Beautiful Maryam, or ‘Mimi’ as we’ve come to call her, had her diagnostic catheterization today at Sheba Medical Center.
While she was in her catheterization, I began talking with Maryam’s mother. I was reminded of the photo of her holding a painting she did with the words, “If God is for us, who can be against us.”
She is such a loving mother, and so strong. She is my age and she carries so much. She is a wellspring of courage and fortitude. We prayed together for Mimi and at the end she made the cross symbol from her forehead to her chest and across her shoulders, representing the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I told her I think it is a really beautiful physical expression of the cross and I love doing this after taking communion. From there we talked about our churches and about God. ‘The Father is always working,’ she told me.
Once again I was profoundly moved by this young woman’s faith. I think of the sermon on the mount when Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’ The mother of Maryam has a beautiful and pure heart. She may be counted among that them that will see Him.
The cath ended after an hour and a half, and her mother was so happy to see Mimi again, who was already waking up when they brought her out! The cath went well and the doctors will discuss possible treatment options based on the diagnostic information they gathered today. Please pray for Maryam and her mother, that in this time they would grow deeper in knowing the love of God through Jesus.
Beautiful Maryam was admitted to Sheba Medical Center today! She had a CT scan and will stay over night for her catheterization tomorrow.
She is very bright. She knows she only travels in the car when her destination is the hospital, so she understood where we were immediately. As she wept, her mum was the best comforter, always steady and calm for Maryam.
When we got to the hospital, she immediately went to their children’s play area. As she explored, I remarked to her mum that she is very intelligent, to which her mum replied, she knows she is!
After this, Maryam asked her mom for a purple balloon, which she dutifully received, and then grasped as we walked to her room in the secondary ICU. The nurses were so welcoming and kind to her. Two of them were Arabic-speaking and could communicate with her mother.
We said goodbye to each other before I left both of them! They are in such good care at Sheba hospital. Please pray for Maryam and her sweet mum!
Sweetie Mimi had a blood test today, necessary before her CT scan next week. She is always a happy and content little soul, and it was just a few minutes of distress for her, having that blood test. She shouted the names of some of her new friends here in Israel “Imdad!!” “Ramyar!!” as a few tears rolled down her face, trying her best to let us all know that she was upset about the blood test.
And shortly afterwards, she forgot all about it, and enjoyed herself playing on the train and looking at YouTube videos. We waited for another Kurdish child’s echo to finish and Maryam enjoyed a gift of a very nice piece of baklava to sweeten the day.
For our new Kurdish princess, the first assessment was scheduled today. She hadn’t expected it when her mom woke her up in the morning. I think she sensed that something different was happening today be- cause she cried all of the way to Sheba Medical Center. She was so excited and scared that she ‘cast up her accounts’ in the car ride there.
But when we arrived, we were able to distract her with playing and the fear was gone. Thank you God, for calming her down! She mastered her first tests brilliantly. At first she will need a CT or a catheterization. The doctors are discussing about this and we will wait for the next appointment.
Another new kid is on the block! Today, from Kurdistan, two year old Maryam, together with her mother, arrived at Gen Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. They are members of a Christian refugee family.
Maryam has a complex congenital heart disease and needed extra oxygen during her flight here because of her low oxygen rate. After the landing she was very tired and slept until the arrival to our Shevet house. Her condition is stable now and we are looking forward to the helpful treatment she will receive at Sheba Medical Center.
She isn’t shy or cautious and started immediately to connect with the other kids. Her mum is very kind and I am so happy that she can speak a little bit of English so that I can also communicate with her.
The name “Maryam” means something like “The beloved.” We hope and pray that she feels beloved during the time at Shevet Achim and that she will get to know the unfailing love of our heavenly father. Her first assessment is scheduled for the first of March.
