Kale's Heart Surgery

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Happy "Hello Again"
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The door opened and the first thing I could see was four smiling faces. How great to meet Kale, Lozan and their mothers again in Jordan! After they had dinner, we had a few minutes to talk about their experiences in Israel. Kale and Lozan both looked very good. Kale's blue lips and hands had changed into lively red. They were smiling all the time. They were probably very excited to go home to see their families. Lozan's and Kale's mothers were very thankful and we all could see that something changed their hearts. The sorrows they had when they arrived at our house in February seem to have been lost in Haifa. Please keep praying for them!

Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Kale and Mom Leave Israel with Changed Hearts
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Kale got the green light she has been waiting for from the doctors on Monday. And she was very anxious to go home to Iraq as soon as possible. Kale and her mom were walking around in smiles excited to be finally released to go home. Kale will continue taking some medication for the next six months but otherwise is doing very well.

Pastor Philip adds:

Kale's mother, as some of you might remember, has always been very concerned about her daughter's condition. Several times she called me at midnight

complaining about Kale's condition. I would take them to the hospital and go through the whole process of tests until the morning, and return to their flat with good report from the doctor! I read with the mother much scripture, and prayed with her and for her daughter. I tried to share with her that she could call upon the name of the Lord and He would answer. I told her that several Muslim ladies have seen Jesus in a dream or in a vision. To be honest with you, I was really frustrated in dealing with this mother. She seemed to have a stony heart for spiritual things, I never saw a sign of response from her side. But she was very happy and thankful to God, to the doctors and to me when she heard the good news that Kale was fine and ready to go home.

Last night, Kale's mother phoned me from Jordan to tell me that she had good news for me, and I quote: "Now I believe everything you said about Jesus. My husband, who expects us to arrive tomorrow morning, has called me and said that He saw a vision the day before. He believes He saw Jesus, not in a dream but in the day time. He saw somebody with a shining face and a white robe telling him that Kale is alright and that she is coming home tomorrow with her mother!" Kale's mom told me that she could not leave Jordan without sharing the good news with me, and now she believes everything I had shared with her about the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord.

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" ( Isaiah 5:10, 11).

Let us thank the Lord for answering our prayers of healing for Kale and Lozan and for the spiritual open heart surgeries that Dr. Jesus does here in Haifa. Let us pray that the Lord will send somebody to follow up with these precious people.

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Monday, April 21, 2008
The Waiting Game
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Kale is doing much better, with the fluid in her lungs lessening greatly. This is great news but the doctors want Kale to stay in Israel for a bit longer in order to ensure her road to recovery without any setbacks. The occurrence of fluid was quite unexpected in Kale’s case, so the doctors are appropriately hesitant to send Kale back to Iraq before they are absolutely certain she is well. While Kale's mother understands, she is very anxious to return to her home, family and job in Iraq – she has young children and also has used up all of the vacation time allotted to her. Please pray for Kale's mother, that she would be overwhelmed by His peace and love, and that God would give her an extra portion of patience as they play the waiting game for a couple more weeks. Pray for Kale’s continued healing and that the Healer of hearts would move miraculously in the hearts of Kale and her mother.

Simantov tells about Kale's beach trip on Sunday: Kale, Kucher and Sana were all anxious to get out of the apartment, so off we went, first to the zoo and then to the beach.

Everyone at least got their feet wet and the kids were picking up shells and building little sand castles.

All three of the moms were feeling embarrassed about the way the other girls on the beach were dressed immodestly in bikinis. I tend to agree with them!

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Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Hoping To Go Home Soon
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It has been a while since I've written about Kale. On February 20, she had her open heart surgery. She recovered quickly and the doctors said that among the Iraqi children, Kale had the most successful surgery. But for some unknown reason, she developed liquid around the heart, which did not dry out in spite of the medicine she had. She had several echoes. Every time the mother hoped to hear that her daughter was fine and she could go home.

During her stay at the rented apartment, I received three phone calls from the mother late at night asking me to rush Kale to the hospital because of fever and pain. Last time I took Kale to the hospital at midnight. After some blood tests and a few hours, she was released back home.

The mother became very tired and worried so she insisted on remaining at the hospital. Though the hospital is not the ideal place for Kale at this stage, the doctors agreed to keep her if this would calm the mother. Two days ago I had to stay with Kale's mother at the hospital until late. She was very scared and worried for her daughter. I tried to encourage the mother and prayed for her. She was scared that her daughter would remain at the hospital for a long time. I really understand the mother, especially when I know that she has two other daughters back home in Iraq, aged nine and three years old.

Yesterday morning I went to visit Kale, and for the first time in a few weeks, I saw the mother smiling and thanking God for the good news she heard from Dr. Khoury. He told her that Kale is responding to the medicine, the liquid around the heart is drying out, and the little infection in her lungs is also healing. Kale is still at the hospital for one more echo tomorrow morning. Please pray for a miracle, and that Kale and her mother can go home soon.

In celebration of the good news Kale's mother had yesterday, she asked me to go with them to the rocky beach near the hospital. From the picture above, you can tell how happy they both were.

Please join me in prayer that God would heal Kale from the cerebral palsy she was born with. (Ephesians 3:20,21)

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Thursday, April 10, 2008
Today's Echo Shows Fluid Accumulation
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Kale had another echo this morning, and her mom was not happy with the results as she wants to go home desperately. The cardiologist said that fluids once again have accumulated around Kale's heart and that she will require medication again.

Kale has not been able to sleep or eat for the past two days. Her mother is very concerned.

They have scheduled another echo for Sunday morning. Kale's mom is praying she gets the go ahead to go home. Please pray for her as she was very upset today and spent the morning weeping.

