Ruwand's Heart Surgery

Monday, September 6, 2010
Ruwand Breathing On Own, Still in ICU

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Baby Ruwand is off the mechanical breathing machines and still being closely monitored by the ICU staff. She is steadily being strengthened by the prayers and the grace of God.

Please continue in your concern for Ruwand, and for her mother who is by her side through these long days.

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Saturday, August 28, 2010
Ruwand Under Watchful Eyes in ICU
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Tonight in the quiet of the ICU, baby Ruwand sleeps after Thursday's surgery to re-attach her esophagus to her stomach. Dr.Tamir and staff stand by as the machinery continues to breath for her (click the play arrow below to have a look and listen to the noisy machine keeping Ruwand alive).

The player will show in this paragraph

There are some difficulties with her lungs. We would appreciate you holding this child up in prayer. Dr.Tamir is hopeful that this will work out. We know WHO has the power to work it out. Thank you for your prayers.

Monday August 30 update:

This afternoon finds baby Ruwand under constant watch in ICU. The report is that this is very complicated but the infant remains stable at this time.

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Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Ruwand Smiling on Second Surgery's Eve
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After 50 days of waiting, many planned and rescheduled surgeries, Ruwand is once again scheduled to have surgery for esophagial atresia. She has endured many diagnostic tests and is currently in stable condition without fever. She is
projected to have a very long surgery tomorrow morning at Wolfson Hospital. Ruwand will continue to receive her nutrients through one of the many
tubes meeting her physical needs. As I visited Ruwand today, she was alert and
even managed a sweet smile despite all the connections in the way. Her hands
reached out to mine and I felt a connection that reminded me that we are all in
need of help in one way or another.

Tahani, Ruwand's mother, was in better spirits today with the real prospect of
surgery scheduled for Thursday morning. After a difficult week of waiting, she
even managed to invite our new volunteer from France, Sabrina, to come in and visit Ruwand. We joined Tahani as she led us to her daughter waiting quietly in the Intermediate ICU unit. Ruwand smiled so sweetly at us when we talked to her and responded to our touch by moving her arms wildly up and down. Her energy level is quite a bit lethargic, and she has a long day ahead of her
tomorrow, so please pray that she will come through this surgery without any complications and that she will be strengthened to endure the surgery.

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Thursday
August 25, 2010
Ruwand's Second Surgery Delayed by Fever
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Ruwand’s surgery today was cancelled and rescheduled for Tuesday; she had a low grade fever, and the doctors though it best to reschedule the procedure. Please pray that her temperature would remain within normal limits and she would be able to have her esophageal atresia surgery as planned. Please pray also that her mother would be comforted and encouraged in this time as she has seen her daughter endure several difficult procedures and operations. Pray for peace as her daughter prepares to have another surgery.

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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Ruwand is Breathing On Her Own
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Ruwand is off the ventilator and moved out of the ICU to the intermediate ICU. She is still in need of another operation to connect her esophagus to her stomach, an operation which she might receive this week. She has no fever, but her temperature is close (her temp is 37.8; 38 is a technical fever). If she does not have a fever in the next couple days, then she will have her esophageal atresia surgery on Thursday.

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Monday
August 9, 2010
Ruwand's Lungs Still Having Trouble
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Ruwand is still in the ICU recovering from her surgery and on mechanical ventilation. Her lungs in particular are having some difficulty; the doctors are still determining whether her delayed recovery is the result of congestion, infection, or some other cause. They will hopefully know more tomorrow after preliminary tests come back. Please pray that Ruwand would recover fully and quickly, as she has an esophageal atresia surgery to complete when she has fully healed from this heart surgery.

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Friday, August 6, 2010
Ruwand Still Intubated After Her Surgery
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Ruwand had a successful heart surgery on Wednesday, and is now in the ICU recovering from the procedure. Although the surgery went well, she has some fluid buildup around her lungs and heart and has continued to be intubated (on mechanical ventilation) in the ICU for longer than normal. Please pray that she would make a full and healthy recovery from the surgery. A date for her esophageal atresia surgery has not been set yet, but hopefully it will be soon.

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Friday
July 30, 2010
Ruwand's First Surgery Set for Wednesday
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Ruwand is out of the ICU and has recovered from an explorative surgery to help plan her course of treatment. She is scheduled to have her first corrective surgery on Wednesday.

Please pray that this surgery would proceed as planned; since Ruwand has had several surgeries cancelled her mother is doubtful that the surgery will occur as scheduled.

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Thursday, July 22, 2010
Postponed Yet Again
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Ruwand’s surgery has been postponed again. The doctors are still debating the best approach to operate on her heart defect and her esophageal atresia. Please pray especially for Ruwand’s mother, as she was very depressed and discouraged today at yet another surgery being cancelled.

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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Ruwand's Surgery Back on Schedule
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Ruwand's surgery for the lengthening of her esophagus and connecting it to her stomach is scheduled for tomorrow. Her heart surgery will tentatively be in three days. The fever that prevented her last surgery has been resolved.

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Monday, July 19, 2010
Ruwand's Surgery Postponed
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Ruwand had her surgery cancelled today. On paper, the reason is a low grade fever, but a conversation with the doctor revealed another reason for the cancellation: as mentioned previously, Ruwand has a complex heart defect in addition to an esophagus that does not reach her stomach. It is difficult to do one surgery in the presence of the other defect. The doctors have decided to take additional time to reevaluate the safety in the needed surgeries in order to promote the safest recovery for Ruwand. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors as they decide how to approach Ruwand’s difficult case. Also, please continue to pray for Ruwand’s mother as she is disappointed at the cancellation of the surgery.

Click to send an e-mail message to Ruwand and her mother.

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You may help sponsor Ruwand's surgery by clicking here.

Sunday
July 18, 2010
Ruwand's First Surgery is Tomorrow
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Ruwand is doing well and she is scheduled for surgical repair of her esophageal atresia tomorrow, so please pray that the surgery will be successful. The result of this surgery determines her ability to have cardiac surgery later on, so please keep Ruwand in your prayers. Pray for comfort for her mother as she is worried and stressed about her daughter’s health and safety.

Click to send an e-mail message to Ruwand and her mother.

Notify me when Ruwand's page is updated
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You may help sponsor Ruwand's surgery by clicking here.

Sunday
July 11, 2010
Surgeons Weighing Where to Start
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Nava, the charge nurse in the Wolfson Medical Center surgical ward, informed us today that Ruwand's surgery is going to be extremely complicated. The first issue is not even the heart. Her esophagus is not reaching her stomach, therefore she is having to be fed through a tube that goes straight into her intestines. The surgeon might decide that Ruwand will have to have surgery for this first. Then they will get started on her heart which has five defects.

Click to send an e-mail message to Ruwand and her mother.

Notify me when Ruwand's page is updated
at this email:

You may help sponsor Ruwand's surgery by clicking here.