Kucher's Heart Surgery
 Thursday, May 15, 2008 Kucher Leaves IsraelFiled
by
When we arrived at the apartment, Pastor Philip was visiting with Kucher and Sana.
There were mixed emotions in the air. Kucher and her mom were excited
because the day of departure had arrived and now Kucher was going home
with a new lease on life. But Sana is still recovering and cannot go
home quite yet. Kucher and Sana have become good friends and it is hard
for Sana to watch Kucher leave. Yesterday they had lots of fun playing
a game together on Sana's mom's cell phone. Kucher
no doubt has seen many miraculous things happen in her body which very
much caught the attention of the doctors several times. Kucher, I
believe, has definitely acknowledged the hand of the Lord on her life.
We are believing that in the days ahead, many in her family will
rejoice at what the Lord has done and even catch a wave of God's
Salvation for themselves.
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Tuesday,
May 6, 2008 Kucher Is Free To Go HomeFiled
by Kucher with Simantov and Linda Allalouf
Greetings and love to all of our prayer partners. What a merciful and mighty God we serve! He is still performing miracles. He is being glorified in Rambam Hospital these days.
Last
week Kucher had a halter on her back for 24 hours, to monitor her heart
beat. The doctor said her heart functions perfectly--everything is fine
with the surgery. Yesterday, I escorted Kucher and her mother to the
hospital for another echocardiogram. We had a great report! Praise the
Lord, she is fine. Everything is going according to the plan, Dr.
Schwartz said. But we know that it is according to God's perfect will.
We all know that it is the answer to your constant prayers.
The
doctor said also that Kucher can go back home safely, but she needs to
visit a cardiologist once every six month. God willing, when the
blood pressure in her lungs is normal, then she is welcome to return to
Rambam for a catheterization to close the little hole that was left on
purpose. The doctors now expect that she would be ready for the cath in
one or two years.
In conclusion, Kucher can go back home safely and live a normal life. Praise the Lord. So now is the time for rejoicing and giving thanks to the Lord.
I
asked Kucher's mother to give Kucher a second name. I suggested the
name "Miracle." I told her that each of my six children has two names,
so why shouldn't Kucher have two names too? I told the mother that what
happened with her daughter was a true sign that Jesus is alive and
still performs miracles. He is the hope of the world. I told Kucher
that she needs to go back home and tell her people that Jesus healed
her and gave her a new heart. To God be the glory. Click
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 Monday,
April 28, 2008 Small Hole in Heart RemainsFiled
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Kucher was
in hospital today for a follow-up echocardiogram, which showed all
is well and her healing is astounding. Doctor is happy about
the
continued reduction of her blood pressure. They're saying if it
stabilises at a satisfactory level, they will use a catheterization
process to close a small hole in her heart which still remains. Kucher is pictured here
with Kale
(left), Lozan
(middle), and Pastor Philip.
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 Monday,
April 21, 2008 Encouraged By Praying
Friends Filed
by
For those who have been
following the miraculous story of
Kucher, you know that God is moving in amazing ways in her
life. It
was a pleasure to share with Kucher that
many American children are praying for her and her
healing. Kucher
and her mother were greatly encouraged
by this news and they enjoyed seeing the picture of praying friends
from across
the world. Kucher’s diagnosis is quite
good and she continues to progress, although doctors are still wanting
to keep
watch on her, her diet and any fluid accumulation. Continue to
pray for both her and her mother
as they wait for news that Kucher is free to return home.
Simantov describes Kucher's
beach trip on Sunday:
Kucher, Kale and Sana
were all
anxious to get out of the apartment, so off we went, first to the zoo.
This proved to involve too much walking for Kucher and Sana.
So from there we went 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 immodestly dressed in bikinis. I tend to
agree!Click
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 Monday, April 14, 2008 Released from Hospital Filed
by
We
continue to rejoice in the Lord for what He is doing in the life of
Kucher.
Today
she was released from the hospital with a big smile, but not before
visiting the hospital's mall and spending some time with Sharon, my
daughter.
Let us continue praying for Kucher and
rejoice in her fast recovery.
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 Sunday,
April 13, 2008 Kucher Will Not Need A
Permanent Pacemaker Filed
by
Let
us now bless the Lord and praise His holy name. "Kucher is recovering
beautifully. In fact, we are surprised by her fast recovery. In one or
two days she might leave the hospital!" These are the words that Dr.
Shwartz told me right after this morning's echo. Praise the Lord.
