we have had so much fun. From doing jigsaw puzzles to drawing on the windows with special window pens, Khonav is up for anything. Although I love seeing the way she approaches everything with so much enthusiasm, what has really encouraged me has been watching the way she draws the other children into activities. It is really valuable for children like seven year-old Ramyar to have an older role model like Khonav to look up to.
The families have a favorite board game that brings out the competitive side in everyone; since Khonav explained the rules, even the mums love it and take it very seriously. Almost every day, Khonav and Ramyar insist that we play – sometimes for hours on end. Today however, co-worker Markus had another idea. Equipped with various stationary supplies we decided to make our own board games instead. Khonav and Ramyar quickly got involved and even made dice to go with them.
Yesterday, we made the most of the sunshine and had an art session out on the balcony – everyone got involved! Khonav carefully painted a beautiful Kurdish flag and wrote “love” above it. She really loves her country and the people there. She’s always calling her friends back home and sending them lot of photos – I’m sure she misses them a lot. It really touches me to see this relational side of Khonav; she cares a lot about the people around her. She’s been constantly asking after our German volunteers who returned home last week; the love they showed her has obviously had a huge impact. This is a real testimony to how God uses our relationships here.
When I think of Khonav I think of 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here!” Just as she has experienced the physical transformation after her surgery, I pray that she would experience the spiritual transformation brought by being in Christ. Please keep praying for her as she waits for her final echo.
Khonav and her mum have been asking when her CT scan will be for some time. This is possibly her final assessment needed to check whether her condition is good enough to return home.
Without being able to see “inside,” we can see such a big change on the outside for Khonav! Since the surgery, she has vastly improved in what she is capable of doing physically. She is also very determined not to have to use the wheelchair. She has been out to the Carmel Market, walked to the beach a few times and yesterday even had a (short) go on the exercise machines outside!
She is a lot of fun and full of life and excitement. It’s good to laugh with her, without her getting out of breath.
Today Khonav had duly fasted ahead of her CT scan, and was feeling hungry when we arrived at the hospital. As we were waiting, a really lovely doctor passed us, who had been very taken with Khonav while she was an inpatient.
So it was with great joy that she greeted Khonav and her mother. We hope she will be able to come to Khonav’s farewell party which….could be very soon!
The scan went smoothly, and afterwards we joined the other families waiting in the cardiology area. Khonav called her brother in Kurdistan to update him on the day.
We need to wait for the doctor to interpret the CT scan, and then perhaps Khonav will be cleared to return home and be reunited with her family. She and her mum will be sorely missed!
Khonav and her mum have a beautiful, positive outlook on life. It was a fairly long day for both of them and yet, they found things to be thankful for in every moment.
At Sheba Medical Center, after signing in on the fourth floor, Khonav’s first step was a blood test. On the way, she spotted a fish tank and we spent a while admiring all the fish. Khonav’s mum was really impressed by how beautiful they were – all sorts of colours and sizes.
After the blood test, we all made ready for Khonav’s echo-cardiogram. I was really impressed with how calmly she handled both the blood test and echo. Both Khonav and her mother have a real peacefulness about them, and a huge amount of patience.
Then came the wait for the doctor. Just as we sat down, we spotted the tea trolley! To be honest, we were all really excited by this. With hot chocolate, coffee, tea and cake, we sat together talking, looking at pictures, taking selfies, and looking at the rain out the window. Khonav’s love for all the other children at the Shevet house is really obvious. She is always asking about them and showing me pictures she’s taken of them. This is so reflective of God’s heart for community, and it’s so beautiful to see this heart in Khonav.
On the way out, I spotted Khonav’s drawing on the art board. I was very excited to see her talent on display. She’s come to be such a special friend to me during her time here.
God-willing after a CT scan, Khonav will be able to return to Kurdistan! She will probably need to return to Israel next year for another surgery.
Co-worker Alena and I were greeted by multiple staff members at the hospital today, all of whom asked if we were looking for Khonav, as she is being discharged today. It seems like everyone has been captured by the wonderful friendliness of this special girl.
We reached Khonav in the classroom, doing some logic puzzles with one of the teachers. They were quite difficult even for us who fully understood the instructions!
When we left, both of the teachers said how much they will miss having Khonav around at the hospital. Thank God that He is in every circumstance, so despite having a big heart surgery, the beautiful qualities of friendship still are woven together.
The doctors and nurses enthusiastically expressed similarly, please to make sure that Khonav comes back to see them when she comes for an echo check up next week. One of the doctors had even given Khonav a beautiful bracelet as a gift.
Khonav’s radiant mother kindly took the time to say farewells to other mothers and grandmothers in the hospital whom she had been alongside during her stay. Despite the differences in language, she took the effort to use a few words in English and Arabic as well as her trademark embraces to leave everyone she met feeling sure that she cares for them and their situation.
