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Sunday, October 14, 2007"I'm the Winner!"Filed
by 
It is Sunday. As we arrive at Wolfson, there is an air of anxiety in the
countenance of Feras's aunt. This could be the day Feras is being released to go
home. He looks well, but they are waiting for the doctor to arrive to make his
latest diagnosis.
 Feras has
come a long way since his arrival two weeks earlier. He is noticeably in better
color and his frail little body, although still very thin, is changing day by day
because of his new-found hunger. His now healthy heart is helping to provide
a healthy appetite! Even as we wait, he is always ready for another meal, not
being satisfied by his pacifier. The hours of waiting seemed to go quickly with
the number of Iraqi, West Bank and other Gaza children now at the
hospital.
When
the doctor entered the area (although not their room yet), there was a renewed
commotion among the mothers present. Soon, what they had been
anxiously waiting for, would be walking in the room. Indeed it
did, as Dr. Katz, walked in and, after examining little Feras, declared that he
could go home! What excitement followed! Now would be the wait for the final
doctor's report. Additional necessary training of the aunt about what medications
would need to be administered and in what frequency (and quantities) would delay
the departure as well. As we waited, I strolled back over to Feras's bed. There
he was sleeping in his yellow pajamas and lying there with his arms seemingly
lifted above his head, as if to say, "I am the winner!" He had certainly come
through a huge battle for such a little guy!!
As we
exited the hospital, there was quite a group of parents and others that had gathered
to witness their departure. They were all envious. I could not blame them as I
would be the same in their situations. All the hugs, well-wishings and kisses,
made for a memorable send-off for Feras!!
We
headed off to the Gaza border. After we had received their security clearance to
cross over the border, we said our goodbyes. It was truly a rewarding and heart
touching experience to see a child, such as Feras, go from death bed's door to a
'new life' that has so much promise! Praise to the Great Physician that
personally attended to Feras's every need! God is ready to do the same for
you!
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Friday, October 12, 2007Feras Doing Great Following SurgeryFiled
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It was after 8:30 PM when we arrived at Wolfson Medical Center. Our journey had
taken us from Jerusalem to Bet She'an and now to Tel Aviv. Two more precious
Iraqi children (Tara and Karwan) with very serious heart defects, had just been granted entry into
Israel for their respective surgeries. We were met by the doctors and medical
staff who then oversaw the admission process and began the needed initial blood
tests, etc. Notify
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 Wednesday
October
3, 2007"Life Isn't Fair!"Filed
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How many times have we heard that from our children or even spoken it, or
thought it, ourselves? It seems this could be what is said about our little
Feras (pronounced fur-oss) Assaed Al-Mathloom. He is two months old, born in Gaza with
multiple heart defects that are threatening his life. First off, his
blood is being allowed to recirculate throughout his body without passing
through his lungs to receive oxygen. This is known as Cyanotic Heart Disease
(CHD). Additionally, he has been diagnosed with three more heart diseases.
Add the current situation happening in Gaza, and 'the plot thickens'!
Feras has been invited to Wolfson Medical Center in Tel Aviv by the Israeli
doctors and because of the unstable (and unpredictable) activity at the border
crossing, he and his escort have been denied permission to cross the border
several times. We went to pick him up twice, but no Feras. Then came the
surprise one evening, when the hospital called stating that Feras had been
allowed to cross into Israel and had just arrived at the hospital! This
happened late on a Tuesday and because of the unexpected arrival, they could
only admit him. However, the next morning they began the process of scheduling
him, as soon as possible, for his open heart surgery. When we (LC &
David) arrived at Wolfson Medical Center last Sunday, we learned that Feras
would go into surgery the very next day...one week to the day from when he had
arrived! However, there was a new challenge facing the doctors, the hospital had
yet to receive the parental consent forms from Feras' parents. The woman who was
accompanying him was his aunt and not his mother.This sent us into high
gear, as it was already near sunset the day before the surgery. Without the
completed forms, the surgery would have to be postponed! Before
departing to transport another child and her mother home to the West Bank, we
asked permission of the aunt to pray for Feras. She gave us the okay and as we
held his little hands and prayed for God's protection and blessing, Feras had
his huge round eyes steadily fixed on us, as if to say, "Thank you
for praying over me.....Thank you for caring." Through much teamwork,
God's grace and much favor, sometime during the night, the Israeli doctors
received the necessary completed forms before the time of the surgery.
