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WE HAVE KIDS IN SURGERY RIGHT NOW! THROUGH THESE STORIES WE'RE INVITING YOU TO BE A PART OF THE NEXT LIFESAVING SOLUTION. GET TO KNOW THESE KIDS & PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN FOR THE NEXT GROUP! |
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Introducing the Shad Faraydoon Memorial Fund: $50k to Fund 10 Infant Surgeries
June 29, 2009 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Shad Faraydoon always stood a chance of being healed. Unfortunately, every day that went by throughout his ten year life was a day that further diminished his heart’s capacity to function on its own and oxygenate his blood.
By the time the Preemptive Love Coalition met Shad he was ten years old. We marshaled all the resources we needed to help Shad and in less than a month he was admitted to surgery in May 2009. Unfortunately, Shad did not respond to the corrective measures of the surgeries as we had all hoped he would. Too many years of living with his heart defects had hindered his body’s ability to operate as it was intended. A series of blood clots finally contributed to Shad’s death a week after his surgery.
We established this memorial fund with Shad’s family in order to fund ten surgeries for infants who will benefit most from early intervention. Shad waited ten years for his chance and every day made him a less likely candidate for life-saving heart surgery. In honor of Shad’s struggle and in hopes of using his beautiful life to help others we have established this memorial fund so that infants - unlike Shad - do not have to wait for life-saving resources to become available to them.
$50,000 to fund surgeries for 10 infants.
A Glimpse of Things to Come
In May 2009 PLC set out to film the journey of three children to life-saving heart surgery with filmmaker Michael Dalton and photographer Foster (Matt) Addington. Shad Faraydoon was one of those children.
To our great sadness and surprise, Shad’s ending was much different than we had expected. Nonetheless, Shad and his father, Faraydoon, will feature prominently in the forthcoming full-length documentary. It is our hope that the anxiety and anticipation, the hope and hopelessness in Shad’s personal journey will be a compelling call to action so that children don’t have to wait in line ten years for surgeries that could otherwise save their lives.
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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. |
Ranu Giving Others Rides on Her Bike After Her Successful February Surgery
June 29, 2009 by Abby · Leave a Comment
Yesterday, PLC Family Advocates and Summer Interns visited Ranu, one of our heart surgery kids from February.
She looks so different, we almost didn’t recognize her! Not only does she have a new hair cut, but she looks much healthier. While we were there, she was running and playing, which she was unable to do before her surgery. Prior to her surgery, whenever she was tired, she just laid down wherever she was. Now, she is able to run and play like any other 5 year-old. In fact, she was so active, while we were there, she gave kids rides on her two-seater bike.
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Abby Bertrand is the Hospitality Coordinator for the Preemptive Love Coalition in Istanbul, Turkey. She is married to PLC's Turkey Director, Scott Bertrand. When not showing hospitality to Iraqi families on during their surgical sojourns, she's still most likely to be found showing hospitality to someone else through her delicious home-cooking or many manners of gift giving and kindness. |
Bruska Ready for School in the Fall After Successful Heart Surgery Last January
June 27, 2009 by Ruth · Leave a Comment
Yesterday, PLC Family Advocates and Summer Interns went to visit Bruska. Bruska was all smiles while we were there. She really wants to go to school next year with her older sister. You can tell she really loves her family and that she enjoys being around people. As our physical therapist, Ruth, worked a little with her, her face lit up - especially while playing with her doll.
She is doing well since her heart surgery in January.
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Ruth Simpson is a Family Advocate for the Preemptive Love Coalition in Iraq and a certified physio-therapist. Ruth also hails from Ireland, though she's slowly losing her amazing accent amongst all the Americans. When not sharing her life with PLC's kids in Iraq, she's most often serving some other constituent group with her rehabilitative skills and compassion. |
Roshna Surprises All by Passing Her Classes In Spite of Many Absences Prior to Surgery
June 26, 2009 by Ruth · Leave a Comment
Yesterday, PLC Family Advocates and Summer Interns visited Roshna, a sixteen year old girl who had heart surgery in February, who seems to be doing well.
When asked about how she now feels post-surgery, she says that her lips no longer turn blue from lack of oxygen and she is able breathe much easier. She is happy, making jokes and laughing during our visit.
Roshna had exciting news for us: She passed her school exams, which was quite an accomplishment because she had missed three months of school this year due to her heart condition. The school threatened to not allow her to take her exams because they said there would be no way she could pass them, but she proved them wrong! We are all very proud of her!
Now that she is on summer break, she enjoys drawing and watching TV. She showed us several of her recent drawing which she had copied free-handedly.
She’s excited about the future and looks forward to going to college and possibly being an engineer.
Heart surgeries for Iraqi kids is so much more than it often sounds. These life-saving heart surgeries are game changing, allowing kids to complete their school and aspire to the highest fields of work in the land.
