Arya's Heart Surgery

Sunday, March 23, 2008
Arya Leaves Israel
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I was amazed to have the opportunity to see Arya and Juliana again when I returned from America last Wednesday night. Exchanging hugs and seeing the joy on the mothers' faces and the health of the children after their surgeries was a delight! I had escorted Rebar and his shy mom to Jerusalem the night before I left Israel so we didn't have a chance to get to know each other, but we could rejoice together nonetheless over what had happened in the time I'd been away. I had not seen Shinyar since the screening in October apart from checking the blogs, so it was a thrill to see her spunky personality too as the children all played together in their final stay in Jerusalem before they left for home.

I would have loved to go with them to the border, but because we had so many able to return at once, along with all their luggage, we bade each other farewell here at the house after praying for each one in the courtyard.

It is my prayer that their visit here will have changed every heart in a way that will cause them to know the depth of God's love for them, and everything He has done to prove it. I give Him thanks for letting me make friends with these mothers and children in His divine plan.

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Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Returning Home Soon
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We met both Arya and his mother in the hospital with big smiles on their faces. His heart is doing well and he is considered to be in good health.

Tomorrow Arya will undergo one last minor operation to fix his right thumb, which has a small deformity.

Praise God for a healthy child with a healthy heart. He will be returning home soon!

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Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Biggest Smile in Israel
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Arya is out of the ICU and doing just fine! When I met up with Arya he was hanging out with his mother and several other moms. These mothers all have at least one thing in common and that is their children have all had open heart surgery.

Arya is eating, drinking, and sleeping well not to mention that he sports one of the biggest smiles in all of Israel.

Later on in the day as he waited for a post-op echo he once again flashed his pearly whites for the camera letting me know all is well.

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Friday, February 22, 2008
Arya Awake and Eating Chocolate Pudding
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It was a wonderful sight to see little Arya laying peacefully in his bed in ICU. Just one day after seeing him struggle with his blood pressure he is now in good stable condition. He is off mechanical ventilation, awake and even able to eat chocolate pudding as well as being able to drink a little milk. Sounds like he's on his way. We thank eveyone for their prayers and his mom is so encouraged. I can never find her in one place for very long. She is going around the corridors telling everyone the story of why she has such a smile on her face. We love to see this kind of joy that only a grateful heart can display.

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Thursday, February 21, 2008
Surgery Went Well; Arya Not Yet Stable
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Arya left for the surgical ward around 8am this morning. This was a total relief to his mom who was worrying that he would endure yet another delay in the plan to see her child in a state of recovery and renewed health. The problem began late last night when the medical staff alerted the doctors that Arya was running a high temperature. The response of the doctors was to stall the plans for his surgery until this morning, placing him on a 'watch list' to see if the fever came down sufficiently to prevent any risk during his operation.

We are happy to report that he was given approval and off to the operating room he went... The surgery was lengthy as expected and he was transported to ICU late this afternoon. During our visit, we observed that Arya was demonstrating a convulsion-like body tremor and I headed for the nurses' station to find out what was happening. Apparently his blood pressure keeps elevating and peaks and then falls very low. He has been sedated to force him to rest and is not considered stable at this time. The surgery went very well, so the staff are confident that his condition will improve by morning.

Please lift little Arya in prayer. His mom is resting with the other moms in the children's ward tonight and able to take some time out for herself and leave Arya in the capable hands of Wolfson.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The Wait Is Over
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The wait is over! Being the last of the Iraqi children who came over the border on December 31, 2007, Arya has now been admitted to Wolfson Medical Center for surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning, February 21st. The complexity of his heart condition and the severity of the operation necessitated the delay.

For Arya's mother, the months of heartache while watching other children go into the hospital and subsequently return and leave for home was quickly becoming unbearable for her to behold. Shevet Achim has been by her side, to try to keep her informed of the reasons for the wait. Last week we visited her again at the children's house in Azur to devote ourselves to pray on her behalf.

We are pleased to tell you that today, we saw Mom jumping for joy and speaking as clearly as she could in English, "I love you, I love you, I love Shevet Achim," as she stood in the pediatric ward smiling from ear to ear as she told us how God answered our prayers. I wish I had my camera out to catch her, mid-air!

Rejoice with us, and please keep Arya in your prayers as he enters the operating room tomorrow.

