We've been enjoying the company of this cute, bright-eyed boy and his amiable mom here in Jerusalem since Monday evening. Omar found himself in the company of a bunch of playmates within minutes. Maryam and the Berg children were all eager to meet a new friend and show him the ropes of life at the Shevet house. Nathan, one of Martha's children, was especially excited to share his action figures with Omar. Omar has his own share of action and adventure from this summer in Israel that he'll be able to share about, even if it is just from photos and the stories his mom tells him.

Omar and his mom will travel to Jordan later this week to fly home on Saturday, Lord willing. We look forward to getting to show them around Jerusalem some more in the next couple of days and help them prepare for their return home.

Last Thursday, Omar was required to put on a halter (pictured at right) for 24 hours to monitor if his body is fit enough for him to return home to Iraq. Today, after the Shabbat weekend, the halter was returned. A couple hours later, Dr. Lorber announced the good news -- Omar is all clear to go back to Iraq! Dr. Lorber jokes that Omar's next visit to Israel will be on his honeymoon.

While waiting for the final medical report, Omar visited with Zhino and Younis, and the latter particularly enjoyed his company and cheerful chatter.

Omar has a "beautiful" scar. This may be because he is not fussy where food is concerned, and he has a healthy appetite! Good nutrition does speed up the child's healing process.

There was a show put on by some clowns at the children's ward. Omar took part in some games and won several prizes! Today is indeed a great day for Omar, and Um Omar is looking forward to go up to Jerusalem tomorrow to visit the Old City before leaving for home.

Yesterday evening was a very special night at Haifa Baptist Church. It was a great time of praise and worship. The word preached was from Acts 2:14-21. At the end of the sermon my wife Violet shared a testimony about God speaking to people through dreams and visions.

Um Zhino shared about a voice she heard, while she was still waiting in Amman for the visa. She heard Jesus telling her, "Ahlan wasahlan." ("Welcome, welcome.") She knew that was Jesus telling her that she would get the visa and enter Israel for her daughter’s surgery.

Then Um Omar shared with the church people the dream she had the first night after Omar’s surgery. She saw pastor Philip laying hands on Omar and praying for his healing, and Jesus holding Omar’s hand and her hand, and telling them to go back home-- Omar is healed. She said that Jesus’ face was like the sun at noon time. Everybody at the church clapped their hands and shouted halleluiah.

Then Sam's mother shared about the three visions she saw of Jesus standing behind her and encouraging her and telling her that He is with her in her difficult time. Then we asked the three ladies and their children to come back forward. We prayed for them and after the desire of their mothers we presented and dedicated them to Jesus. Our prayer is that they might grow in wisdom, in stature, in favor with God and man.

Though Younis and his mother were not with us at the church service, we lifted them up to the Lord in our prayers as well.

We indeed had a great time with the Lord and with each other on this Sunday evening service. Then we moved to the reception room for fellowship and some delicious food.

Please pray that these precious ladies will go back to their people with new hearts and hope.

Sunday
July 22, 2007

Over the weekend, Omar finally had his chance to go to the beach at Bat Galim near our apartment, and boy, did he enjoy himself. He walked and walked and walked all over, refusing to be hand-held, as if to make up for the full week of lying in bed  after his surgery.

Omar had a great time with Zhino looking for the stray cats under the rocks by the beach. Believe me, his squeals and screams are really loud, and Zhino is ever ready to be his back-up screamer.

Meanwhile, Omar eats and sleeps well, maybe because he is very active, and his walking exercises give him a good appetite!

He is due for an echocardiogram this Thursday morning. 

Thursday
July 19, 2007

Good news greeted me when I arrived this morning at Rambam -- Omar is well enough to be discharged today. He was busy making his rounds at the ward, saying his good-byes to everyone and everything, including the bottle of orange juice on the corner table!

We went upstairs to get his appointment date for the next check-up, and there we met his doctor, Dr. Lorber. It was a great opportunity for a group photo with the medical staff, who are also rejoicing with us over Omar's speedy recovery.

Staff Nurse Haya (carrying Omar) is especially pleased with this photo opportunity since she'll be away on vacation from tomorrow. And our grateful little Omar just couldn't keep his eyes away from his hero Dr. Lorber!

Omar and his mother will be staying at the apartment, where Zhino and her mom are waiting for the girl's turn for her operation.

Yesterday, the good news was Omar walking gingerly for the first time since his surgery (click the play arrow below to see video clip). 

Today, he was smiling radiantly when he showed me that he has the strength to pull the rather stiff trigger of his toy gun, albeit with both hands.

Omar and his mum even visited Younis when the younger boy came back to the ward after his catheterization in the morning. He was showing Younes how brave he was when he had his operation... although just an hour earlier, he was crying like a baby when he had his hair shampooed at the wash basin in the ward!