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Sunday, April 6, 2008
No More Fluid in Chest Cavity
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Kale was in hospital today for an echo which showed she is doing very well and no longer has fluid build-up in her chest cavity. She did have a slight infection at the top of her surgery scar, and was given some medicine to treat that. Kale will be going to hospital again Thursday. If all is well, she will be released to go home to Iraq.

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Monday, March 31, 2008
A New Dress
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Today Kale was modeling a new dress that she received at a local Arab congregation last week.

She is doing quite well. She is finishing her medication and is scheduled for another echo next week. If all is well she will be headed home soon after.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Her Favourite Place
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Today Kale was in good spirits and just resting at the apartment. I see that one of Kale's favourite places to sit is out on the balcony looking at the neighbour's roosters and rabbits.

Pray for her mom who is very anxious to go home...

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Monday, March 17, 2008
Excellent Echo Today
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This morning Kale had one more echo. The first word Dr. Braver said was: "EXCELLENT!" Kale's mother said, "Praise the Lord... Does this mean we are going

home?" I said, "I am sorry, but there will be another checkup. Perhaps then you might go home to your husband and two other little daughters." I do understand these people who accompany thier sons or daughters but leave other little ones back home.

Yesterday Kale and her mother, with two other Iraqi families, joined us in the special Palm Sunday service. The three girls (Kale, Kucher and Lozan) had their candles and joined the church children in a special march. At the end of the service we prayed for their recovery and for light from above on their lives.

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Friday, March 14, 2008
Fluid Around Kale's Heart
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Kale is not yet ready to return home to Iraq because there are fluids around her heart. She is now on medication for this, and she will be going back to hospital on Monday for another echocardiogram. Doctors say that this symptom is not uncommon, but Kale's mom sure would like to head home. So please join us in prayer that the Lord would complete the healing so that Kale and Mom can head home to Iraq.

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Thursday, February 28, 2008
Concerns Prove Unfounded;
Kale on Verge of Release
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I took Kale to the hospital clinic today for an echocardiogram exam, and doctors saw something in the right chamber of her heart which looked like an accumulation of thickened blood. Since a clot like this could travel through her body and cause a stroke, they immediately arranged further investigation. Kale was put to sleep and a camera put through her mouth down into her heart. To their relief doctors found it was only a surgical stitch they were looking at!

Kale recovered and was released tonight with the assurance of her doctors that she is all right. If she passes her final echo on Sunday morning she will then be cleared to go home to Iraq.

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Tuesday
February 26, 2008
Kale Leaves the Hospital
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Kale was released from hospital today, and is very happy and looking forward to going home. She has one more echocardiogram on Thursday. If all is well, she may be headed home to Iraq on Sunday.

Last Friday, when we arrived in the hospital we went first to ICU to see Kale. We found she was no longer in ICU but in the children's ward on the first floor. This said a lot for the rapid recovery. When we got to Kale's room, she was asleep.

Her mother told us that Kale was having trouble keeping anything other than water down in her stomach.

It is amazing to see the quick way in which Kale has recovered!

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Thursday, February 21, 2008
Kale Wakes Up Smiling
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I want to praise the Lord for the recovery of Kale. I would like us all to thank God for the staff at Rambam Medical Center, who are doing a great job as they operate on the Iraqi children, and care for the mothers who stay with their precious children day and night.

This morning two of the other Iraqi ladies joined me during my visit to Kale and her mother.

I went in first to the ICU to get a full report from the doctor. Kale was still asleep, because of the sedatives which she takes for pain. She looked good. I laid a hand on her and while I was praying she woke up and smiled.

Her saturation is very good but she still had some pain because of the drainage tube. They are supposed to remove it this evening, which will definitely decrease the pain she has.

Let us continue to pray for this “jwana” (beautiful) girl. Please pray for the mother, who struggles with her daughter's cerebral palsy. Pray for me, for wisdom and grace to be able to minister to the mother and teach her about the love of God for these special children.

It was really a great encouragement to Kale's mother to have the other two Iraqi ladies visiting Kale and to spend time with the mother. The visit to the hospital, especially to the ICU, was an educational experience for them as they get ready for their two daughters' admission.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Kale Comes Through Surgery Today
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This morning Kale had her open heart surgery, to close a VSD, a large hole between the two ventricles of the heart. It was relatively a short surgery. During the waiting time Um Kale, the worried mother, was encouraged by the Word of God and the prayers of the saints of the Haifa Baptist Church.

After two and half hours Kale was taken to the ICU, and there Um Kale was very much concerned for her daughter who was still under the anesthesia. The doctor assured her that it is normal after the surgery and she does not have to worry, Kale's condition was stable and after 3 hours she, God willing, will be able to breath on her own. Um Kale took the key for her new room and went to have some rest while Kale was still asleep.

Tomorrow the other Iraqi mothers and I will visit Kale and her mother. We appreciate your prayers and support for these precious children and their parents.

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Tuesday, February 12, 2008
First Echo Promises Straightforward Surgery
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Kale smiled at the staff and ate cookies as she waited this morning for her first echo in Israel. The pediatric cardiologist who accepted her for surgery in Israel, Dr. Avraham Lorber, introduced himself with a handshake and warm smile before bringing her into the examination room.

Kale lay quietly as she was examined. Her smile filled the room.

Kale’s mother was excited to learn that her daughter’s condition is what they expected it to be. Kale has a large hole, 2.5 centimeters, in her upper ventricle. Closing this will require surgery as expected.

After the echos were finished we all wandered down to the mall in the hospital for their first taste of Israeli shopping. The mothers exchanged money and had Israeli schwarma (a pita pocket full of meat and salads). Kale sat mesmerized by the bright lights and sounds of the mall. The families called home and let them know all was well. It was a good first morning in Haifa.

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