Sam's Heart Surgery

Sunday
August 26, 2007

A Hard Goodbye
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One baby at a time, one miracle at a time, the mission is being completed and God is being glorified in Haifa and in Kurdistan. Praise the Lord, precious baby Sam and his gentle mother were escorted from Haifa to Amman on Tuesday, 21 August. They had spent about 70 days in Rambam Hospital and about one month with my family. Sam's mother wanted to be sure that Sam was OK before she left for Iraq, and she did not want to leave before I returned from England with my wife Violet and our three youngest children.

Sam and his mother joined the church for our recent conference in Bethlehem. Sam's mother was so blessed with the worship time, the teaching of the Word, and the warm fellowship she had with the Haifa Church people, who actually became her extended family. Two films were shown at the conference: one about the Haifa Iraqi ministry in general and one film about Sam. Sam's mother shared at the conference, once again, her experience and visions she had in Haifa.

Violet and I toured Sam and his mother around Jerusalem. At the Mount of Olives, we had a panoramic view and a brief history of this ancient city. We visited the Garden Tomb--one of the greatest signs that Jesus Christ is alive and hears the prayers of all people who come to Him in faith. We had a short tour of the Old City and visited the Dome of the Rock.

On Monday evening the Haifa Church people started coming to our house. They could not go to bed before hugging and kissing Sam and his mother again. This unexpected gathering turned into a great time of praise and worship for what the Lord had done in the lives of precious Sam and his mother. On Tuesday, Violet, Nasrine and I took Sam and his mother to Amman. Sam was so quiet and peaceful during the whole trip. The following day, on Wednesday, noontime, we escorted Sam and his mother to the airport; they departed at 13:00 pm straight to their hometown. It was one of the most touching moments we had with Sam and his mother since they arrived in Haifa. It was very hard on Nasrine to hand Sam over to his mother, with whom she spent days and nights, especially the last nights after our return from England.

It was not easy also on Violet and me to say goodbye to Sam and his mother. Sam's mother went to the gate with tears about leaving us, but also with tears of praising the Lord that the mission was indeed complete. Praise the Lord.

About 100 people were waiting for them at their city's airport, and many more were already at Sam's grandparents' home preparing a great feast. As soon as Sam and his mom arrived home, she called us in Amman thanking us again and assuring us that they were fine. She has already called us four times; she told us that she and her husband have started planning our trip to their city!!! If this would be God’s will, I’ll be delighted to be the first Christian Arab sent to represent the Lord in Kurdistan.

Our prayer is that “the One who started the good work in the lives of Sam's mother and the other precious Iraqi ladies and their children will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

To God be the glory.

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Tuesday
August 21, 2007

Sam Is Going Home
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Yesterday evening was a special event in Haifa as the many people God has brought into the lives of baby Sam and his mother gathered to tell them goodbye. I was thrilled to be one of those joined around God's plans for this tiny boy and his family, and so excited that I was at last getting to see Sam again! None of us could know he would be here until I was back from America, and no one wanted him to have to stay so very long, but I was so thankful for the chance to shower him with kisses, and spend some sweet time with his gentle mother once more.

Sam and his mother have been staying at the home of Pastor Philip since Sam's dismissal from the hospital, until the day they were able to travel. When I arrived, Sam's mother was saying goodbye to some of the neighbors there, but Sam was still at the house, so I got to see and hold him for a while. When Sam's mother came in, it was a wonderful reunion filled with hugs and tears. For a few minutes, we were just about speechless as we looked at baby Sam and how far he has come. All I could think of was, "Look what the Lord has done!!" I remembered the fearful woman I met in mid-May standing forlornly in the Jordanian border terminal holding her tiny, wailing, three-week-old son. I recalled how she cried as we rode to Haifa together to begin Sam's journey to health .... and the tears of fear as those first days went by before, during and after Sam's open heart surgery. I remember Sam fretting and struggling to breathe as we watched the oxygen saturation levels on the monitor up until he was taken to surgery, and then seeing him in the ICU so helpless as he began his recovery after the successful surgery was complete. And there, right before me, I saw the reality of the handiwork God has done in both of their hearts during their three-month stay in Haifa. It was beautiful to behold!

I hope you can see the difference in one of the first pictures I took...

...and a picture from last night (at the top of this blog entry).

