Rawen had his last echo at Sheba hospital today. His mom was very nervous about this day, because she hoped so much to go back to Kurdistan and be reunited with her family.
After a long waiting time, the doctor released her and spread the good news that Rawen is good to go. We are so happy and Rawen’s mother is so grateful. She gave me a hug, we talked about having a “Hafla” (‘party’ in Kurdish) in the guesthouse and we started listening to Kurdish music on the way back to our community home in Jaffa.
She told me that we, the volunteers, feel like sisters to her and I responded to her that she feels like family for me as well! I will miss her and cute Rawen in Israel, but the joy for them to go home outweighs all else.
At today’s echo in Sheba Hospital, Rawen’s heart, vitals, and weight all looked good. The doctor was pleased with his progress. Rawen will have another echo in two weeks to see if his good progress continues.
Please be praying that Rawen would continue to grow strong, and that God’s hand of healing would be upon him.
Little Rawen had a blood test at Sheba hospital today as a follow-up after his surgery.
As always, the whole morning at the hospital with this sweet little guy was a joy. We will wait for the blood test results until Wednesday, when he will have an echo as well.
Thank you for your prayers for this little one’s journey to health.
Wonderful news today for super-baby Rawen, who is being discharged from Sheba hospital following his surgery, having been in hospital just around one week! This is becoming quite unusual to have such short and uncomplicated hospital stays, and so we thank God that in this instance, he has extended his mercy to Rawen in the form of a quick recovery from surgery.
His mum was extremely happy and thankful. Many of the nurses wanted to wish him well upon his departure, as he is extremely cute and his mother is very sweet-natured.
We hope that Rawen’s echo next week will show that he is continuing to recover well.
Rawen had his surgery today at Sheba hospital and it went well! Praise the Lord!
He went into surgery this morning. When I came in the hospital, Rawen’s mother was sitting in the waiting room. She was really nervous. She talked a lot with her family, she was pacing, praying and crying. When the surgeon came in after four hours with good news, she hugged me and my co-worker Alena. She was so happy and relieved!
Rawen’s mother called his grandmother with the good news. And she also said: ‘Mom, I’m not alone.’ And she introduced me and coworker Alena to her mother.
And that’s why we are there. Sometimes it feels like we are sitting with a mother for no reason. We can’t help her, we can’t easily communicate, but she knows she is not alone. And that is the most important thing in this situation. But also God was there. He is the one to praise. He is always there for us.
Our prayer was for a surgery this week for Rawen and today received news the surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. We are all very happy. Rawen’s mother has been very patient.
This afternoon both arrived to Sheba hospital for a covid test and to see the doctor.
Rawen’s mother is concerned for what seems might be a risky operation. Let’s pray that the surgery will be successful and that Rawan’s mother feels strength in the waiting time.
Co-worker Joanne and I went to Sheba hospital in the morning with Rawen. He as felt unwell for the last week. Rawen’s mother said tat at night he’s been coughing and has not been sleeping well.
A medical student test Rawen and later a doctor joined the student, this doctor consulted with Rawen’s cardiologist.
Rawen’s chest scan was reviewed and it looked as though his lungs were clean. The congestion Rawen sometimes experiences is due to his heart condition rather than due to an illness.
Rawen was released to return to our community house in Jaffa.
We hope to have a surgery scheduled for Rawen next week and that he will feel better til then.
Rawen visitied the gastro doctor today where an x-ray was done to see what’s happening with his food as he is swallowing.
Both Rawen and his mother were very calm, although Rawen cried at times.
Three different experienced technicians were present at the appointment and at the end of it, I was able to go inside the x-ray room to translate for Rawen’s mother.
The head nurse of Cardiology also did a corona test on little Rawan as he had a fever recently. His mother is hoping that Rawen will have his surgery soon; they have been waiting for almost a month, after the high holidays were finished.
One day after the catheterization, Rawen has already been discharged in a good condition.
When I picked them up from Sheba hospital, Rawan’s mother was very contented about everything and happy about going back to Jaffa.
She was even excited to see the other moms again and told me, she likes it in our Jaffa community home a lot. Rawen was also smiling and cute as always.
Now we are waiting for the decisions of the doctors and for the first surgeries.
