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Media Coverage
The Iraqi Children that Fell In Love with Israel
20 July 2005
Yediot Ahronot (Israel's largest-circulation daily newspaper)
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Their death was a
question of time, their visit in the land saved their lives — 5
children from Iraq were successfully operated on in Israel in the
framework of a special project — When a child is sick, this is
beyond borders
by Reuven Weiss and Meir Turgeman
This was a most moving moment: parents from Iraq whose children with
heart conditions were saved from death by means of an operation they
underwent in the land stood opposite the Israeli doctors and thanked
them with tearful eyes: “We will never forget you.”
Five children from Iraq, between ages nine months to seven, arrived
about a month ago to undergo surgeries in the Wolfson Hospital in
Holon, in the framework of the work of the non-profit “Save a
Child’s Heart” [a longtime partner of Shevet Achim]...
The sick Iraqi children arrived about three months ago to Jordan, and
the chief cardiologist at Wolfson, Dr. Akiva Tamir, and the head of the
pediatric ICU, Dr. Zion Houri, went out to check their condition.
About a month ago they were transferred to the land and operated on by
Dr. Lior Sasson, who specializes in pediatric heart surgeries.
“They were born with heart defects which were becoming more
serious with time. The only chance to save them was an urgent
operation,” Sasson says.
The five children were operated on successfully, and yesterday three of
them were released from the hospital. The parting caused great emotion.
Present together were the children’s parents, who stayed with
them throughout and developed a very warm relationship with the Israeli
doctors. “We will never forget you, you saved our
children,” said one of the mothers to the Israeli doctors, who
found it difficult to hide their emotions.
“This project is amazing,” concluded Dr. Sasson. “A
child is a child, he is not guilty because of what the grownups are
doing. When a child is sick, this is beyond borders and political
opinions. I believe that each one of these children is a seed of
peace.”
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Our Jerusalem coordinator Philip Berg picks up the story:
I went down to the hospital this morning to pick up the three Iraqi
children who were finally going home. When I arrived there was a media
event going on. Israeli TV, Channel One was interviewing the fathers
and the doctors. When that was over we traveled back to the house in
Azur and collected their luggage and said the goodbyes. There was a
particular touching time when Murtadha (the 12 yr old who is waiting to
go to Germany) broke down and cried as he saw everyone leaving him. All
the kids and fathers gathered around him and wept as well.
We finally got into the van and as soon as we turned the corner all the
men in the van began to sob uncontrollably. I am not sure what all the
emotions were that they were going through but it certainly was hard to
hold back the tears myself.
We traveled up to Jerusalem where I turned things over to Brian to take
them on to the Sheik Hussein Bridge. He will perhaps update you on how
that section of the trip went, he is still on the road as I write this.
And Brian Kvasnica adds:
After Philip brought the children up from the Azur Guesthouse and
Wolfson Medical Center with Israeli Channel 1 and 2, the children and
their parents were ready to go directly to the border, foregoing even a
real meal. At about 2pm they caught a glimpse of Jerusalem's horizon as
we sped towards Sheik Hussein border crossing where Berno was waiting.
Each of the parents were happy to be on the road. I think there was a
bit of adrenaline with the heightened expectation to make it back to
Amman that night in order to make the trip to Iraq as soon as possible.
One telling incident was when a tourist interviewer asked them dozens
of questions about their stay in Israel. Not only was she shocked by
them being Iraqis, but she was moved by their responses to questions
like: Would you come back to Israel again? Bandawar's (father of
ten-month old Asan) response was: "for sure, as soon as it was
(logistically) possible I would come for a visit regularly." Another
question: Would you encourage others to visit Israel? Answer: "Yes, it
is a great country." Question: What will you tell your community about
your visit to Israel? Answer: “We received excellent care in the
hospital and are very thankful for the new health of our child.”
For me it was a rich blessing to witness three young Iraqi children
with 'new hearts' going from Israel back to their home, knowing that
they are actually bridges of reconciliation.
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Our name Shevet Achim is taken from the Hebrew of Psalm 133: How good and how pleasant for
brothers to dwell together in unity...for there the LORD commanded the blessing--life forevermore. |
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© 2007 Shevet Achim
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