Now I had the joy of seeing a confident and calm mother, and a strong and cheerful son preparing to go home to their family. They have been anxiously waiting for them for over three months. By the time most of you read this blog, Sam and his mother will be in Iraq -- praise God!

Let us continue to pray for this precious family. We know that God's handprints are all over this situation and the relationships formed during this time. We do not know what He will do in Sam's life as the years go by, but we can trust Him to use every detail of this part of Sam's life to His glory. And for this, we are thankful and rejoice in His goodness!

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Thursday, August 9, 2007

Sam Hospitalized Briefly for Fever
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After being in the hospital Wednesday night for monitoring, Sam will leave the hospital again on Thursday. Admitted for a high temperature, doctors wanted to watch Sam and run some tests to investigate his condition. All appears well now, as he is going back to stay with the Said family.

I ran into Sam's mother in Aroma coffee shop at Rambam, as she was eating breakfast with a friend on Thursday morning. She hopes to return home to Iraq with Sam later this month. Yesterday she said goodbye to Zhino, Younis and their mothers. That brought tears to her eyes, and I imagine the reality of how long she has been here with her little one is setting in more and more. Despite the emotional goodbye, I sense a peace and calm spirit in Sam's mother. She seems very relaxed and helpful to those around her.

We hope, with her, for good health for Sam and a trip home to Iraq in the near future.

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Monday, July 23, 2007

Sam Leaves Hospital as Moms Report Seeing Jesus
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Two and a half months after entering the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa for emergency surgery, Iraqi baby Sam and his mother finally left yesterday to come and stay at our home. Our family was so excited to have him at our home for the first time! Yet in the end they spent their first night at the home of Dr. and Mrs. N. Khoury (my sister-in-law and her husband), because Dr. Khoury is a pediatrician. He will help Sam's mother give Sam his medicine. In a few days they will move back to the our house. Sam's mother phoned us this morning to tell us that Sam spent a good night, and that he ate 65 cc with the bottle and 15 cc with the nasal tube, praise the Lord.

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.

Then 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.

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Sunday
July 22, 2007

Sam Left Hospital Today
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Today's the day which Um Sam has been waiting for -- Baby Sam is certified fit to check out of Rambam!

There were happy smiles all around, as Nebal and her daughter Grace came to bring Sam and Um Sam to recuperate at Philip Saad's apartment.

Praise the LORD for His healing, and thank you to all of you who prayed for Sam over the past weeks. Although he still coughs every now and then, Sam is now able to breathe and feed on his own without medical instruments.

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Wednesday
July 18, 2007

Not Sucking Well
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Um Sam was in tears this morning when I visited at Rambam Medical Center. Her concern is that Sam has not been sucking well and has to be fed through the tube.

Dr. Shirley explained that Sam may be too weak to suck because he has been having convulsions (or seizures). Since such convulsions can be related to the heart problems, they are expected. Dr. Shirley comforted Um Sam, advising her not to be unduly worried.

The doctor is monitoring Sam's condition closely, to see if the medication being given to treat the convulsions is sufficient, or if it needs to be supplemented with another drug. She also explained that Sam may have convulsions once in a while even after he returns home in Iraq. He will have to see a doctor for the necessary medication to keep it under control.

Baby Sam responds well to Dr Shirley as she talks to him while checking for the vital signs. The results from his CT scan and ECG are both good. He is breathing quite well on his own, except when he suffers from the fits of convulsions.

His cough is subsiding, and what remains to be done is for Um Sam to keep encouraging him to suck, using the pacifier to tease him, so that he can learn to drink milk on his own again.

It has been a long and tiring road of ups and downs for Um Sam, so do continue to keep her in prayer... for the LORD is a good and perfect Healer, both for
the physical and the spiritual well being.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Two Months Since Surgery, Sam Prepares to Leave
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Sam from Iraq is rolling about happily in his bed, making great progress and will be leaving the hospital soon, nearly two months since the emergency surgery in Haifa to switch the great arteries of his newborn heart. It is about time, thank you Jesus! Today Sam took his mother for a walk at the hospital mall. After half an hour away from oxygen they returned to the room to find out that his saturation was still between 95-100% of normal! Praise the Lord.

Sam now eats most of his formula (50-70 cc) with the bottle, and what is left with a nose tube. When he leaves the hospital, my children are excited to have him at our home for some days before he leaves the country back to Iraq.

