Momentum
Gathering for Iraq Evacs
By Jonathan Miles
Dear friends,
Fifteen-year-old Janan has recovered from her open-heart surgery and returned with her mother to Iraq, becoming the first Iraqi child successfully operated on in Israel. Little Mustafa (who traveled with her) is still in Israel, awaiting transfer to Germany for his complex surgery. And we have now presented more than thirty new echocardiograms of Iraqi children to doctors in Israel, and hope that God willing the Iraq-Israel connection will widen in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile two more Iraqi children, Ali and Baraa, came to the US with their mothers in June and have both had successful donated surgeries. They are staying with believers in Peoria, Illinois, and New York, and are due to return to Iraq in two more weeks. We have a growing team of Christian volunteers in Amman, Jordan who are helping the Iraqi children en route with lodging, visas, and travel arrangements, so the families are being cared for in Jesus’ name from the time they leave their homes in Iraq until their return.
And today another two Iraqi children, Fatma and Abdul Jabar, have flown from Baghdad to Amman for eventual transfer for heart surgeries in Cincinnati and Boston. Both children are eight years old and will not live without heart repair. Below is a photo and letter I’ve just received from Second Lieutenant Todd Wilson, the US Army officer in Iraq who has arranged for Fatma’s treatment and asked for our help to get her to the US.
I saw Fatma [pictured in pink] bright and early this morning [before she left for the airport]...As we can all imagine, her emotion covered the spectrum of joy, fear, and sadness. It is particularly difficult for the father as he is extremely close to her. He expressed to me that his heart would be sad and that he would sit on her bed and think of her till she returns. I comforted him by letting him know that she would be well cared for and looked after by the folks at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the city of Cincinnati. He could barely express his gratitude for we American soldiers and the hope that his daughter will now have through our diligent efforts and God's grace.
Pre-op appointments are scheduled for the end of the month followed by surgery on August 2. I expect, barring any complications, that she will return to Iraq in early September.
Let me reiterate the positive impact that this small deed of kindness
has had on the local community here in Iraq. One thing is for sure, Iraqis
definitely talk and spread the
word--------whether it be good or bad. Furthermore, as Fatma's escort
is an influential educator in Baghdad, we can hope that same message permeates
her "circle" as well.
My sincere thanks again to all who have been involved both in deed and in prayer. May our efforts help to transform the good people of Iraq and give them hope of a better future.
Pic attached prior to departure.
Sincerely
Todd Wilson
L. Todd Wilson, PA-C
2LT, SP
1-150th AR, 30th eSB, 1st Infantry Division
Battalion PA
Todd is so committed to saving Fatma that he has agreed to personally cover the approximately $2000 cost of her air travel. But both his family and the chaplain of his unit are welcoming the help of others, and I would like to see us stand by him. Funds sent now through Shevet Achim will be used to help relieve the expense Todd is bearing, and if sufficient also to cover expenses of our volunteers in Amman and Jerusalem who are making these transfers possible.
With thanks,
Jonathan Miles
International Coordinator
Shevet Achim
