Sunday, February 11, 2007

Bright-eyed
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At last the day had come for Niga and her father to return home, and Niga was bright-eyed and attentive as we rode to the airport this morning. Of the patients I've had the opportunity to work with so far, Niga seems to have made the most remarkably fast recovery of all.... you would never know she had open heart surgery only 17 days ago by her activity level!
 
She was visibly relaxed ''at home'' last night as we visited the families in one of the guest apartments a church here is allowing our families to use. We all enjoyed watching a video of a trip to the Dead Sea by the three families waiting for surgeries in Israel. During the evening, the families talked about the changes in the lives of Hemen and Niga, and asked questions of their fathers and me which will help prepare them for their own child's surgery.

The friendship they have with each other is a unique bond and encouragement as they go through this process, and the children understand this in a special way I think. 
 
One of the sweetest things I've noticed in the last couple of days is the way Niga has begun to assist Hemen as he continues to regain strength from his surgery. I have wondered how much she is aware of the speed of her own recovery compared to his, and I think I see her now recognizing this, and wanting to help him along in his recuperation.... much as a big sister might do for her little brother. 
 
When we arrived at the airport Niga was happily confident as they joined the line of people checking in. She nodded in response to my goodbye to her as I shared how happy I was to see her return home, telling her I was thanking God that she would grow up to become a beautiful woman and mother someday. She gave me a big hug, and joined her father, who, like the other families we've helped, extended an invitation to come to their city and be welcomed into their home. I do not know if I will have that opportunity, but for now am delighted to have such an invitation, as I picture a big celebration upon the return of Niga and her father to their family -- which is probably happening right about now!! Thanks be to God for all He has done to make this possible!

Friday, February 9, 2007

Air of Anticipation
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Niga and her father were a very happy pair this morning as they waited in the house and the courtyard in Jerusalem to begin our trip to Amman (see photo in Hemen's blog).

There was a lively air of anticipation in being around them, and Abu Niga and Abu Hemen broke into dance in the courtyard when it was time to set forth for the day's journey. It made me want to join in as they shared their celebration with us!

Niga was a little sleepy on the way through the hills as we headed north, but both of the children perked up when, several times, we passed camels or donkeys, or sheep or goat herds along the roads.

When we arrived at the Israeli border, she became quite animated again. Although everything was very smooth for us, there was a computer glitch which caused us to have to wait around for a while in the terminal. We came up with some silly and fun clapping and tapping and twirling games to entertain ourselves, and she and Hemen perused the toys through the window of the duty-free shop.
When we got a call from SACH (Save A Child's Heart) for a radio interviewer to speak with Niga's father, she also answered a few of the questions posed her about her experiences in Israel. Clearly though, her ultimate goal at this time is to get home and see her mama, and the closer we get to that moment, the happier she becomes!
 
We enjoyed the picnic lunch provided by our Jerusalem gang during the taxi ride to Amman, and afterwards Niga took a little nap. When we arrived, it was only a few minutes till she got a phone call from her mother (at left)-- and I heard that little squeal of delight again.

Shortly afterwards, some new friends stopped by--also from Iraq--who'd visited with her here in Amman before her surgery. At that time Niga was rather lethargic and quiet, but now the sparkle in her personality is beginning to show. What a wonderful change! And our friends noticed it immediately, so we all shared the pleasure of seeing the difference this surgery has made.
 
We hope to have a visit with all of the families currently in Amman tomorrow before Niga and her father return home in a few days. I'm looking forward to the encouragement her successful surgery will be to the families who are waiting for their turns to travel. Let's keep thanking the Lord for His quick work to restore Niga's health after her surgery, even as we pray for their return trip.

I'll share more after the visit tomorrow.

Thursday, February 8, 2007

A Day of Joy
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Today was a day full of joy for Niga and her father. It is finally time to return home to Iraq, and when we went to pick them up at the Save a Child's Heart house, they were very excited to see us.

We had decided that if the doctor's written reports necessary for our patients' final release were not ready, we would take them to the Mediterranean while we waited.
When Niga heard this, she literally jumped for joy with a happy squeal.  God blessed us with a pleasant day for the outing, so we headed to the beach together along with Hemen and his father. Neither family had ever seen the ocean, and it was a treat to be with them as they experienced this for the first time.
 
After sharing a quick picnic lunch, we headed back to the hospital where the fathers had the opportunity for a radio interview. We got their reports, then had the final take-off from the SACH house with the luggage.
 