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Sunday, July 11, 2007

Reunion of Iraqi Families in Haifa
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Today was a glorious day for several reasons. First it was the Lord’s day. Second it was a reunion day for the Iraqis, as all three mothers and children in Haifa got together. Third it was a day of great healing. Omar is recovering amazingly. He ate a big piece of pizza. Fourth Sam was off of the oxygen for much time, and also ate several times, praise the Lord. He's pictured below as a living doll for Zhino's amusement!

Dr. Shirley is considering sending Sam out of the hospital for a week and then bringing him back for a check-up.

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Wednesday
July 11, 2007

Oxygen Levels At 93%
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I arrived at Rambam to find Dr. Sharon, the daughter of Pastor Philip, jiggling Baby Sam in her arms, and the baby was winking his eyes as if to say, "I'm enjoying this."

In spite of his intermittent though persistent cough, Sam is doing well as far as the normal development of his heart and lungs goes.

He is now able to breathe on his own without the oxygen mask / tube, and his oxygen level reached a commendable 93%! With improving O-2 levels, Baby Sam is definitely gonna be O-K! Hallelujah!

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Tuesday
July 10, 2007

Cause of Sam's Coughing May be Found
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“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)

Baby Sam, who captured the hearts of many at the hospital of Rambam, is growing in stature and I pray he will grow also in wisdom and in favor with God and man… He is gaining weight; his face is so rosy and healthy. With his eyes he follows movements and colors. He smiles, looks at his mother's face with satisfaction, he hears voices and responds to voices and he turns around and rolls up in his cradle. All these are very good signs of growth. Yet he is sticking somewhere! From time to time he has coughing attacks, and his oxygen saturation goes down. The last few days the doctors were perplexed, and yesterday there was a meeting for all the doctors related to Sam. The cardiologist, pulmonologist, gastroenterologist and neurologist all decided that Sam’s heart is healthy, he has no gastro problem and no food reflux, but he still coughs and can’t get over it. They decided he should have a bronchoscope test, and found out that he has a segmental stricture in the trachea possibly due to mechanical pressure of the aorta. This causes Sam’s constant coughing and his low saturation. We are thankful that they finally found the problem. The final decision was to give him steroids and wait some days hoping that the trachea (breathing canal) would grow and get opened. At worst they may have to go in and move the aorta pressure from the trachea.

Meanwhile Sam’s mother, who has been at the hospital for two months, is getting tired and frustrated. Let us pray for her for extra strength and stronger faith.
The church people do not leave her at all. From time to time some girls replace her while she goes out with other ladies to rest or get some fresh air outside the hospital. She certainly misses her husband and her 3 year old son back home. But in spite of this entire difficult situation she still captures the hospital staff with her inner beauty and quiet spirit; it must be the grace of God!

Please join us as we pray to Dr. Jesus and ask Him to interfere and speak his word of healing over precious Sam and ask Him to strengthen his mother’s faith. She has seen Jesus at least 3 times during her stay at the hospital, and every time she said He assures her that He is with her and with her son.

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Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Capturing the Hearts of Many
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Let us give thanks to our Lord who is holding baby Sam with his healing arms. Sam, who went through a very tough time, continues to recover and show great progress. Sam had several tests the last few days, such as milk scan, CT and other tests. All results show that he is fine. Yet he still coughs and that is good for the recovery of his lungs. He is gaining weight and flourishing. From time to time he is taken out of the oxygen helmet to check his saturation; thank God it is showing great improvement. Sam has captured the hearts of many: doctors, nurses, other staff members, parents of other patients, and the Haifa church family. Today the church people, staff members and of course the mother were so excited about Sam’s recovery, especially as he started going out of his room. Today he took his mother and Uncle Abu Peter in a tour of the children's department. Praise the Lord.

Ephesians 3:20-21

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Thursday, June 28, 2007

In the Pink of Health
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Baby Sam weighs 3.765kg today, compared to the 4.020kg of yesterday, as he had been throwing up after his feed. Nevertheless, he is in the pink of health, and Shilan (Um Sam) wanted a photo taken of him with his chest bared, to show off the nice healing of the long vertical scar – his ‘trophy’ from the last operation.

Baby Sam’s oxygen level has been consistently good at 98-100%, but his breathing is a wee bit too rapid. He has also been coughing intermittently. This, I was told, is a good sign as the effort of coughing actually helps to “open up his lungs”. Besides, this seems to confirm the doctors’ diagnosis that the problem the baby has been suffering from lately (re: throwing up his feed) is not related to the heart nor lungs.

