Jamal's Heart Surgery

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Jamal Leaves Hospital
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Saying goodbye. Why does it have to be so hard? Today Jamal headed back to Gaza. His parents were so excited to have their son back home and see him doing better. His grandmother was just smiling from ear to ear knowing that her grandson has a chance to live a normal life and that she would be seeing her family soon. She went shopping a bit today and was happy to be able to take some gifts back home to her family. When I first saw Jamal, it seemed that he knew what was going on--that he was going to get to go home. He was smiling from ear to ear, just like his grandmother. It is great seeing him healthy and drinking his formula. He will have a check up in a few months and this will also include a visit from the neurologist.

Jamal's family is appreciative for this opportunity for their son. As we were rushing back to the border before it closed, I asked Jamal's grandmother what she thought about the hospital and the Israeli doctors. She said that they were so wonderful and she was so grateful for their help. They treated her and Jamal very well and she was very grateful for them. Yet another life changed.

Continue to pray for Jamal that his healing will be complete. That whatever neurological problems he may have will be healed.

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Thursday, November 8, 2007
Moved to Children's Ward
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Today Jamal was moved into the Children's Ward. He still has the oxygen dome but within a day or so they will remove it. Jamal's grandmother was in high spirits today. She is hoping to go home on Sunday. We don't know when he will be released but she is anxious to get home.

I asked his grandmother if he was drinking milk and she said that he has been drinking a little bit. Praise God for this praise report. Continue to pray that he will continue to drink the milk that he needs.

Jamal's parents are very pleased and happy with Jamal's success thus far. Let's continue to pray for Jamal and his family.

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Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Special Work
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High-school students from the Anglican International School in Jerusalem joined Shevet Achim for a two-day community service project. Today's assignment included visiting Iraqi and Gazan patients at Wolfson Medical Center and at the Save A Child's Heart children's house; and by day's end, blogging on the children they had become acquainted with. Shevet thanks the AISJ students who freely gave of their time and energy!

I visited Jamal at the Wolfson Hospital today. He had surgery for a congenital heart defect last week and is doing very well after his operation. Because his mother was not able to cross the border to be with him, Jamal's grandmother travelled with him to Israel.

It was sad to see such a small boy so sick, but I am happy they can do something for him to make him well.

My prayer is that the family will soon be together again with Jamal completely well.

I was also very happy to be able to translate into Arabic for the students on our team. Since I am new to the Anglican School, it was a nice surprise for me to see this special work done in Israel for sick children from poorer countries.

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Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Eyesight To Be Checked
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As I entered the intermediate ICU today I found a pretty content grandmother. Dr. Houri and staff were reviewing Jamal's progress and wanted to know on my home visit if I noticed anything strange or unusual. Dr. Houri didn't have an opportunity to evaluate Jamal before his surgery so I was thankful that I was able to visit him at home before the surgery. I noted that when we would call his name or play with him that he wasn't looking in our direction he would look in the opposite direction. Dr. Houri mentioned that the staff has noticed similar things with Jamal and they are going to run some further tests on him. Of course Jamal's grandmother wanted me to translate word for word what was being said. When I shared with her what Dr. Houri and staff had observed she was a bit nervous. She kept asking how Jamal was doing and would he be alright. Dr. Houri said that Jamal's heart is doing very well but they will bring in an ophthalmologist to check him out. While we were discussing all of this a neurologist came in to evaluate Jamal. She said he is doing well and is optimistic that his sight will be good.

Yesterday Jamal only drank a little bit of milk and what he actually held down was not a lot. Dr. Houri is recommending him to try another brand of milk. His grandmother is anxious for him to moved into the children's ward. She keeps asking me when he will be released to go home. Her anxiousness for him to be well is becoming a bit of a stress for her. Please keep Jamal and his grandmother in your prayers. Let's believe for a complete healing for this child. Let's believe that he will be able to hold down the new milk and gain some weight. Also, let's continue to pray for his parents who are far away. They seem to be doing well but are still a bit anxious.

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Sunday, November 4, 2007
Breathing On His Own
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After viewing Jamal's blog at the hospital's computer room last Thursday, the grandmother of Jamal was eager to have me visit Jamal in the ICU again today, so that I can record his progress on camera!

And it is no wonder... the last time I saw Jamal just three days ago, he had tubes stuck all over his tiny body and on his head was what Martha described as "this season's most unique hat-wear" to keep him warm. But this morning, Jamal was extubated and is now breathing on his own. And as if to acknowledge the presence of his visitors, Jamal would turn his head towards the sound of voices, and seemed to be taking part in the conversation as well.

Jamal will continue to be monitored closely over the next 24 hours, and if all goes well, he should be discharged quite soon.

When I commented that Jamal's oxygen level is at an excellent 100% saturation, Dr Houri responded, "Maybe 99% is much better" and added by saying that he wants to start a "new religion" where "people will not aim for 100% all the time because more often than not, things are not perfect... and there will be more happiness in the world if we don't expect 100%". I must add that Dr Houri was quite serious when he said this, and gave me full permission to quote him.

Daily attending to babies and little children with unexplainable congenital flaws can be a most heart-rending challenge, and more often than not, it takes great patience and compassion, with a good dose of wisdom and tact, to be able to communicate both the reality of the situation,and the hope, to the anxious parents. Indeed, Dr Houri and his colleagues at Wolfson have been able to do just that. And this is much appreciated by the parents from Gaza and Iraq who have observed that the Jewish doctors and nurses truly love the children and are most professional in treating all patients the same, be they Arab or Jew, Iraqi or Ethiopian. What a wonderful healing of hearts, at the physical as well as the emotional and spiritual levels!

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Thursday, November 1, 2007
Anxious Grandma
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Jamal is doing fine today. I spoke with his grandmother and she said that he did well during the night. The nurses told us that he is doing well and that things look good. Jamal's grandmother seemed a bit anxious about how and when they are going to close his chest. She is afraid that they will do another operation on him, so she is wanting them to close his chest right away. The past few days she has been very calm, but today I saw a different side in her. I noticed there was a bit of anxiety in her voice. Please keep her and Jamal in your prayers.

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Thursday, October 31, 2007
Doing Well Following Today's Surgery

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Jamal is doing great. When I arrived at the hospital I went straight to ICU to visit Ahmad and I saw Jamal's grandmother was sitting there with him. I asked her how he was doing and she said fine. She seemed very relieved to have his surgery over with and that he's on the way to recovery. I spoke with one of the doctors and at that moment he said that it was still too early to tell what the next steps for him will be, because he basically just came out of surgery when I arrived. The doctor said that his chest will be open for about three days, and then they will close up his chest. Today Jamal had two procedures performed on his heart and the doctor said he is doing well.

I spoke with Jamal's father on the phone this evening. He is so relieved to hear that his son came out of the surgery and that he is doing well. He sends his greetings and many thanks for what has been done to help his son. I believe that the grandmother is doing well and waiting to see her grandson open his eyes again. Please keep Jamal's parents in your prayers. It's difficult for them to be so far away during this important and difficult time for their youngest child.

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