Whew! "Too close for comfort," as another well known phrase goes. Once
again, we have experienced the provision of the Lord. Thanks be to Him.
Please check with us often here at as we follow
the progress of this precious little one's life changing (and life extending)
experience.Life may not be fair, but Feras is now receiving a much
needed second chance at life. Praise God! Notify
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 Sunday
August
19, 2007Hadeel Goes HomeFiled
by
Hadeel was released to
return to her home is Gaza today, and the smiles on her and her mom's
faces show their joy. Although she was still recovering from the
discomfort of her catheterization a few days ago, along with her prior
surgery, she is doing very well. We wheeled her to the crossing point
at the Gaza border in a waiting wheelchair, and sent them across to
meet her father on the other side. I am certain a joyful celebration
was planned upon their arrival at home. We thank God for the work He
has done in her life so far, and pray she is able to live a full life
upon her complete recovery.
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 Tuesday
August
14, 2007Hadeel Happy After
Pacemaker SurgeryFiled
by
Today I visited
Hadeel in the ICU. She looked happy, and her mother was very
calm and relieved because Hadeel is better and will move to the
children's department tomorrow.
Her mother told me that all of Hadeel's
family is waiting for her to go back home. They will make for
her all the kinds of cakes and sweets that she loves.
Her father called her and said, "Be strong. Come back. We miss you!"
Najwa
told me that for 10 years of marriage, she and her husband
couldn't have children, but in the end God gave them Hadeel.
She
is very precious
to her parents.
I told Hadeel that she is very
pretty, but Hadeel has noticed that every time someone says she's
pretty, her condition turns bad. Jenae suggested that we call her ugly.
Hadeel laughed. No one wants to be called ugly, so now we can
say that she is pretty whenever we want to! Notify
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Sunday, August
12, 2007Hadeel's Fever Postpones
Pacemaker Implant Filed
by
Hadeel was lying in the ICU when we
arrived today, being attended by her mother for a fever she has
developed. Because of the fever she was not able to have the pacemaker
implanted today. We are hoping that the fever will break so she can
have the implantation tomorrow, and are asking God, who made Hadeel and
knows everything about her, to bring forth her healing quickly. This
was the nature of the prayer I prayed before leaving today. Won't you
join us in this prayer? Notify
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Friday, August 10, 2007Hadeel More Relaxed as
Pacemaker Implant NearFiled
by
Hadeel looked
rather alert
and content as we entered the ICU on Friday afternoon. It was
great to see her smiling as we greeted her and took some photos with
her. Hadeel's mother Najwa pulled down her bed sheet to show
us
her external pacemaker on her chest. Hadeel's fourth surgery is due as
early as Sunday. During this operation, the surgeon plans to insert a
permanent pacemaker for Hadeel.
Pictured above Hadeel's mom is using an
"incentive spirometer" which helps keep Hadeel's lungs strong and
clear. It helps prevent pneumonia among other great benefits.
We enjoyed
spending some time with Najwa in Maryam's
room. As I showed her photos of her daughter and her on my computer,
she quickly wrote down her email address, motioning that she wanted me
to send them to her. Before we left the ICU, I said a prayer for peace
for Hadeel and her mom. Sunday will potentially be a big day for the
surgeon, as he may perform both Hadeel and
Maryam's surgeries.
Please lift up this doctor as well as Hadeel and her mom.