Khonav and mum were welcomed back home to Jaffa by the other mothers with exactly the heartfelt enthusiasm they deserve. We have all really missed having them around, especially Halbast’s mother, who travelled to Israel with them weeks ago.
Thank God that Khonav is well enough to be home with us in Jaffa. Please continue to pray for her and that she can enjoy the benefits of her new health after the surgery.
As co-worker Brianna and I entered Khonav’s hospital room, her face lit up and underneath her oxygen mask we could see a bright smile.
I haven’t seen Khonav and her mother in a week so there were many kisses and hugs. I just love them so much and the way they express their love to us. Of course, one of mum’s first questions was if we wanted something to eat! Her caring heart for Khonav and also for us is so beautiful.
After a while of sitting and chatting, the social workers came. These people are doing such a great job! Khonav went with them to a craft class to paint something. But before they went, Daiki Khonav showed us proudly a picture that Khonav drew – it was such a lovely moment.
After Khonav’s left lung collapsed yesterday, she is still recovering with high amounts of supplemental oxygen. She wasn’t too happy about wearing the mask, but it really helps her and she understood why she needs to wear it. Khonav talked a lot about coming home (to Jaffa) but before that will happen, she will need an x-ray tomorrow. Hopefully after the results, they can reduce the amount of needed oxygen so she can finally return to our home in Jaffa again.
I know she really wants to be at home, but I also know that she enjoys painting a lot so I am happy about the time she can spend in hospital to recover from everything. Please pray with me that she will not get upset about staying in the hospital a bit longer, but will enjoy painting even more. In our prayers we can also support her mother who is such a big help for Khonav.
We got news early on in the day that Khonav was possibly…then definitely…being discharged today! She just needed to have an x-ray to confirm everything was OK. Co-worker Liza went downstairs with Khonav (who is now able to walk such a distance without support) and her mum to have this done. However, sadly, the x-ray revealed that part of her lung is collapsed! It was a shock to hear this for everyone, and especially Khonav who had been so looking forward to coming back home to Jaffa for quite some time now.
But, Khonav and her mum both have an unshakable spirit which keeps them joyful. Even in the circumstance of this sad news, Khonav’s mum took the time to help the grandma of another Shevet child, Asmaa, who was feeling unwell, by bringing her a sandwich to eat together whilst waiting for Asmaa’s catheterization.
Khonav’s condition is now being treated with oxygen, and she had cheered up by the end of the day. Her main concern was that she was hungry, but was laughing so much as the oxygen mask was obstructing her mouth. We took some pictures together and hoped that she will be coming back to our home in Jaffa very soon. Thank God for the continually beautiful patient and joyful spirit we see in these two. Hopefully Khonav will have recovered soon.
Khonav’s chest tube drains were removed today! Together we walked around the hospital, and she loved being outside of her hospital room. She loved being free from the chest drainage tubes. Every step Khonav walked, her mother praised God.
The picture that she drew yesterday of a tree and a rose, was posted on a board outside of the unit. We all marveled at her creation. Today she drew a picture of a river and fields, which she described of as Kurdistan. She draws very beautifully.
Itt reminds us all of how God created her so fearfully and wonderfully, as we read in Psalm 139 this morning,
For you created my inmost being.
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
We praise God for her improvement and look forward to having her return to our home in Jaffa soon.
Today, Khonav’s inner artist made an appearance. I think we were equally excited this morning when she was invited to the little art room and offered all kinds of paints and pens and glitter. The black page quickly seemed to come to life as she sketched out a huge tree, accompanied by beautiful red flowers. Not wanting to be left out, I asked if I could join in. As Khonav and I sat there, drawing together, I felt so peaceful.
I think God loves it when we create – when we design and make things – because he is a creative God and we are made in his image. He is the great artist and we are his masterpiece. It was so beautiful to see this wonderful creativity in Khonav.
After our art session, Khonav and I played a puzzle game. Even though the instructions were explained in English, she seemed to understand the game much better than I. Khonav’s mum insisted I join them for lunch…and what a feast it was. I really don’t know how mum Khonav manages to make a hospital feel so welcoming, but every time I visit her, I feel like a guest at a banquet. Today there was pita bread with a large selection of fillings, and a delicious cheesecake which she’d acquired from somewhere. When Georgia joined us later, mum Khonav (to my amazement) produced even more food! Like creativity, hospitality is a gift from God – it’s so wonderful to see God’s own heart in these two amazing people.
Today was the first time I’d seen Khonav since her operation. As soon as I spotted her, propped up against a pillow in her hospital bed, I ran over, not really able to contain my excitement. I can’t put into words how happy it made me to see her. She looks so, so good. Before the surgery, there was an underlying blue tinge to her skin, but now her complexion has completely changed. Everyone can see the difference!