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Sunday, February 10, 2008
A New Ball for Arya
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For several months now, women from a local church have volunteered to come along on visits to the families both at Wolfson Hospital and at the house where the families reside while waiting before and after surgery. Today was a special day for all. New toys donated to the church from an organization in the United States were taken by taxi to the moms and kids along with new shoes and lots of hugs.

We are very happy to have taken part in making these Iraqi families' lives a little brighter. And you can see how delighted Arya was with his new ball!

We thank everyone who has had their heart touched for this work, and responded by giving freely of their abundance.

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Wednesday February 6, 2008
Always Joyful
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There are two things which remain unchanged in Arya's life: his surgery date is still uncertain and he is still a happy boy!

Not surprisingly, when visiting him today at the Save a Child's Heart house, he was standing on a bench smiling at anyone who cared to notice. This was the first time I met Arya, and I had a wonderful time playing the "Eensy Weensy Spider" with him, and loved to hear him giggle as I tickled his neck. What a joy he is!

My children, AbbyRose and Levi, as well as Hank and I took some handmade quilts, sewn by some loving hands in Maryland, and gave them to Arya, Juliana, and Mustafa. Arya snuggled into the soft flannel cloth and gave another smile.

As we were preparing to leave, Arya's mom stood him up, but he promptly sat down and began to crawl away. Laura, one of the SACH staff persons, reports that though he can stand, he prefers to crawl - very fast - everywhere!

Since the waiting does not seem to faze Arya, please continue to pray for his mother. They have been in Israel over one month now, and still do not know when his turn will come for surgery. I am sure it is difficult to understand how some children get admitted to the hospital quickly, while others, like Arya, must wait. Pray for patience and understanding for this family.

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Thursday, January 24, 2008
Do Not Disturb
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I went to visit Arya but was stopped because of a midday siesta. I was informed that he needed his beauty sleep to maintain his image in the house as the quiet, smiling, happy child. His mother comments that when he is awake, he likes to crawl very fast, then sits up and smiles a lot!

Arya still awaits a surgery date, but until then he is content to spend his days at the Save A Child's Heart house, with so much crawling and smiling, he tires out quickly. So please, obey the "Do Not Disturb" sign hanging on his door.

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Thursday, January 10, 2008
Arya Waits
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While Juliana, Baveel and Hardi have each gone to the hospital for their recent procedures this week, Arya and his mother have been here with us in Jerusalem. They spend their days doing household chores and playing. And I am certain Arya's mother wonders when it will be her son's turn to go for his needed heart repair. Tenatively they are scheduled to move to the Save A Child's Heart house on Sunday, where they will be closer to the hospital when Arya's turn arrives. Please pray for patience as they wait.

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Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Surgery Expected To Be Complicated
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After playing happily until it was almost his turn, little Arya was given the drops needed for toddlers to rest while they undergo their echocardiogram. He was asleep almost immediately. Because he has a number of problems in his heart, his surgery will be a complicated one, so his echo was lengthy as the doctors looked his heart over again.

There have been a number of emergencies which have changed the schedule several times lately, so Dr. Tamir was not speculating on when Arya might have his turn. We can begin now to pray for healing for this sweet boy, and for his mother as she cares for him while waiting. He is delightful company for all of us, yet he is here for something very serious, and it is a privilege to be able to both enjoy him and pray for him as we also reach out in love to his mother during the strain of these circumstances. Thank you for joining us.

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Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Arya Undergoes First Tests
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Arya has such a happy disposition that he is not easily upset. But needles and machines change all that! He enjoyed all of the people, places and attention today, and only cried at the times he was very scared by the machines, or in pain from the necessary blood test or shot. He is well-behaved even when his mother is not nearby, and everyone is captured by his friendly laughter. All of his testing was completed today except for his echocardiogram. We will go back to the hospital for that tomorrow, and see if there is any indication when his surgery might be.

Tonight when we returned to our house in Jerusalem, several of the mothers cooked for all the rest of us, and I spent some time visiting and sharing toys which have been donated to us for the children. Arya fell in love with a toy which plays a lullaby and leaned his head against it for a long time. After eating a good dinner, he was ready for bed so he can be back to the hospital tomorrow morning.

Please pray for Arya and his mom in the coming weeks. I am thankful that this precious boy and his mother are here to receive the new heart he needs.

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