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 Monday
August
6, 2007Hadeel Frightened as She
Faces Pacemaker ImplantFiled
by
Today we found
both Hadeel and her mother in tears in the ICU as they received word
that she'll need to have a permanent pacemaker implanted on Wednesday
or Thursday. The Israeli doctor, attempting to explain the procedure in
his simple Arabic, used the word barbeesh
(tube, or pipe) to describe what will be placed inside
Hadeel's chest. Who knows what image this produced in Hadeel's mind,
but she was severely frightened! Click the play arrow below to hear the
response of our staff member Simantov:
We prayed with
Hadeel, and explained that we know many children with pacemakers who
look perfectly normal. After some time, both she and her
mother seemed to calm down. Simply knowing that someone cares often
seems to help. We invite you to pray for Hadeel this week, and we'll
update this page following her pacemaker implant.
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Sunday, August 5, 2007
External Pacemaker for
Hadeel
Filed
by
Nothing lifts
the somewhat sombre mood of a hospital ward like a child's birthday.
As we entered the children's ward at Wolfson hospital we saw
before us nurses, children and parents mixing in a
pleasant hum of conversation and congratulations.
Hadeel's mother's arrival was announced by the shrill Arabic call
created by the flicking of the tongue and a shriek making a very
quick la-la-la sound. Later, when we met her outside the ICU
ward where Hadeel is still a resident, a different
woman greeted us. With teary eyes she communicated to us how
much pain her daughter Hadeel was in. Inside the ICU unit
Hadeel did indeed look uncomfortable and it was all I could do to
sit and pray with her, with conversation being
impossible due to her distress. I thought it best not to take photos.
Hadeel
is connected to an external pacemaker in the ICU. Doctors hope that the
heart's irregularities will spontaneously resolve, so that an internal
pacemaker will not be necessary. This is a good time to pray for Hadeel.
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 Tuesday
July 31, 2007A Great ComebackFiled
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This girl's
vivaciousness is no doubt sparking her quick recovery in
the ICU. When I visited on Tuesday, Dr. Eli said her
progress continues to go well. She may be
moving into the children's ward as early as
Wednesday. She is making a great
comeback. Both Hadeel and her mom, Najwa, are
very happy about it! Upon entering the
cafeteria this afternoon, we spotted Najwa eating
lunch with a couple of other parents from Gaza. We
sat down near them and by the end of lunch, they
were all swapping stories with smiles on their
faces. Continuous "Hum de lah" (thanks to God)
were rolling off their lips as three of their
children have made it through surgery in the past
three days. Their camaraderie is fun to witness!
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Monday, July 30, 2007Hadeel's Recovery is On
TrackFiled
by Hadeel was sitting up in
bed today feeling quite
better. Her mother’s tears of yesterday
seemed to be a distant memory. Some of
the best news is that it appears she will not need a third
surgery. Her first surgery was several years ago,
and this surgery has completed her healing.
Though
Hadeel had yet to eat, we were told that her recovery
is on track. Her mother was even asking if we could give her a ride
back to
Gaza City next week. Now that’s optimistic.
You
may help more children have surgeries in Israel by clicking here.
Thursday, July 26, 2007Hadeel Very Restless
Following SurgeryFiled
by
Hadeel,
who is one day post-op, was having a difficult time in the ICU on
Thursday when I visited her and her mom, Najwa. Though her surgery went
well on Wednesday, her recovery in the ICU has been less than ideal.
Hadeel is very restless and has been put on relaxant medications.
However, due to her blood pressure, the ICU staff is unable to give her
sufficient anti-anxiety medications to calm her, so she continued to
act very fidgety. Hadeel's condition is alarming to her mother, who has
been unable to stop crying all day, according to the nurses in the ICU.
The nursing staff hoped that I spoke Arabic so that I could convey to
Hadeel's mom that her distressed countenance is directly affecting
Hadeel's behavior. Simantov, Shevet staff member, and his wife Linda,
were able to comfort Najwa in the waiting room and pray over Hadeel
during this stressful period of her recovery process.
Minutes
after my arrival, a number of the pediatric ICU staff gathered around
Hadeel, in an effort to collaborate a solution to help with whatever
was disturbing her. Please pray for this sweet girl, as she struggles
in the critical period following her operation. Pray also for
discernment for the doctors and nurses who are involved in her care.
Due
to the emotional state of mother and daughter, I opted not to take
photos today.
You
may help more children have surgeries in Israel by clicking here.