Upon arrival in Jerusalem, we were met briefly by an Israeli news photographer who has covered the story from the time Niga and her father arrived in Amman at the echo screening in late December. He wanted some parting photos of her in her wonderfully healthy state, and chose historic Ben Yehuda street, scene of terrible bombings and joyful celebrations as the Jewish state was reborn.  What a pleasure to see an Iraqi father and daughter peacefully strolling there.

We then shared a wonderful meal together with the Shevet Achim staff at our Jerusalem house.... and everyone is now anticipating the return to Amman tomorrow. After a few days with the families still in Amman waiting for their visas to be finished so they too can come to Israel, we will take Niga and father to catch their plane back home to Iraq.  Niga is very excited as she anticipates this.... and it shows in her frequent giggles and talk w/ her father.

Please pray for our crossing tomorrow. I will update again from Amman.

Monday, February 5, 2007

No Pics Today
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Niga had just awakened from a nap when I arrived today at the Save a Child's Heart house, and was very subdued, and I think very homesick. She was almost in tears - literally, when I was about to take her pic, I saw those tears welling up in her eyes, so I stopped with the camera and said ''lah camera?'' and she shook her head yes... so there was no way I would take her picture.

I talked to her with our limited vocabularies, and she said she misses mama, and though I gave her some hugs, she was not very consoled. She is a rather reserved child, and I think is just sooooo ready to go home. So, sorry I do not have pics of her, but in another way, not sorry.

She is doing very well, and has her last echo on Thursday before she'll be released to return home to Iraq. She was already aware of and counting the days till she could leave.  I know her mama will be even happier than Niga to see her when they arrive. We can pray for her to have peace in her heart as she waits...

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

You Can See From Her Smile
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WOW!


Already today Niga was dismissed from the hospital to the children's house!! We are thanking God and marvelling at His goodness in her speedy recovery.



You can see from her smile how much better she is feeling, and her father is of course very encouraged as well.




This was the second surprise of the day -- the first was that Sakar was being dismissed to go home to Iraq today!











More about that on her page - but she was at the hospital getting her final doctors' reports, saying goodbye, and visiting Niga.





They came to Amman together from Iraq, and travelled to Israel together on Dec. 31. What an amazing 30 days it has been for these girls and their families....
 


















Tonight Niga and her father are back at the children's house where less than a week ago they were waiting anxiously for her surgery.  

They now know it will not be long till they are on the way back across Israel, into Jordan and home to Iraq. What a joy to look forward to this with them!

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Sunday, January 28, 2007

Niga and Father Both Smiling Again
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The good news about Niga today is that she is now in intermediate ICU, and doing very well. Dr. Tamir says he expects her to have a fast recovery. She was still pretty drowsy, but had some sweet smiles for me and her cute teddy bear. And there were a few giggles when I tickled her feet.

Her father was carefully tending her and wearing a glad and satisfied look over his daughter's progess. We visited for a little while, but it was not long until she was sleeping again.

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Waiting Another Day

Word this morning that a completely full ICU has delayed Niga's surgery by at least one more day. Following open-heart surgery she will need mechanical ventilation and close supervision which is only available in the ICU.  Let's pray for Niga and her father as they go through another tense day of waiting.

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Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Finding Niga; Surgery Tomorrow
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Niga seemed to have had a leisurely morning when I found her today eating lunch at the children's home near the hospital.  Donna and I were invited by Niga's and Sakar's fathers to join their meal.  We were blessed to have the chance to eat with them.  I love the way that people can fellowship through linguistic and cultural barriers over food.  While we all tucked in, I noticed that Niga was being filled to the max by her doting father.  I was shocked to see a virtual mountain of food in front of this serious little girl but her father told me that they were sharing.  Niga picked at the rice, sauce, and chicken while her father encouraged her.  Now that she is headed for an evening of fasting before surgery, she will be thankful for that big meal.

After lunch the two girls took a walk with their dads.  The Iraqi fathers are not used to being cooped up in a house all day minding children and they seem to get stir crazy after only a few days.  The staff at the Save a Child's Heart house realize their need for a change of scene so they allow short excursions to the two playgrounds just a short walk away, but encourage the patients and escorts not to wander too far.  This particular afternoon the wisdom of keeping them close became fully apparent.

When I arrived at the hospital this morning with a group of Gaza children and escorts, I was told that the ICU at Wolfson Hospital, which has only 8 beds in the children's ward, was full.  This meant that Niga's surgery would probably be postponed again.  But by this afternoon there was a free bed so the hospital called the house and told us to bring Niga right away.  I took off looking for them at the two playgrounds but they were no where to be found.  Two house staff members jumped into their cars and started driving the neighborhood looking for them.  Meanwhile the hospital called and told us if we didn't get them there soon they would skip over Niga and prep the next child for surgery.  Finally we found them and we rushed over to the hospital in a taxi (below left). 



