Lifesaving Nitric Oxide Fund To Reduce Pulmonary Hypertension In addition to being a by-product of cigarette smoke and rush hour traffic, nitric oxide is used in pediatric intensive care. The inner lining of blood vessels uses nitric oxide to signal the surrounding smooth muscle to relax, thereby increasing blood flow. By dilating the veins there is less blood returned to the heart, thereby decreasing the heart's work. We've been using this frequently after surgery with our kids and it has been critical to our lifesaving work. Please give today to ensure that these surgeries are not in vain - that we are able to deal with both the cause and the effects of congenital heart disease in these dear Iraqi children. Molecule of the Year (1992) - Nitric Oxide

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Jeremy Courtney Co-Founder, President Preemptive Love Coalition (Twitter: @jeremy_courtney)

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Second Surgery This Morning

December 18, 2007 by Jeremy 

When I arrived at the hospital I found out that Hussein had yet another surgery this morning! The doctors had hoped to do an arterial switch on Hussein’s heart yesterday, and worked for five hours trying to make it succeed, but in the words of Dr. Houri, his body rejected it. Because of this, a second surgery was needed very soon to perform an atrial switch instead. The surgery was done successfully this morning, and Hussein is now stable and still sedated and intubated in the ICU. If all goes well, they hope to remove the breathing tube tomorrow.

I shared with his concerned mom that Dr. Houri said he is doing well, and will not need more surgery at this time. She remarked about the oxygenation rate of 99-100% on the monitor above Hussein’s bed, and showed me the evidence of good oxygenation - pink fingernails! I had already noticed that Hussein’s coloring is different because of this oxygenated blood available to his body.

As you might imagine, Hussein’s mother has not had sleep for the last two nights. She is very tired, and I encouraged her to sleep tonight while Hussein is sleeping peacefully under sedation. After he awakes, it will be harder for her to be away from him so she can sleep.

Jeremy Courtney lives and loves in Iraq as a co-founder and Executive Director of the Preemptive Love Coalition. He's also the father of two spectacular children, and married to the lovely Jessica Courtney. When not absorbed in PLC work he can be found writing songs and singing about hope and future.

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