 Tuesday
July 24, 2007Hadeel:
Voice of a
BirdFiled
by
On
Monday, we brought Hadeel and her mom, Najwa, to Wolfson Medical Center
from Gaza. Hadeel, who just had her 10th birthday, will undergo
open-heart surgery on Wednesday. The surgeon hopes to correct a couple
of problems, including a hole between the atria of her heart (ASD). Today,
this friendly girl was up and about, not about to spend her day bored
in bed. She and Ali
(from Iraq) played with playdough. Later
I passed her in the hall heading down toward the canyon (the hospital's
mall) to get something to drink with her mom. Before leaving
today, Alex prayed with Hadeel about for her fast-approaching surgery. Hadeel,
whose name means 'voice of a bird', will be able to soar as freely as
she ever has, if her surgery is successful on Wednesday. You
may help more children have surgeries in Israel by clicking here.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007A New Life for DoaaFiled
by As
I visited Doaa back home in Gaza after her heart surgery in Israel, I
sat and watched her play with her kitten and eat bird seeds, and
thought to myself how she has turned a new chapter in her life.
What an opportunity and life she will have now since she has
had her operation. She and her family were so appreciative of
the Shevet team and were so thankful God allowed this operation.
As I was leaving Doaa asked me to take her picture under a
tree that is in her yard. As this tree is proof of seeds that
were sown, we have the same hope that one day we will see the
result of seeds sown in Doaa's life. You
may help more children have surgeries in Israel by clicking here.
 Monday, May 21, 2007Doaa Out of ICUFiled
by
Doaa
looked great today as we visited her at Wolfson Medical Center. She is
now in a standard hospital room after being transferred from the ICU
area during this past weekend. She even passed over the normal
stage of a stay in Intermediate ICU! She has been told that if all
looks good on her follow-up echo this week, she will be dismissed to go
home on Thursday. She is really excited to see her Dad and her
siblings. I am sure they will see a new Doaa as well, now that her
heart is functioning 100%. We have been so blessed to
watch as she has come through the different stages of post-operative
healing so rapidly. We give the thanks to God for what has happened.
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 Wednesday
May 16, 2007Bright EyesFiled
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From across the
Intensive Care Unit, I could see Doaa and her mother as I entered the
room. Although
Doaa was having some additional liquids drained from her
lungs,
her cheerful countenance and her smile were quite obvious today. It's
certainly
not fun for her, and several times while I was there, the
unpleasantness of having different procedures done brought sounds of
discomfort from behind the now closed curtain around her bed. However,
once the curtain was re-opened, there again was her smile.
Our
prayers for Doaa are still needed, and cherished.
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 Monday
May 14,
2007Doaa WavesFiled
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As
this page yesterday reported, Doaa went into surgery, unknowing till
the last moment. Other transportation needs called me elsewhere, so I
was unable to stay until she came out of surgery.
So,
today, as I was at the hospital, I apprehensively went into the ICU,
not really knowing what to expect. The sight I saw warmed my heart.
There lay Doaa, somewhat sedated, but fully comprehending my presence.
She could not speak due to the oxygen mask, but raised her hand giving
me a wave and a thumbs up. She knew she was in good hands, although the
pain she was feeling was trying to tell her otherwise. Her expression
of joy told the whole
story, that she has placed her life and trust in the people of Save a
Child's Heart and Shevet Achim who have assured her that she is on the
way to a complete and fulfilling life after this heart condition is
dealt with.
In
my mind, this is a girl that owns the world. Her spunk and her ability
to share her energy and attitude in a very positive way will only be
limited by individuals that try to corral it. May it never be so.
Please keep her in your
prayers. I believe we will see her out of ICU in a very few days and
out of the hospital in a shorter time than average. Notify
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 Sunday
May 13, 2007
Doaa's SmileFiled
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Each
week, Shevet Achim staff drivers pick up a varying
number of children from Gaza
and
deliver them to Wolfson Medical Center (WMC) in Holon
(a Tel Aviv suburb). Each child has been deemed by his or her
cardiologist in Gaza to have heart defects that will
hinder their living a normal life. The children arrive to be
re-evaluated as to the extent of their heart defects by the
team of cardiologists at WMC. Each trip becomes not only a
time of meeting new children,
but being reunited with those whom we have transported and developed
relationships with before. Last
week, we were reunited with a nine-year-old girl named
Doaa who had been with us before. It was determined that she needed
surgery
and this was her trip scheduled for this procedure.