Niga had only 15 minutes from the time she heard that her surgery would be tomorrow and when she was in the ward waiting for the nurses to start prepping her (above right).  The strain showed in her eyes and slowly they began to pool with tears. 





Her daddy was quick to comfort her and I got to hold her close for a little while and tell her how courageous she was and how much we loved her.  I don't think I saw a smile but she bore the uncomfortable and confusing retinue of tests quietly. 






It was only the IV that started the tears again (right).  I must admit I had to walk out of the room when they wrapped the tourniquet on her arm; I could see how small her little veins are.  I didn't want to watch.

So Niga and her father will be sleeping in the hospital tonight.  We pray that we will be able to report to you all tomorrow on the success of this long-awaited event.

Lord's Day, January 21, 2007

Friday evening, January 19, 2007

Fingerpainting on Surgery's Eve

As we enter the Sabbath, Niga is staying at the children's home run by Save a Child's Heart, a partner organization run by the doctors at the Wolfson Medical Center.  

Here she is cared for by Israeli and foreign volunteers (one of whom, Jonah Mink, took these excellent photos).  They are helping Niga pass the wait cheerfully, together with children from other countries who have also come for heart surgeries.  

But on Motzei Shabbat, the "going out" of the Sabbath on Saturday evening, Niga will be taken to the hospital to begin fasting overnight, in preparation for her open-heart surgery which is now scheduled for 7:00 am Sunday morning.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Countdown

We've just received word that Niga has recovered from her chest infection (a frequent complication for children with heart defects), and is now scheduled to go to the operating room on Sunday morning, which is the first day of the work week in Israel.   We'll visit Niga tomorrow and update this site with new photos and information for prayer.

Monday, January 8, 2007

Surprise

Raneen Gantous, a staff member, tried to visit Niga in the hospital today. But she could not find her. We were surprised to find out that Niga did not receive surgery as originally planed. When Niga was brought to the hospital her heart rate was so high that the doctors decided it was not safe to operate. So Niga was given medication and sent home for today. We do not yet know when her surgery will be rescheduled.

Niga is pictured here on the left with two other Iraqi girls,  Santa Maria and Sakar. Sakar traveled with Niga from Jordan to Israel. Santa Maria met these two girls the night she began her homeward journey to Iraq following her own heart surgery. She was with us in Israel for 4 months.

Sunday, January 7, 2007

He Has Broken Down the Wall


Niga and Dr. Tamir: a Kurdish Iraqi child trustingly holds the hands of a Jewish Israeli doctor, dedicated to saving her life.

Dr. Tamir is the cardiologist who first screened Niga in Amman on December 28, and will now supervise her care throughout Niga's heart surgery and recovery.

"...He is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the wall of separation between us..." Eph. 2:14

Monday, January 1, 2007

Looking For a Vein

Niga continues to captivate today, as she bravely faced her first battery of tests in an Israeli hospital in preparation for her heart surgery. She did well until it was time to draw blood, at which prospect she began to whimper and cry out in fear. Her father explained that the last time nurses attempted to draw blood from Niga in Iraq, it took 24 attempts to find a vein!

And the Israeli nurses too had a difficult time finding a vein in this diminutive little one. They brought out special equipment meant to highlight elusive blood vessels, and even then could see nothing. Finally the veteran head nurse Nava plunged ahead, and somehow found the vein on the first try. Niga almost immediately seemed satisfied and stopped crying!


Tonight she is settled into the children's home near the hospital, and happily coloring and playing with other children.

Tomorrow she'll face the gauntlet of more preparatory tests. We'll update the blog when her surgery is scheduled.

 
Sunday, December 31, 2006

She's Finally Made It

Although she's exhausted as she stands by the doorway into Israel at the border terminal tonight at 9:30 pm, can you see in Niga's eyes the sweetness and shyness that has caused me to smile all day as we drove from Amman to Jerusalem?

This little one from the north of Iraq has been on a non-stop blur of new faces and places since she got on an airplane with her father on December 27 to Amman. Since then she has encountered an Israeli cardiologist who performed an echocardiogram screening in Amman on December 28 and found, thank God, that Niga can indeed be helped by heart surgery.

There have also been many Christians of different nationalities helping Niga and her father on their way to Israel where that surgery will be made possible. This is a life-transforming experience for them. Will you join us in praying for Niga, and following her story as it unfolds via this blog?

Monday morning she'll report to the hospital for the first time. Can you imagine what this seven-year-old mind will be thinking? We'll post an update for you tomorrow evening.