You
may remember that Kucher's open-heart surgery was very serious and
critical, and doctors thought that she might need to stay for
about six months in Haifa and need long-term, very expensive
medication. Well, we challenged that medical evaluation. We went to the
Lord in prayer and fasting, and many of you joined us in this
intercessory time. God, our loving and mighty Father, heard
our prayers and the surgery was successful.
Later
on, the doctors said the high blood pressure in Kucher's lungs dropped
a lot. This last week, they were thinking of inserting a pacemaker. But
we continued to pray. This morning--the first day of the week--my wife
and I prayed that Kucher would not need this battery in her body. Well,
they told me that she will not need it! Praise the Lord!
Kucher
may leave the hospital very soon. I told Dr. Shwartz and Dr. Khoury
this morning that this is our job and task--to intercede for the
patients, and our living Lord hears our prayers. Dr. Shwartz said,
"Well, you have succeeded." To Him be the glory.
P.S.
Kucher is happy to hear the good news.
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Thursday,
April 10, 2008 Pacemaker To Be Implanted
Sunday Filed
by Kucher was
up and out of bed today, sitting with Sana. When we visited in the
morning she was in bed, but this afternoon when we went to see Sana, Kucher
was up
and about carrying her external pacemaker. The doctor told me today
that Kucher will have to have a pacemaker implanted on a
permanent
basis, as her heart has not been able to pace itself properly. The
surgery for this procedure is scheduled for Sunday. Click
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 Wednesday, April 9, 2008 Out of ICU Filed
by
Kucher has
left ICU and is in the children's ward of the hospital today. Even
though we know she is glad to be out of ICU, Kucher appeared sad today.
Kucher remains on an external pacemaker and doctors are hoping for her
heart beat to stabilise soon. Otherwise, the nurse said all of her
vitals are excellent and Kucher's recovery is going very well.
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 Sunday, April 6, 2008 Expensive Medication May
Not Be Needed Filed
by
Kucher remains
in I.C.U. but is feeling fine and is waiting for her heart rhythm to
stabilise to normal.
Doctor
says she is doing very well and may not even need the expensive
medicine they once thought would be necessary for a long time.
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 Wednesday, April 2, 2008 Help from an External
Pacemaker Filed
by
Kucher was
still in I.C.U. today when I visited her. She is receiving some outside
help through an external pacemaker, because her heart's rhythm is still
not right. She is, however, feeling much better. Doctors are hoping
that maybe tomorrow she will be moved out of I.C.U.
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 Monday, March 31, 2008 Kucher Recovering Very WellFiled
by
Kucher
was resting in I.C.U. today, off the respirator and with her infection
pretty much gone. The nurse said she was recovering very well and might
even be well enough to go into the children's ward of the hospital
tomorrow. For all who were praying, we thank you and give praises unto
the Lord for answering.
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Friday,
March 28, 2008 Successful Surgery Follows
Resurrection WeekFiled
by On Tuesday
March 25 Kucher was finally admitted to the hospital for the surgery
doctors once feared impossible, and on Wednesday she went through the
operation. Dr. Mishali, the main surgeon, told me that the surgery was
successful, praise the Lord.
Some of you may know
that Kucher's heart condition was quite serious. The doctors have told
us that the surgery was not the problem, but the follow-up medication
she will need is the serious matter.
Please keep praying for her recovery, that her
dreams would come true (she wants to be a pediatrician), and that she
will be a witness of our Lord's love and healing power.
Just
prior to Kucher's surgery, the three Iraqi families who are in Haifa
joined us in the several Holy Week services. They attended the morning
of Palm Sunday and Kucher, Lozan
and Kale marched with our
children holding their flowers and candles.
They
also
attended our special Friday evening service, in which we all read the
story of our Lord's death for the sins of the world. The Iraqi
mothers with their daughters then joined us for the whole Easter
Sunday. At the morning service, Kucher and Lozan sang a special song in
Arabic titled "Come Jesus and be the Lord of my life."
After the
service they came to our house with other church members and we all had
a great Easter meal, then we together watched the Jesus film; two Iraqi
ladies started crying when they watched the event of the crucifixion.
It was a glorious day, praise the Lord.
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 Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Surgery DelayedFiled
by
Kucher
was scheduled for surgery this morning, but at the last minute doctors
announced her surgery would be delayed due to the lack of an available
bed in the ICU. Apparently an emergency patient went into ICU this
morning, and took the only available bed. But Kucher was just enjoying
the Purim festivities as various volunteer groups came into
her
ward painting faces and handing out other goodies for Purim. (Purim is
the Jewish holiday celebrating the story of Esther.)
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 Tuesday,
March 18, 2008 New Haircut for Tomorrow's
SurgeryFiled
by
Kucher was
admitted into hospital today and is scheduled for her long awaited
surgery tomorrow morning. She even went out and had a hair cut
yesterday.