 For varying reasons, her surgery was
postponed until today.
As I was walking in the hallway of the hospital, I saw a person, in a
room at the
end of the hall, waving. Yes, it was Doaa. She had spotted me. That
truly is
her personality…so robust and outgoing. It makes me wonder
what she will be
like when her heart is functioning as it should be.
Her
grandmother, who is her escort, was with her and has
opted not to tell her until she just had to, so Doaa had no idea that
her
surgery was scheduled in a few hours. Accordingly, her face was alive
with
happiness. We posed for a few pictures together (and she took a few of
others
around her, including me).
Your
prayers are cherished as she has now completed, by late
afternoon, the surgery and now begins her recovery. Tomorrow, she will
be awake
again. Maybe a bit less vivacious, but knowing her, still able to give
both a
smile with her mouth and with her eyes. It is so wonderful to
know that God cares for her. He has
made a way for her to get the help she needs, when there was no way
within Gaza.
This help comes through the hands of the doctors at WMC. It is truly a
privilege to be involved in bringing God's solution to these little
ones, that
otherwise have no hope of living a normal and lengthy life. Praise be
to Him!
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 Wednesday, March 14, 2007
The Battle for Karem
Filed
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Karem, a
small Palestinian boy from Gaza, has been battling his heart condition
since birth. Shevet Achim has been involved in that saga for several
years now.
Karem was diagnosed with a congenital
heart defect
at only three months of age (one in 200 children around the
world
are born with heart defects). Through the joint efforts of Shevet Achim
and the Israeli doctors' organization Save A Child's Heart, Karem was
brought from Gaza to the Wolfson
Medical Center in Holon, near Tel Aviv. At less than one year of age he
received the first of several operations needed to correct his ailing
heart and allow him to live a normal and
healthy life.
 
A
radiant personality has emerged from the very sick little boy that he
was when the doctors first met him. He has captured the hearts of all
who see him and during his numerous stays has made many friends.
By
the time his second scheduled surgery date approached, the political
state of his region in Gaza had changed dramatically. Many
times
he or his family members were not allowed to enter Israel for security
reasons. Each time this happened what was hoped to be a step forward
became a disappointment. Those
close to him knew the medical attention his little body so
needs. On some occasions his parents were not
allowed
clearance to accompany him. Eventually, his grandfather was cleared to
accompany him.
Karem's
condition became so bad that the doctors said that unless one of
Karem's parents was allowed to come, Karem would die. He had lost his
will to live. Continually the requests for permission were denied, but
the Shevet staff kept seeking ways to break through the bureaucracy. In
the meantime, the grandfather became extremely weary. It was truly a
time of much needed prayer and persistence.
Our
staff,
the doctors and others continued to focus on the challenges of saving
Karem's life and his parents' ability to come be with him. This time
seemed so bleak and Karem's health continued to plummet. We could see
it with each successive visit. We also were able to see the toll it was
taking on his grandfather.
 The persistence and the
prayers
were rewarded after weeks of effort with the breakthrough allowing
Karem's father to come to Wolfson Medical Center . As if a switch were
flipped, Karem's health began to improve!
After
a relatively short time, Karem was dismissed from the Pediatric ICU!
His health continues to improve in leaps and bounds in comparison to
his long stay in the ICU.
Today, we
are happy to report that
(although still at Wolfson) Karem is a smiling and quite often a
mischievous young boy who is well on his way to full recovery. The
personality that we had seen in the past has returned and with even
greater zeal for life. We watch as our little friend climbs from
death's door to newness of life.
With mixed
emotions, due to the
relationship we have formed, we are looking forward to the soon-coming
day when he will be allowed to return to his home, to his mother and
siblings……and to a life of normalcy for a little
4-year-old boy who has gone through so much in such a short life!
