Zhino's Heart Surgery

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Zhino Flies Home to Iraq
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Zhino and three other children and their mothers flew back to Iraq today after spending three days with us in Jordan following their heart surgeries in Israel. (Zhino is pictured above rear right.)

We still remember the long waiting time in Jordan before the surgeries. Everybody was very tense then, and it used to take a while before we could cheer them up and make them smile. Now, what a difference!

We were most concerned about Zhino before surgery because she looked so blue, and she is now smiling and rosy. We still remember how her mother used to be torn between hope and dispair and frequently broke down crying.

These last three days have been relaxed and happy, and the families joined with our family in our evening worship times.

It's so nice to release happy mothers and children home to their families. Thank you Lord for all of your grace.

Thursday
July 10, 2008
A Joyful Farewell to Israel
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Zhino together with Shaima, Ranj, and Arina and all their mothers came to Jerusalem Wednesday morning in preparation for their return trip to Iraq. Their last request was to see Jerusalem before they left Israel. Hank drove them all over the city, showing them the most popular sights in Jerusalem, including the Garden Tomb (below) and even the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

They arrived back at the Shevet house just before sunset. Once they arrived they prepared a nice dinner as part of the celebration that would take place that evening.

Keleigh: "There was tremendous joy as all prepared to go back home. Around 11:00 p.m. dinner was served. Shortly after, Kurdish music was turned on and the real party began. All five of the children (Nari was among them, although he's not yet returning to Iraq) sang and danced for hours. Little Ali, waiting with us for his second surgery, loved watching the older children sing and dance, trying to imitate them as best he could. Their mothers also joined in intermittently encouraging the kids to continue on. I left the party around midnight and the children were still energetically singing and dancing."

Amy: "The next morning we weren't going to let them leave for Iraq without praying. So we gathered and prayed for those traveling. I said a tearful goodbye to all those that were leaving. They will surely be missed, but I am grateful to the Lord that they will be healthy upon returning to Iraq."

Hank then drove them to the border crossing, and Keleigh reports: "They checked out on the Israeli side and loaded their luggage onto the bus. Each mother and child gave us a hug goodbye and with it, the tears began to run down their cheeks. Shaima’s mother hugged me and as I began to pull away, I felt her hold on. Through tears, the continual words out of each mother’s mouth was, “thank you, thank you!"

You may help sponsor another child's life-saving heart surgery in Israel by clicking here.

Sunday, July 7, 2008
Unexpected Setback
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Last week Susan, the Kurdish translator at the Save a Child's Heart house discovered a lump on Zhino.

After calling the hospital, she was told to bring her in. At the hospital, Zhino was diagnosed with a hernia and would need another surgery. It was obvious that Zhino and her mother were very disappointed when they heard the news, but Zhino still had her beautiful smile and enjoyed playing outside.

Sunday, Zhino went in for a minor surgery. Not to worry, she is okay. She came out at about 1:00 p.m. and the doctors said it was a successful surgery. Zhino was a bit hungry when she came out and wanted something to eat. After asking the nurses, they agreed to let her eat a few crackers and a small cup of tea. This seemed to make her feel better. She was resting a little bit later. If she is still better tomorrow, the doctors will release her to return to the Save a Child's Heart house. Still pray for her, as we know any surgery can be painful.

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Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Full of Life
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Today at the hospital, Zhino was pretty energetic. She was full of life as I walked into the room, and she gave me a big smile and wave. She showed me all the presents she has recieved since she's been at the hospital. Her catheter was taken out today and she was sitting up a little bit. I am glad she's got a chance to go for a walk now. Although she is in some pain, I know it will be a new experience for her to walk around without running out of breath.

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Sunday, June 22, 2008
Back to Her Cheerful Self
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As I walked into Zhino's room today, I was greeted with a warm smile from my little friend. She must have been feeling a lot better because she was back to her smiling, cheerful self. I'm glad to see her feeling better, as I know others are too. Her mother looked a little more rested also.

Before we left the hospital, Arina and her mother decided to visit Zhino, so Alex and I made one more visit to Zhino also. Alex said a prayer for the girls and their mothers. Afterwards we headed back to Jerusalem.

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Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Out of ICU
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As I was about to visit Zhino, the doctors were moving her out of the ICU and into a room. She was also able to drink water.

