Saturday, April 16 (day #2)
We arrived back at Al-Khalidi at about 7:30. While Jill, Becky and Mike went to the operating room to get prepared, Mark and Anne went to the ICU to echo the child scheduled for the first case. After review of this child’s defects, Maryam Jubran Ayshoa Qarmaza was brought down to the O.R. She is a beautiful 7 year old from Mosul, Iraq who has a VSD (hole between the lower chambers of the heart) and a tiny hole between the upper chambers as well. The surgery goes well and she joins the other 2 patients in the ICU before noon.
Our 2nd case starts by about 1:00; a sweet little 4 year old, Murtada Ra’ad Jasib Al -Nasari, from Basrah, Iraq who coincidentally also has a similar defect to our 1st case today. (VSD and muscle bundles in his right ventricle)
(don’t you just love these names?)
Things go very smoothly during the case, he is in the ICU by 3:00.
Our other 2 patients in the ICU are doing well. Zainab is up in a chair and will go down to the regular floor today. All her lines are coming out today.
Matti got his breathing tube out first thing this morning when we made rounds. He has been “complaining” all da after that that he is thirsty and hungry so finally about 1:00, he finally got his first few sips of pedialyte. He finished his bottle in no less than 5 seconds!
His mother was laughing; it’s nice to see the parents able to relax after they know their children are doing well.
We headed back to hotel and spent a lovely evening with one of the GOLA members at her home. The weather here this evening was absolutely beautiful.
As always, our family is praying for all of the members on the team as well as for the heart patients and families. It is hard to believe that it has been four years already since your first medical mission to Jordan.
Jennifer Gugle - April 18, 2011 at 12:17 am
The look of relief in the parents’ eyes says it all. That when they return home with their child, the years of worry and anxiety will be left behind. You have given them all a new life.
God bless and keep up the great work!
Marikay - April 18, 2011 at 9:26 am
I am so proud of you all, be safe, you are a blessing. Wishing success, strength and safety.
Leesa Hertz - April 18, 2011 at 5:56 pm