His situation has been stable and last night, Um Sam was relieved to be able to spend an evening out with Pastor Philip, his wife Violet and me. We went to a chic café on Haifa’s famous Ben Gurion Avenue for some cheese salad and ice cream.
Please continue to pray, as the medical team has done what they know best. What’s needed now is divine wisdom to discern the root cause of Baby Sam’s ‘problem’. Pray also for Pastor Philip, his family as well as his congregation, as they continue to minister to the Iraqi families in love, spending much time with the families both in and out of the hospital, and bringing them on short outings and feeding them home-cooked meals.

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Monday June 25, 2007

Update From Rambam Medical Staff
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As far as the heart surgery, Sam's heart is perfectly normal, and his brain is fine, yet he has some downs sometime. The doctors say that it is not related to the heart, it is related to gastro problems. Sometimes some of the food he takes in goes back up and might go to the lungs, which causes him to cough and lose some oxygen. This is not dangerous. They are giving him some medicine, hoping this will solve the problem. He might go through another gastro test; they want to see if there is a hole somewhere in the esophagus. Sam's mother is becoming more and more tired of being at the hospital, even though our church people do not leave her, and sometimes they even take her place so she can resti at our home. Please continue to pray for both Sam and his mother, and also for me and for our church as we try to show these people the love of God in a practical way. It is a privilege to be used by God to draw together the children of Ishmael and the children of Isaac in unity.

Sabbath Eve June 22, 2007

God Hears Our Prayers
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It's wonderful to visit the Rambam Hospital today -- within 24 hours of praying over Baby Sam's 'critical' condition yesterday, he has improved so much that Pastor Philip was able to carry Baby Sam in his arms for the 1st time! (Pictured above with Shevet staffers Alex and Jai). And Um Sam is all smiles and definitely at peace, and happy to have her picture taken with me (LC) below.

It was a very different situation yesterday, when she simply couldn't control her tears because Baby Sam's heart-beat shot up above 200 and the medical team had to treat him for convulsions. When I saw her crying and cradling Baby Sam close to her, I asked Pastor Philip to translate and we encouraged her to remember that God hears our prayers, and suggested that she calm down so that her anxiety was not passed over to Baby Sam who could sense her heartbeat. So today, she knows God has truly answered our prayers.

A church group of 10 (including two children) from Arizona was in Haifa and they joined the Shevet team in visiting with the young Iraqi woman recuperating at the house following catheterization, and then to Rambam to see Baby Sam. At both places, the group prayed for the Iraqis and it was a good testimony of faith and gratefulness to the LORD who hears and heals.

Thank you to all who have joined us in prayer for Baby Sam. People from the nations are coming together in unity for this precious child from Iraq, and we believe he will live to know His Creator and Healer.

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Thursday, June 21, 2007

Agitated
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Sam was agitated today as doctors and nurses fussed around him. They were concerned that he was constipated, and they were preparing to help little Sam out. He proved he was okay and could do it alone.

Sam has been suffering some convulsions, which have doctors a bit concerned. Sam's mom is very nervous.

Please do lift up both Sam and his mom in prayer. I am confident the Lord will work this all out for His glory. Sam is in good hands--the Lord's.

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Tuesday, June 19, 2007

A Worried Mother
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File photo

If I am little bit late arriving to the hospital, Sam’s mother calls with concerns for Sam’s condition, not because she is right but because she is a mother who has the right to be concerned for her baby. When I arrive and meet with the doctors I find out that Sam is doing fine and improving! She just forgets that her baby went through a very difficult surgery, which has some expected reactions for few days and perhaps for a few weeks.

Yesterday I asked one of the wonderful doctors (there are many like her) to explain to Sam’s mom about his condition. I was much encouraged, and of course his mother was as well. Sam is doing great, his heart is working very well, his lungs are clean, no more infection, the oxygen in his blood is getting to normal and he is gaining weight. This morning, Sam's mother phoned me and said, “Usually I ask you to rush to the hospital to talk to the doctors because I am concerned for Sam, but today I have good news for you, the doctor says that Sam is doing great, I can take him for a few minutes outside the room without oxygen, and if he continue to improve, he can leave the hospital at the end of the week!" She said, "I want to tell you this good news before calling Sam's father!”. I arrived and indeed Sam looked so healthy and strong, Praise the name of Jesus. She is excited to leave the hospital, God willing, and stay with us for a while; my wife and the church people are excited about having them.