Her mother appeared a bit more relaxed than on the first day of surgery, of course.

Andrew brought her a big balloon that I know cheered her up a bit.

Although I know she didn't feel very well, little Zhino managed to give me a smile for the camera.

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Awake and Sitting Up
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Keleigh, Andrew and I arrived at the hospital at midmorning this morning. When I walked into the ICU, Zhino was already sitting up just a little bit and was awake. Her face looked full of color, although I know she didn't feel very well at all. Her mother still seemed a little nervous, but I just put my arm around her and told her everything would be fine. So far, so good, but she still needs a lot of prayer, as well as our other little ones.

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Monday, June 16, 2008
Zhino Doing Fine After Today's Surgery
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When Keleigh and I arrived at the hospital, we spotted Zhino's mom in the waiting room. She nervously gave us a hug and a smile. Zhino had been in surgery for about three hours at this time. Keleigh and I consoled her as best we could, but I knew nothing probably would comfort her as much as seeing Zhino come out of surgery. Nari's mother came a few times to check on Zhino's mom. As Zhino's mom and I waited patiently for Zhino, the time seemed to drag.

Around 1:30 p.m., Zhino came out of surgery and was wheeled into the ICU. After waiting for a while, her mom and I were allowed to see her. Zhino was in a deep sleep, and seemed to be doing okay. Zhino's mom tearfully looked at Zhino in concern. I asked the nurse what her condition was and the nurse replied that she was fine. They proceeded to tell me that she would have oxygen until the morning and that she would sleep all night. Since I couldn't transalate all that was said, I just tried to comfort Zhino's mom with prayer and concern. Finally, the translator was able to tell her the surgery went well and that Zhino would be fine. After speaking to the interpreter, there was relief on her face--an indication that that was the best news she had heard all day. I knew then that her mom would be okay. Before I left I prayed for a speedy recovery and a good night's sleep for Zhino.

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Monday, June 9, 2008
Independent Girl
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Zhino is doing very well since her catheterization and release from the hospital. She has been enjoying her time in Jerusalem before her surgery this Sunday.

When we went to the park, I was surprised by Zhino’s independence from her mother. She usually likes to stay close to her mother, and sometimes refuses to be carried by anyone else. This time, however, she was quite happy to walk with others and was not worried when she noticed the distance between her and her mother. Zhino had lots of fun playing with the other children at the park, and she especially enjoyed the merry-go-round.

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Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Surgery Should Be "Easy"
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Zhino had her catheterization today. I visited her afterwards, and talked with Dr. Tamir. He said that her surgery should be an easy one, and will be scheduled soon.

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Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Mixed Emotions
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Zhino was admitted to the hospital today for her catheterization tomorrow. Lately she has felt very left out as her friends have been admitted for their surgeries, and she has stayed behind in Jerusalem.

Zhino was very excited to be going to the hospital even though she is a little more fearful than some of the other children.

Staff member Hank adds:

Today was the day that Zhino has been waiting for. Shevet staff received a call from the hospital asking that Zhino be there by 3pm to prepare for her heart catheterization. Our family had the privilege of transporting her and her mother on the 45-minute drive from Jerusalem to Holon. As we rode along, I would periodically turn around to snap some pictures. One impression stood out in my mind. Though we come from very different cultures, home environments and the like, one thing is the same: the love of a mother for her child and that same love being reciprocated from child to parent. Initially Zhino was excited that her turn finally came, but as I watched her want to be held by her mom, and I listened to them talk softly to one another, it was apparent that Zhino was feeling some trepidaton and anxiety. Who could blame her?

On arriving to the children's ward of Wolfson, smiles soon appeared on both Zhino's and her mother's faces as they were reunited with friends: Shaima, Aros, and their mothers.

As reality set in for Zhino, noticing the scar that Shaima had from her recent surgery, she quickly grew sad and began crying. My heart went out to this sweet, mild-mannered little girl and I began quietly praying for her. My children also noticed her tears and asked if they could pray for her. So we gathered round her as she sat on a hospital bed, praying softly that God would fill her with His peace.

Before long, it was time for our family to leave, and it was comforting to know that she was surrounded by friends that loved her. Pray that God would surround both Zhino and her mother with His love and peace as they wait for her surgery.