 

It is so good to see Omar "back in action" and not listless as he had been for the past two days. Praise the LORD for His healing touch on Omar!

After almost a week in bed post-operation, Omar was encouraged to walk around today. He was assisted by his mum and Uncle Tino, a member of a local Arabic church who had dropped in to visit the Iraqi children at Rambam.

Omar's mother opened up his shirt to show us the brave little boy’s battle scars, but he didn’t seem too thrilled to show off! Nevertheless, a picture was taken for remembrance, as well as to show his dad who will be checking Omar’s blog to see how his boy is progressing.

Omar’s apparent listlessness yesterday could have been due to tiredness, and today the doctor once again told us that Omar is “doing good”! He obliged with a sweet smile when his mum asked me to take a photo of them posing with a huge orange bear, borrowed from the girl from the next bed.

When it came to lunch time, Omar licked his lips after taking each spoonful, savouring the ‘real food’ he can now eat to his heart’s content.

Omar is indeed well on the road to a quick recovery.  Praise the LORD who hears the prayers of Omar’s family and friends, including all of you faithful saints.

Tuesday
July 10, 2007

Omar's recovery has been speedy from Day One after the surgery. The doctors even say that it's much better than what they had expected. To Um Omar's relief, Omar was transferred from the ICU today to the same ward as Baby Sam. Now the moms have each other for company, besides the many daily visitors from the Arab congregation who have been visiting our Iraqi patients and their moms at Rambam.

But the excitement around seemed to have affected Omar somewhat, for he appeared very listless, even a little fretful when we met him.

This contrasts with his cheerful countenance last night in the ICU, where I found him happily chomping away on Bamba (peanut-butter flavoured puffs) and even some pistachio nuts! He grinned contentedly when I gave him a motion-activated light-ball and his mom bobbed it continuously to entertain him.

Today, while waiting for his bed to be assigned, Younis and his mom also dropped by to see Omar. The rosy glow on Omar's cheeks gave Um Younis much hope for her own child. The camaraderie amongst the Iraqis is simply wonderful, but do pray that the children will get adequate rest, as they need some quietness around them in order to sleep peacefully.

Omar developed pneumonia two days ago, and has been hooked up to a mechanical ventilator since then. This is to help him with his breathing, and Dr. Khoury told me that it may be removed tomorrow as his condition improves.

Such post-operation reactions are quite expected. The operation itself has been very successful, the doctor assured us. Omar's mother is comforted to see her son’s complexion turning a healthy pink as his heart’s proper functions are being restored.

There is nothing much left to be done, except to let nature takes its course and to ask God Almighty to bless Omar with complete healing and abundant life. And this is what our “gentle giant” Simantov did, when he drove all the way from Jerusalem today with his wife Linda to visit the Iraqi children now at Rambam.

My wife Violet, our daughter Sharon and I were just visiting Omar and his mother, and  Sam and his mother too. We wanted to make sure that everything is alright with Omar and his mother prior to the surgery.

Omar was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago, but he was taken back to the apartment because of the chicken pox he developed. Tuesday morning Omar was taken to Rambam Hospital to get ready for his surgery, which will take place this morning around 7:30 a.m. Omar arrived to Haifa blue due to the tetralogy of Fallot disease which he has. In other words, Omar has a big hole between the ventricles, and many levels of obstruction from the right ventricle to the lungs, plus other defects. Omar must go through a repairing surgery in order to grow normally.

Omar is optimistic but as you see in the picture, his mother is a little bit concerned. We laid hands on him, prayed for a successful surgery and for peace and faith in the heart of Um Omar. Today several people will be with Omar's mother as she will be waiting for reports from the operating room. Please join us as we trust in Dr. Jesus' healing power, and as we pray for faith and peace in the mother’s heart.

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Thursday
June 28, 2007

I arrived at the Haifa apartment late last night, and Omar and his mum were already fast asleep. This morning, I gave Um Omar a foldable paper “magic flower” and she was delighted to show it to Omar the moment he opened his eyes.

Later in the day, Pastor Philip brought both of them over to his apartment for a delicious home-cooked meal prepared by his wife Violet who, together with a group of ladies from their Arab congregation, had ‘rostered’ themselves to visit with the Iraqi families at Rambam every day of the week.

Both mother and son got to dress up for the lunch appointment, and thereafter for a drive to Aker (Akko), a historical seaside town whose strong walls prevented the French leader Napoleon from conquering it.

Two hours later we came back to congratulate the anxious mother of Omar for the admittance of her son.  Blood tests and a battery of questions began immediately. 

Between Arabic and Kurdish, Pastor Philip and Omar's mother had some trouble communicating.  So Baby Sam's mother lent a hand (see video below).