Rawen had a catheterization done today at Sheba hospital; results will assist in determining the next steps. The waiting time for this appointment was worth it.
In general there were no complications. The doctor detected three problems of the heart, which will be repaired in surgery. It was also observed that Rawen’s heart pressure is very high. In their next conference, doctors will decide about completing two surgeries or only one, which would be more risky.
I enjoyed the waiting time during the cath with Rawen’s mother a lot. We know each other from spending time together in Jerusalem and she can also speak a bit of English.
In the beginning, Rawen’s mom cuddled with happy Rawen and after leaving him, she cried a bit. Later she was less worried, because she called her family and friends.
We sat in the waiting room with some other moms who have their children in the ICU. We had nice conversations and even laughed together, although the other moms speak only Arabic. I‘m always impressed by how much interest Rawen’s mother shows in everything, especially where she has the opportunity to learn something. So we learned a few Arabic words, which you might have guessed, made the waiting time fly by quickly.
Rawen is now in the ICU floor 6 in Sheba hospital. Rawen will be soon be discharged to the community house in Jaffa again until the appointment of his surgery.
Please pray for wisdom for the doctors, who will take the decision for the surgeries.
Rawen was admitted to Sheba hospital this evening for a catheterization tomorrow. It was a long afternoon of waiting, but snuggles from his mom and video calls with family back home made it better.
The cath tomorrow will help the doctors decide when to do Rawen’s heart surgery. Please pray that the results will bring good news for this sweet little boy and his mother.
Today, Rawen had to come to the hospital together with his lovely mother to see the Gastroenterologist. Rowen has an NG (nasal/gastro) tube and the doctors need to know how he is doing, and whether or not he is ready to have his surgery. The doctor was very friendly and patiently explained everything, making sure that Rawen’s mother understood everything.
The doctor said that Rawen needs to have a special x-ray to check if there is a connection between the Esophagus and the Trachea, which happens sometimes and causes food to go into the lungs which is not good.
Rawen was very happy for most of his appointment. He cried on one occasion, but quickly calmed down when he saw some fish in a little aquarium located near by. It was nice to see that he enjoyed them.
The hospital needs to schedule an appointment for Rawen to have his test soon because right now, he can’t be scheduled yet for his surgery, due to the possibility of the Esophagus and Trachea being connected.
Please be praying for this to happen soon and for ongoing patience for Rawen’s lovely mother.
Seven month old Rawen had his first assessment today at Sheba Medical Center. This sweet boy did very well during this long day.
From his echo, the doctors gathered information about his heart, the VSD, the narrowing of his aorta, and also the high pulmonary pressure which complicates his case. His mother was eager to learn as much as she could. Usually these first days are new and overwhelming, but she absorbed everything, and was very understanding of the whole process.
Rawen went on after the echo for a blood test, where the very lovely nurse practiced her Kurdish with the mother of Rawen who is a very willing teacher.
It was long day, but it was very productive for Rawen. His mother was very joyful throughout as she saw her boy being cared for. Please pray for them both.
Rawen arrived yesterday with his mother and a group of other Kurdish families. We welcome them all.
Rawen is almost seven months old. He was diagnosed with a VSD and also a coarctation of the aorta. Rawen also has a nasogastric tube because he has issues with aspirating milk into his lungs, which has caused frequent infections.
His sweet mother has accompanied him to Israel. We are thankful that Rawen and his mom were able to travel to Israel during this time.
Please pray for Rawen and his mother as they start their new journey in Israel. Please pray for Rawen’s father and siblings as I am sure they will miss Rawen and their mother while they are in Israel.
Rawen had his last echo at Sheba hospital today. His mom was very nervous about this day, because she hoped so much to go back to Kurdistan and be reunited with her family.
After a long waiting time, the doctor released her and spread the good news that Rawen is good to go. We are so happy and Rawen’s mother is so grateful. She gave me a hug, we talked about having a “Hafla” (‘party’ in Kurdish) in the guesthouse and we started listening to Kurdish music on the way back to our community home in Jaffa.
She told me that we, the volunteers, feel like sisters to her and I responded to her that she feels like family for me as well! I will miss her and cute Rawen in Israel, but the joy for them to go home outweighs all else.