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Thursday, May 29, 2008
Delighted By A Doll
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The past week has been very trying for Zhino. She had been scheduled to report to the hospital on May 27th for her catheterization, but on Sunday we were told it would be delayed. Both Zhino and her mother cried at the news, and the rest of the moms and children were discouraged too. On Monday, we got the good news for Shaima that she was scheduled for surgery on Wednesday, so needed to report to the hospital on Tuesday. While the other mothers and children were glad for Shaima, sensitive Zhino was a bit crushed. A trip to the beach later in the day helped a lot to restore her smile. She was lonely on Tuesday after her friend Shaima left, but the "final straw" to her emotional well-being seemed to happen that evening when we brought little Arya to Jerusalem from the Save A Child's Heart house to begin her return to Iraq. Arya had been given the gift of a baby doll by someone while she was in the hospital, and Zhino was captivated with this pretty doll. Needless to say, Arya didn't want to share her doll with Zhino!

From Tuesday night on it seemed that Zhino went into a sort of depression. She wouldn't eat and cried a lot. Her smile was very hard to find no matter what any of us did. After asking many times, her mother finally told me that the problem was that Zhino wanted a doll. We have received donated toys here at the house from time to time, but very few baby dolls are in the boxes, so I shared with her mother that we would look for one on Wednesday. We were at the hospital or on the road from very early that morning until night. Despite an attempt to find a doll, our volunteer Jeanie came up empty-handed. She brought home a cute teddy bear, but it just didn't fill that lonely place in Zhino's heart. The depression continued today except for looks of anticipation toward me after I went to the Old City to take one of the mothers to the doctor. I told the moms I would still work on it, but needed to be in the office for a little while. But when I got a call with an updated surgery schedule for some of the patients, and there was no new news about Zhino, she went to her room crying again. That was when I resolved to leave the office work for later and go on a shopping expedition for a baby doll.

I found a doll that seemed just right for Zhino, snuck in the house with it, unpackaged it, and wrapped it in its blanket to present to her. She is totally delighted with the doll, and it was a delight for all of us to see "the old Zhino" with her sunny smile again. She is enjoying the doll and everything else going on right now, and I thank God, the Master of TLC, for the change some TLC makes to a little girl's heart.

Please pray for Zhino and her mother as we wait for her catheterization. They are weary of waiting, and Zhino is so weak it is a constant reminder of the need. The doctor explained to me on Sunday that in a case like Zhino's, the catheterization needs to be done closer to the surgery than was possible with the schedule they had in place. Currently, God willing, she is scheduled to undergo her catheterization in the next two weeks, with her surgery just afterwards. Your prayers will help them persevere.

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Tuesday, May 6, 2008
A Doctor's Hug Comforts Zhino
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It doesn't take spending a lot of time around Zhino to love this happy, active little girl. But last Thursday when she had her initial echocardiogram, she burst into tears during the examination, perhaps because of anxiety released as this new process unfolds. When her mother's words did not soothe her, Dr. Tamir interrupted the echo, helped her sit up, and settled her with a hug. After a few minutes talking with her mom, she was able to settle down, and ready to proceed again. This was a perfect expression of the care given, and compassion the doctors feel for these children, although not many people get to see it.

Zhino's echo revealed her need for at least a catheterization, followed by a surgery to close a rather large hole in her heart. It is possible more than one surgery will be required, but until the catheterization, the course of treatment

will not be determined. The catheterization should happen within the next two weeks.

Later in the day, Zhino was again upset when her blood had to be drawn, but as soon as that was finished, her sunny smile reappeared. When they did the EKG, she was busy making funny faces at me, unfazed by the equipment taking these readings.

A couple of days later we were all invited to a birthday party in a local park to celebrate with our friend Abigail on her first birthday. Zhino couldn't wait to go to the playground, but had a very difficult time matching her energy level to her enthusiasm level. Her mom and several of the staff took turns carrying her across the park to the picnic spot because of how weak she is, and she had to squat for air often to be able to move about the playground even though she refused to leave to rest for a few minutes. She wanted to be able to do everything all the other children were doing, but it simply was not possible for her. She thoroughly enjoyed the things she could do, like swing and slide.

I look forward to seeing her enjoy these fun activities after her surgery when she can be "full speed ahead."

Please pray for Zhino and her mother as they await her surgery. We all want to see her able to enjoy all the activities of children her age with healthy hearts, and we know God has made a way for this to happen.

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