Unsure of my directional skills, I made my way to the radiology department at Sheba hospital this morning to meet a family from Hebron with a child who was scheduled for surgery. Once there, my search continued as I timidly called out names. After a few tries due to my imperfect pronunciations, a man sitting with an adorable, smiling toddler in a beautiful ruffled dress and matching hair bow looked up and waved me over. I found Mira and her father!
After Mira’s X-ray, we went up to the cardiology floor and were admitted to the PICU—standard procedure the day before surgery. As soon as we walked onto the floor, the nurses excitedly called out, “Mira, Mira!” Everyone came to see smiley, clapping Mira as we settled into the hospital room.
As Mira’s nurses and doctors were checking her vital signs, they noticed that she had a runny nose and some other possible signs of a mild respiratory infection. They told us that this might be a problem for her surgery, and they left the room to confer. Mira’s father and I were left with the fun task of distracting Mira. In the process, I got to learn about Mira’s family and met some of them on video chat. Eventually the doctors came in and told us that they decided to reschedule the surgery. As much as this was sad news for Mira, we are grateful that when she does have surgery, it will be safe. Mira’s father told me that their early morning journey through the West Bank border was very tiring for him and Mira, and he was glad to be able to go home and rest. We are praying that Mira recovers quickly from her illness and that her surgery is rescheduled soon. We praise the Lord that Mira has such a kind and patient father to care for her!
Surgery rescheduled
Going home
Mira went home today to Hebron. The diagnostic catheterization at Sheba Medical Center gave enough information to the doctors to decide what to do next for Mira. She was walking around in the ICU, stealing the hearts of the nurses and doctors.
We pray she will stay okay while she is home with her parents and siblings in Hebron.
Catheterization today

Admitted
Today Mira and her father came to Sheba Medical Center to be admitted. Everything went well and she was sleeping when I visited them. Mira’s father cared very much for her and it was a good time with them.
Mira is going to have her catheterization tomorrow or in two days.
Please pray for her and her father and that the catheterization goes well and for the hand of God at work during the operation.
Oxygen saturation 98%
Most days at Shevet have a plan and a structure, but once things get going and you are in the middle of a busy hospital day, God is so kind at putting the things before you which must be done.
In this case, we were in exactly the right place at the right time to see Mira and her father arrive at Sheba Hospital and to take them to their Echo-cardiogram. Apparently Mira’s dad had already notified all his friends who are still at the hospital about the appointment today, so there were many happy reunions as we arrived to the cardiac floor! This was so great to witness and was one of my favorite moments of the day.
Mira returns to Hebron
Mira moved from ICU to Pediatric Ward
Baby Mira has been moved from the Sheba Medical Center Childrens’ ICU to the Pediatric Ward floor. She and her father are now sharing a room with Ziad, a child from Gaza and his dad; these two fathers are good friends which is a lot of fun.
Mira’s dad proudly showed pictures of his family, which included many of his three children together. He is hoping to return home to them in Hebron soon. Please continue in your prayers for this little one, that her healing may be complete and the family reunited.
No discharge yet for precious little Mira
Today, I visited cute little Mira and her dad at Sheba Medical Center. Mira’s dad was asleep when I arrived, so I couldn’t talk to him. I just went into their room quietly and looked at Mira. She was also sleeping peacefully.
Hoping for a discharge for Mira
The Giver of breath
Great news awaited us when we found Mira’s dedicated father by her side today: for the last 24 hours she has been breathing on her own! This is a huge step forward in her recovery from the emergency repair of her Tetralogy of Fallot heart defect. Medical staff are waiting to see if this will continue; please join in our prayers that the Giver of breath will complete his good work in Mira’s life.

God gives every breath
Today Jonathan and I were visiting Mira and her dad. Right now she still has to get oxygen by a ventilator. When they tried to let her breathe on her own it wasn‘t eso they had to reconnect her to the respirator. But the dad was really convinced that if God wants than he will help Mira to get better. So please pray for little Mira and the continuing of her recovering.

Just in time to save her life
I saw Mira’s father today, who invited me to come and visit her in the intensive care unit. I was surprised to learn that she had been put into the ICU, as when I saw her yesterday she didn’t seem too unwell, and I thought that the cardiologist had requested to admit her to hospital more as a precaution.
However, her father told me that her oxygen levels had dropped very low, down to 40%, and that Mira had been intubated. It was so unexpected!
When we approached her room, we stood outside the glass door, and watched about 5 people standing around her bed, as she had an echo. The father said that they had been in there for about an hour and a half. Suddenly one of the nurses came out and told the father that there was a problem with blood in her lungs, and that they needed to take her immediately into an open-heart surgery. Her dad took a few seconds to process this information; it was a complete shock. Her room filled with staff bringing oxygen tanks and various pieces of equipment.
We watched as the team worked so wonderfully together to fight for the life of Mira, preparing to transfer her into the operating room. Occasionally we were able to catch glimpses of her; her tiny body looked limp, grey and blue.
Mira was nearly six hours in the operating theatre, and when she reached the ICU doctors there explained that the surgery brought her back from the brink of death.
Thank God for the wisdom of the doctors yesterday and today, and that in His timing, Mira returned to the hospital, just in time to save her life.

Unexpectedly back in the hospital
Mira returned today from Hebron to Sheba Hospital for a follow-up echo accompanied by her father. The doctor found that Mira and her heart were not in good condition, her oxygen levels dropping quite low. This was enough to send her and her dad downstairs to the Respiratory Emergency Department for further assessment, and resulted in her being hospitalised overnight.
It was a surprise for her dad, but he accepted the outcome calmly, also recognising a few other fathers who were around the department. Prayers for this little one are appreciate.
First time holding her baby girl
Friday afternoon as the Shabbat was drawing near our partners at the Sheba Medical Center asked us to return newborn Mira to her home in Hebron, on a hilltop overlooking the ancient burial site of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah:
Mira had been rushed immediately after birth to the ICU in Hebron, and then to Israel for a life-saving catheterization. We were privileged now to be eyewitnesses of the first time her mother was ever able to hold her:
Families like these sometimes tell us that when you form a relationship with them, you’re actually reaching a whole clan of five thousand. The impact of each little life, multiplied like the loaves and fishes. Command the blessing Lord, life forevermore!
A successful catheterization
Little Mira has been waiting in the Sheba Medical Hospital Intensive Care Unit for a while now to be made ready for an intervention. Today was the day, and from early in the morning, for three hours the doctors worked on her with a catheterisation, to be able to dilate some blood vessels and help give her a chance to grow stronger.
Understanding Mira's heart
Doctors worked today to gain understanding of the complex anatomy of Mira’s heart, including a CT scan. Until they come up with a surgical plan next week, Mira remains snug and secure in the ICU.

Safely to Sheba
Thank God, today precious Mira was safely transferred into the loving hands of the team at the Sheba Medical Center. Doctors will be stabilizing her and reassessing her heart condition in order to develop a plan of treatment.

A place for Mira
Mira was hospitalized in Hebron when doctors discovered her heart defects shortly after her birth. On the second day she developed severe cyanosis and had to go on a ventilator. Later she was again able to breathe on her own, but kept alive pending surgery only through an intravenous medication to keep a ductus open in her heart.
After a wait of two weeks the hospitals in nearby Jerusalem still had no beds available for Mira, so we turned to our partners at the Sheba Medical Center, Israel’s largest hospital. Our coworker Amar is working to arrange her urgent transfer.