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Monday, June 18, 2007

Sam in Good Hands
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Pastor Philip's daughter, along with two friends of hers from the Haifa Baptist Congregation, took care of Sam today while Sam's mother was whisked away for a short break from the hospital. And I had the chance to rock Sam to sleep at one point when he was inconsolable. Sam is gaining weight. Doctors say that Sam's periodic drops in oxygen levels should pass within one week.

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Sunday, June 17, 2007

Sam's Brain Activity is "Takeen"
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We took Sam to the EEG test this morning to check on his apparent seizure last week; he was so calm and looked so healthy. Redeeming the time of the test, which took about 30 minutes, Sam kept eating from his bottle. He is gaining weight praise the Lord! I had to leave the hospital after the EEG test.

A few minutes ago Haya, the staff nurse at the cardiology department, phoned me and gave me a great report about Sam. She said that the results of this morning EEG test are, in Hebrew, “Takeen,” which means perfectly normal, praise the Lord. The oxygen in his blood is normal, he breathes well and Um Sam is very happy praising the Lord with a big smile, yet she can’t wait to leave the hospital. Please keep praying for both, for physical and for spiritual health.

These file photos were not taken today

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Thursday, June 14, 2007

A Strong Seizure
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I found Sam today sucking down a full bottle of formula. I was struck at how much he looked like my own little girl born just one week before him. Doctors reported that Sam continues to recover well, but noted that he had experienced a strong seizure. A neurologist will exam him on Sunday. Let our prayers continue--to allow Sam’s appetite to grow and for a good report from the neurologist.

Click the arrow below to see a video of darling Baby Sam.

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Thursday, June 7, 2007
Keeping His Formula Down
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When I arrived at Rambam Medical Center I met Dr. Lorber's nurse, who took me down to the first floor to Sam's room. Sam had been in ICU because he developed pneumonia last week. But his recovery has been excellent. Sam is having trouble keeping down his formula and needs prayer that this also will pass. The nurse said if everything continues as it has this past week, Sam just might be ready to be released from hospital in another week.

Pastor Philip Saa'd adds:
The healing hand of the Lord is on precious Sam. This baby indeed is a miracle. Though his tiny body went through a heart surgery and a lot of serious medical treatment, yet by the grace of God he survived and recovered fast. This morning's medical report was very encouraging. Dr. A. Khoury summarized it by saying that baby Sam is very well. The nurses started reducing the artificial oxygen gradually; because he was breathing well on his own, and he does not get antibiotics any more, his lungs are much better, no more infection. The oxygen was disconnected at the evening, praise the Lord! Sam can breathe by his own strength. Shilan the mother is very happy and so much encouraged. I thank God for the Christian community in Haifa, for the staff in Rambam hospital, and for the Iraqi Jews who visit Sam and his mother. I thank the Lord for our church members who embrace Shilan and Sam with the love of the Lord. Shilan has told me yesterday that she is amazed of the love she has felt by these people. I told her, to God be the glory, and it is actually His love that was poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
In a few days, perhaps at the beginning of the coming week, Sam should be out of the hospital, and the Saa'd family and the whole church can’t wait to host them both and show them the love of the Lord. Please keep paying for Sam’s full recovery and for Shilan the mother.

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Tuesday

June 5, 2007
Back to
His Bottle
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Thanks be to the Lord, Sam is doing great. He eats and sleeps most of the daytime. Last evening he ate from his bottle. As you can see from his picture, he now looks healthy and beautiful.

Sam's mother was very happy because Sam ate a lot. He still takes antibiotic for the lung infection. The doctors say his heart is perfect and the lung infection is much better. Please keep praying for this precious baby. In Haifa we pray that Sam would grow in wisdom, in stature, in favor with God and man. We believe that he is very special boy.

Please pray also for Sam's mother, as she does not sleep well at night. She is very tired. Yesterday we had to take her to the Saad’s home to rest for a few hours. She hopes to leave the hospital with Sam very soon. Let us pray that the Lord might hasten Sam’s recovery.

Philip Sa'ad is pastor of the Haifa Baptist Church.

Monday June 4, 2007
As Normal As Could Be
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Haifa, represented by the Christian community (one visitor is pictured with Sam at left) and by the faithful staff of Rambam Hospital, is grateful to God for His mercy on precious baby Sam. He is again doing fine and recovering.