Kucher has a smile that lights up the
room. She is a
special girl who I believe has a great destiny that lies ahead. Her
condition is complicated and she will require long-term medication. But
the Lord is able to heal, and that is what we are praying and believing
for.
Please pray for Kucher as she goes into surgery
Wednesday morning about 8:30 am...Click
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 Monday,
March 10, 2008 Surgery Expected In One WeekFiled
by
In
one week Kucher will, God willing, have her surgery. The doctors say
that the surgery will be okay, but the follow-up will be quite
difficult. See, she should have gone through this surgery a long time
ago, and now the damage in her lungs is irreversible! Since her birth,
she has had high blood pressure in the left
ventricle. The
large hole between the two ventricles and the low blood pressure in the
left one caused the lungs to be flooded with blood, and the artery
walls became thick and less elastic. In other words, she
has very
high blood pressure in the lungs.
The surgery would
close the
hole between the two ventricles, but the high pressure in the lungs is
irreversible. This means she needs to take a special medication for  the
rest of her life. It would cost, in Israel, about $3000 a month! This
may help her live another 20 years but then she would need a heart and
lungs transplant.
Kucher is not only beautiful, but
very clever.
She has already learned to sing about the glory of the Lord. She told
me she wants to be a pediatrician! I do believe she will. In fact, I
see her in faith as a doctor like my two daughters whom I love very
much.
I believe that you and I can make this hope
come true,
first in our prayers that a miracle will take place as the doctors work
on her, and second if we give and provide for her medication. In any
case Kucher will need to stay in Haifa for a long time for her
recovery. I am thinking that by God's grace she would attend one of our
local schools during this time of recovery, where she would improve her
Arabic and learn Hebrew as well.
Let us commit this
beautiful girl into the mighty and good hands of our Lord Jesus Christ.Click
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Thursday,
February 28, 2008
Kucher Recovering
As Doctors Weigh Results
Filed
by
 
Lorber and his
team still want a few days to complete their study of today's data, as
multiple tests were done while Kucher was on room air, on oxygen, and
also under medication. Then they will meet to decide her verdict:
returning home untreated, or attempting high-risk surgery.
Philip
Saa'd, pastor of the Haifa Baptist Church which is hosting Kucher and
her mother, has been following the case closely. Tonight he reports:
"I left Kucher doing fine. She is lying down,
ordered not to move until tomorrow morning. Her mother is a brave
woman, very calm and quiet."
Thank you for
continuing to pray with us and look for redemption in this difficult
situation.
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Wednesday,
February 27, 2008
Tomorrow's Catheterization
Determines Her Future
Filed
by
 Kucher
will undergo heart catheterization tomorrow at the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. We
admitted her yesterday morning, an unusual step but doctors wanted her
to have oxygen treatment for two days before the catheterization.
When
she had her first echocardiogram the doctor told me it was "a pity that
she missed her train." When I asked what he meant, he said Kucher
should have had surgery years ago. "I still have a little hope," he
continued, "and Thursday we will know exactly."
The
catheterization measurements will tell doctors whether there is
possibility to still operate on Kucher; otherwise she "will go back
like she came," and doctors say her only unlikely hope for longer life
would be in future heart-lung transplantation.
Watching
this girl running and jumping, smiling and singing, she looks healthy.
But the doctors know better. I have asked our church in Haifa to start
fasting and praying for Kucher. I told one Israeli doctor this is why
we minister to these people--"we believe Dr. Jesus will help you
helping these children."
Please join us in praying,
and we will update this page Thursday night with the test results.
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 Monday
February
18, 2008
Kucher Dreams of Helping
Others Who Are Ill
Filed
by
Kucher has
reached our team in Jordan en route to her treatment in Israel. Being
in a
different and unfamiliar place eleven-year-old Kucher still seems
apprehensive. Yet with the knowledge that she has been sponsored with
all the money needed for her operation, and with her mother there to
look after her, she is doing fine.
Kucher is the
eldest girl of five children. She was born in a mixed city in Iraq
which is not a safe place to live; bombs go off every day there and
Kucher’s mum says they are very scared. Kucher's father works
as a nurse but still they are a very poor family.
 Despite
this Kucher does very well at school and loves learning any subject put
under her nose. Her dream is to go to medical school and become a
doctor so she can “help people who are very ill.”
Because of the chance this operation will give her she has the
possibility to see her dreams come true. Her mother tells us that she
does everything she can to help her children do well at school so that
one day they can leave Iraq and have a safe life.
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