You may click here to help sponsor your
own child's surgery in Israel.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Every Breath Counts
Filed
by
 Today we were asked to
transport a Gaza child on oxygen from the hospital in Israel to the
border of Gaza. The ride to the border was smooth and we
hoped that the crossing would be easy as we approached the empty
parking lot outside. That was not to be the case, however, as we soon
discovered that the Palestinian ambulance meeting us was not allowed
inside the crossing area. With our own oxygen supply slowly dwindling,
Alex attempted to put some pressure on the guards to get around the
system. They do not allow oxygen tanks at all to be taken into the
border area. Also, since it was nighttime the guards were at a
heightened awareness of increased security risks and therefore hesitant
to break any protocol. We managed to get a young lieutenant to come and
assess the situation firsthand. It’s always wise to appeal to
a military mind’s sense of humanity.
The
small child lay in her grandmother’s arms with a nasal canula
sending oxygen into her nose. Options of what to do, including taking
her overnight to a nearby hospital, went back and forth between Alex
and the guard while I held the tank and frequently pointed to the gauge
that was now in the “red.” Eventually we determined
that she could be off oxygen for 30 minutes as they crossed to reach
the ambulance on the other side. The young lieutenant assured me that
she would be across in 15 minutes and that he himself would help her
and her grandmother. It helped that she took several labored breaths at
the exact moment he was looking at her after the oxygen was removed. I
wish I could have taken a picture of how big his eyes got, but cameras
are also forbidden at the border. After a few more tense moments we
disconnected the oxygen and rushed them to the entrance of the
border. Our last view was of them quickly trotting towards
the processing building baby in arm and oxygen tube waiting for a new
connection.
A little while
later Alex called them and found out the connection had gone quite
smoothly. Praise the Lord for his sustaining power in every breath.
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Tuesday, February
20, 2007
Filed
by David Smith
I
was eager to go on a Gaza run with Alex so he invited me this morning.
I was waiting at Shevet's door when Alex and Jamie arrived. David
arrived soon afterwards. We left about 7:40 and picked up a
photographer as we left Jerusalem. We drove down the Judean mountains
through the lowlands to the ancient coastal road that leads to Gaza,
the bygone Philistine capital.
There we
were scheduled to
meet eight or nine children with their escorts – usually a
grandmother – to take them to Wolfson hospital in the Tel
Aviv
area. Alex was concerned when we arrived and no one was there.
After
a while Alex, Jamie and I drove to a local kiosk to get some sandwiches
and water. While there David called and said there had been some shots
fired.
We returned soon after and heard more shots, but we
weren't sure if it was just the Army practicing or even fireworks.
Some
people had begun getting through the border. One pair met the
description we were looking for: a grandfather with a little boy. I
approached the man and saw the little boy was blind. He confirmed the
boy wasn't one of the patients we were looking for.  Dr.
Tamir from Wolfson contacted us and suggested we leave at noon.
Waiting, a
grandmother and six year old girl arrived about 12:20. It was Riman,
whom we took to the hospital while David stayed at the border saying
he'd call us if anyone else arrived.
 While Riman was
waiting for the doctor to see her, we visited Jihan, a Kurdish girl
waiting for her surgery. She had been playing outside and was
alarmingly breathless. She came inside while Alex entertained her,
shaking his head until his cheeks flapped. Jihan laughed gleefully.
We
returned to the hospital and waited for Riman to finish her
appointment. The doctors were concerned but asked to see her again in a
month. 
We brought
Riman back to the Gaza border,
and then as we were ascending to Jerusalem Dr. Tamir called and
reported there
was an ambulance carrying a Shevet patient to Wolfson. Evidently the
family paid 2000 shekels for the ambulance. That's two months salary
for someone who has a good job in Gaza. Alex was concerned as to what
would prompt such a family sacrifice.
Still,
we focused
on the positive. Riman got to see the doctor. Jihan received some
laughter. A third patient is receiving medical help.
It's
not all we wanted. Maybe next week ….
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