A week after his successful heart surgery, Sam developed a lung infection, and as a result he was taken back to the ICU. Thanks to God and to the intensive care of the doctors and staff, Sam recovered again and was moved to the regular section. Dr. A. Khoury and Dr. S. Eshaq told me this morning that Sam's heart is as normal as it could be; his lungs are much cleaner than the last few days. They hope and we pray that Sam might leave the hospital in one week. Sam with his mother need to stay with us for some days before they leave back home for Iraq. Dr. Khoury says that he needs to check on Sam once or twice before their departure.

Sam's new friends in Haifa are so excited about the idea of hosting him and his mother. Both the Christian community and also two Iraqi Jews, originally from Sam's home land, are still showering Sam and his mother with their love in a very practical way. Sam's mother is so thankful to her new friends. She told us that she feels she knows us for a long time and that she is surrounded with many brothers and sisters.

Please keep praying for Sam, for a complete recovery and that his mother will also go back home with a new heart.

Pray also for the four new Iraqi patients expected to arrive on Wednesday. Rambam Hospital and the Haifa Christian community are waiting to offer all that they can.

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Wednesday
May 30, 2007
Fighting a Chest Infection
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Today I journeyed to Haifa looking forward to a long visit with Sam and his mother. Haifa was covered in thick, yellow haze as a wind storm brought heavy dust from the desert. It seemed nature was sympathizing with Sam.

Arriving at the ICU I was confronted by a nurse who kindly refused my entry. Sam has developed a serious chest infection and visitors are being severely limited. Most tubes have been removed at this point (which is very positive) but he dearly needs prayer as he fights this infection. Dr. Lorber relayed that all is going quite well except for this obvious setback.

I briefly chatted with Sam's very worried mother who did not want to leave his side for a moment. The only visitor allowed was a dear friend of Shevet, Pastor Philip Saad.

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Monday
May 28, 2007
A Blessing from God
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Have you ever nearly missed a blessing from God? Well, I almost did today but fortunately God, in His providence, made certain I did not.

Instead of remaining in Jerusalem today, my husband Johnny and I rode north to Haifa with our son Alex (Shevet Achim Jerusalem office director), his wife Jamie and newborn daughter Abigail. We arrive at Rambam Hospital where, once again, I open my purse to a security guard before entering hospital grounds. The hospital sits beside the Mediterranean Sea with the Haifa port nearby. It seems an odd place to build a large hospital until I look in the other direction straight up at the enormous hills (Mt. Carmel) that comprise so much of Haifa.

View of Rambam Medical Center from the Haifa mountains

We take the elevator to the 5^th floor where Um Sam, mother of Sam, has a room. This floor is for parents of children staying in intensive care. One room door is open. It seems more like a convent’s cell, tiny, stark but serviceable and for exhausted parents, it is a relief for their bodies, if not spirit.

Not finding Um Sam, we go the 4^th floor and enter the pediatric ICU. Peering around a nursing desk I see Sam and his mother for the first time. My heart begins to ache just at the sight. He is crying while she attempts to hold a pacifier in his mouth but he will not accept it. Is my heart aching more because of the pain I see in both of their eyes or more because of the love I see, mother for her son? What courage she has and I want to tell her. Alex translates for me. The nurse comes to give medicine to Sam for pain. The nurse only speaks Hebrew so I ask Alex to tell the mother what the nurse is doing so it will make her feel better. Alex tells me the crying and movement by the baby is a good sign.

Margaret Pettett with Baby Sam and Mom

I step away to speak with the attending doctor Johnny has befriended, and learn that she speaks at least three languages, Arabic, Hebrew and English. What a blessing that is!!! She tells us that Sam is doing well thus far and is maintaining stability following the draining of the fluid. [Click the play arrow to hear Dr. Suhar explain in the video below.]

All the while I am watching the mother and wondering how it must feel . . . being so far from home, the lone support of her baby, dependent on trusting each caretaker with the life of her child.

Gazing at her face, I see warmth, love, tenderness, beauty, fear and determination.

That’s what courage looks like.

As we leave, we run into Nardine in the hall. Who is she I wonder? I learn that she is from Haifa Baptist Church and that the church is providing sitters to be with Um Sam. How wonderful to have native Arabic speakers so committed to loving this family!!

What was my blessing? Seeing love prevail… over heart defects, obstacles, and languages.

You may click here to see the rest of Sam's story.