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Ruth Simpson is a Family Advocate for the Preemptive Love Coalition in Iraq and a certified physio-therapist. Ruth also hails from Ireland, though she's slowly losing her amazing accent amongst all the Americans. When not sharing her life with PLC's kids in Iraq, she's most often serving some other constituent group with her rehabilitative skills and compassion. |
Aria is the Happiest Guy in Town a Year After Heart Surgery
June 25, 2009 by Ruth · Leave a Comment
PLC interns and Family Advocates met with Aria and his family last Thursday. Oh, the hospitality of this wonderful family! Aria is 3 years old, has Down Syndrome, and has survived a heart surgery - yet is one of the happiest little guys we’ve met here. Although his heart was operated on nearly a year and a half ago, you could never tell. He loves the camera and perks up whenever one is pointed towards him. He’ll pause whatever he’s doing…pose for you…then run to you to see how it turned out.
For a majority of the time, we “played” with both Aria and his older sister, which consisted of dodging flying toys as they were thrown about the room - typical behavior of a three year old boy. The family is incredible, and treated us as the most honored of guests. Though not having much, their need would never be seen by what was given to us. We (the interns) hope to return to their home soon - as we want to continue building the relationship that has been started by PLC Family Advocates.
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Ruth Simpson is a Family Advocate for the Preemptive Love Coalition in Iraq and a certified physio-therapist. Ruth also hails from Ireland, though she's slowly losing her amazing accent amongst all the Americans. When not sharing her life with PLC's kids in Iraq, she's most often serving some other constituent group with her rehabilitative skills and compassion. |
Report on “Iraq: The Forgotten Story” Art Show in UK & Beyond (VIDEO)
June 18, 2009 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
On May 22, 2009, the Preemptive Love Coalition unveiled IRAQ - THE FORGOTTEN STORY at our inaugural event outside London, England. The Forgotten Story features the work of 6 Iraqi artists and tells the story of life in Iraq under Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath Regime through their eyes.
The above video was compiled by a Kurdish company out of London that attended the event.
All proceeds from events, donations, and sales of this art help the Preemptive Love Coalition give life-saving heart surgeries to Iraqi children and create cooperation between communities at odds.
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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. |
Heran Full of Energy & Center of Attention Back in Iraq
June 17, 2009 by Jeremy · 1 Comment
On Wednesday of last week PLC Family Advocates and our summer interns were blessed with the opportunity to see little Heran less than 24 hours after she arrived back in her home city.
She and her family were beaming with gratitude as she was passed from lap to lap of her four older sisters. As the youngest sibling, she is used to standing back and observing, and now she is not quite sure how to handle all of the attention. Even though her words were few, she sat by our sides and happily showed each of us every picture on the camera she took to Istanbul. She would smile shyly as her parents proudly talked about her improved overall health and new opportunities that are now before her.
Her energy was almost surprising after such an invasive surgery, quickly bouncing from the living room to the bedroom to the kitchen. Her family was so receptive and welcoming to the PLC staff; it is exciting to know that all of their hearts have been touched through this process, not just Heran’s.
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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. |
Lawaran Rolling Over & Growing Significantly 3 Months Post-Op
June 16, 2009 by Abby · Leave a Comment
After having one of the most difficult heart surgeries seen by PLC last March, one-year-old Lawaran is showing continual signs of improvement. He has grown significantly, has much more color in his skin and is finally developing the muscles and coordination to roll over. His big eyes and gleeful smiles lit up the room when PLC Family Advocates and some of our summer interns visited yesterday.
Lawaren played contently on the floor as his parents spoke of his growth. Lawaren will most likely receive another surgery in a few years, but until then, he and his family rejoice and celebrate the new life they now all share.
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Abby Bertrand is the Hospitality Coordinator for the Preemptive Love Coalition in Istanbul, Turkey. She is married to PLC's Turkey Director, Scott Bertrand. When not showing hospitality to Iraqi families on during their surgical sojourns, she's still most likely to be found showing hospitality to someone else through her delicious home-cooking or many manners of gift giving and kindness. |
The Smile of a Life-Changed: Roman at Home with Dad
June 15, 2009 by Ruth · Leave a Comment
When some of PLC’s summer interns visited Roman he was riding around on his little bicycle and walking in and out of the room to see what was going on - just a little over two weeks after his life-saving heart surgery. His family was very hospitable!
Except for a slightly decreased appetite Roman has been recovering extremely well. His life has truly been changed for the better.
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Ruth Simpson is a Family Advocate for the Preemptive Love Coalition in Iraq and a certified physio-therapist. Ruth also hails from Ireland, though she's slowly losing her amazing accent amongst all the Americans. When not sharing her life with PLC's kids in Iraq, she's most often serving some other constituent group with her rehabilitative skills and compassion. |
Shad Faraydoon’s Funeral
June 14, 2009 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
We attended the second day of Shad’s funeral on Thursday in two groups: men and women.
The men gathered in the mosque for about 5 hours straight as other men who knew the family gathered to pay their respects. Inside the mosque the male family members stood around the perimeter and greeted the male guests each time they entered the room. Meanwhile the cleric sang prayers for the child.
The women gathered under a large tent outside the family’s house and loudly mourned the loss of little Shad. Hundreds of women turned out over the course of the last few days. It was an understandably intense emotional experience - especially for those of us who are largely unaccustomed to Middle Eastern modes of mourning.
Shad’s family has remained very kind and open to us even in the midst of their great loss. We hope to continue on with them insofar as they will allow us in the coming months and years.
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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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