Khonav and her mum are such a lovely pair; they have definitely come to feel like family during their time here. Hospitable even in hospital, Khonav’s mum ushered me to the big comfy chair next to Khonav’s bed and rushed off to bring us cakes from the tea trolley.
We had a really nice time together – looking at photos from Jaffa beach trips, writing our names, talking about how the other families were doing, and of course, eating cake! Khonav and her mum are really looking forward to coming back to Jaffa soon. It’s really good to see how at home they feel here, and I was really touched by how happy they were to see Georgia and I.
Please join us in thanking God for this wonderful change in Khonav. In the words of Psalm 75v9: “But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob”
Khonav today is improving well, but is still on a high amount of oxygen support. Her mother is filled with so much joy over the changes she sees in her daughter.
Khonav’s mother was so eager to point out many parts of her daughter and ask us to confirm her excited suspicions: that she has had a complete transformation in the colour of her hands, feet and face. Yes, we had to agree with her, she is looking a beautiful colour, no longer blue.
The mother also has had a transformation. She was so so happy, it is hard to put into words. Thank God for the joy that she has. It was a very big blessing to see her beautiful face lit up with delight seeing Khonav.
Khonav was already in the secondary ICU, although with chest drains and with oxygen support from a nasal cannula. She was reasonably cheery and bravely said she wasn’t in too much pain. She needs to do some breathing exercises, which Claudia empathised with, and said from her own experience, it is one of the most painful things to do. Khonav’s mum was quite persistent in trying to encourage her to get on with the exercises.
Thank God for the quick recovery of our little sister Khonav after surgery, just on Thursday last week!
After waiting over 13 years, Khonav’s time for surgery was finally here. Thank you God for opening the way for her. She has really been quite disabled with what she has been physically capable of, needing a wheelchair or a car to transport her around. Even an excited conversation could leave her short of breath, and her already blue skin tone turning darker.
So today the medical team were able to make a central shunt for her heart which should improve the amount of oxygen in her blood flow around the body. The surgeon afterwards commented how sad it was for her to have lived all these years with a heart in poor condition, and how it must have affected her quality of life. As I’m writing this now, I can’t help but think how beautiful Khonav’s life already is, despite what seems to have been a massive limitation. She has a fun-filled spirit and is quick to enjoy everything she can. She is extremely friendly, and she and her mother are very loving to everyone they meet. One of the words I think of which describes them is “content.” Always they are grateful, patient and happy with whatever they have. Sometimes just to sit together on the beach for an hour in almost silence together, they are content with it. It is really special and I love them both very much.
The day together with the mother was lovely also, as there were so many other Kurdish families and Shevet volunteers around the hospital. It makes it so much nicer to be all together. And Khonav’s mother kept asking after the other children whom she knew. She also comforted a Palestinian mother whose baby was having a catheterisation at the same time. Khonav’s mother has a big and generous heart.
After many hours, we received the news that Khonav’s surgery had finished and was successful. Our mother was extremely happy and relieved, finally able to relax and call her family and friends with the good news. We saw Khonav after she was stabilised in the ICU. What a beautiful transformation, already it was possible to see the brighter colour of her face. I said to her “Khonav my sister, you aren’t blue!” and she opened her eyes and moved her face and mouth in response. It was very special and peaceful to share the moment together, and through the sedation haze, she reached her fingers to hold our hands.
Thank God for bringing her safely through the surgery!
Do you have a dream of your life? Khonav has. The 14-year-old just wants a surgery for her broken heart, that makes her able to experience the world out of the car or the wheelchair, to move faster than in slow motion. And praise God, today she was admitted in the hospital for a surgery tomorrow!
Our teenager started the day with a happy smile on her lips that shows also a little bit of confidence. And the smile remained on our beauty’s lips during the long waiting time in the hospital, the different examinations and the preparation for the surgery. What a gift to be able to smile facing a big surgery! Her mother is more anxious but also a very sweetheart and has got a happy spirit and is just such a good support for Khonav.
For me, Khonav is my little sister, the sister I always wished to have. And it is just so difficult to send her to the surgery. My heart is a little more worried than I usually experience since not all surgeries are so easy and completely successful. Therefore I need to build my trust in God – HE is good!
I know God knows all the dreams Khonav stores in her heart, for sure also her biggest one. Please God, hold Your hands over Khonav! Please pray for a good night and a blessed and shepherded surgery tomorrow!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Early this morning, Lilly and I brought Khonav and her brother to the airport for their flight back to Kurdistan. After long lines and some help from several kind airport employees, they made it to the gate just in time for their flight and are now safely on their way home.
The past two months with Khonav and her brother have been such a joy and a blessing. They have been good friends to all of us volunteers, as well as to all the other families in the house. It’s been sweet to see how much love and attention they give to the babies and toddlers. We’ve spent lots of time practicing Kurdish and English together, and I’ve learned quite a bit from both of them.
