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3 Reasons For “In A Word” Mid-Week Photos

June 12, 2011 by Liz · Leave a Comment 

For a month now we’ve posted mid-week photos titled “In a Word,” and we’ve received some great feedback from you guys.

We want you to know that these aren’t just pretty pictures, they’re tools to help as all build an understanding of Iraq through the artists who live here.

We know you care about the future of Iraq, the kids and the training of nurses and doctors, but we want to offer you even more perspectives.

So here are 3 reasons we believe “In A Word” matters:

An Iraqi mother and son share a heartwarming moment before his life-saving heart surgery.

1. Images can be used to promote peace.
“Peace is waged when a child is served, a voice is heard, a story is told, a dialogue is created, and a community is engaged.”

We’re waging peace when we LISTEN to and TELL a story about Iraq, kids with CHD, local healthcare, local solutions (i.e. politicians, donors, doctors, etc.), Muslim and Eastern perspectives, Christian and Western perspectives, the war, etc. These photos give us the opportunity to engage another community. They tell stories and create dialogue.
They’re opportunities for us to understand.

A fruit and vegetable stand in northern Iraq2. We live among the people here.
We work with them, care for them, argue with them – we love them. And many of you have expressed interest in what those things look like here, so “In A Word” is our way of helping you visualize our day-to-day. It helps our families, friends and supporters ‘come around’, and for a few seconds, that makes us feel like you aren’t an ocean away.

3. It’s a platform for artists.
These Iraqi and Kurdish artists are unsung heroes, and their work deserves to be showed off and shared. They show their people that beauty can bring hope and truth in the midst of devastation.

“In A Word” is a forum – a sounding board – where artists can show off their work and prove emphatically: we’re here, and we’re talented.

Do you have any photos that you’d like to submit for an “In A Word” midweek post? If so send to liz@preemptivelove.org, subject “In A Word”

Liz Jones is PLC's copy editing intern. For everything you've read on our site this summer, odds are she's read it at least thrice (or more). When not absorbed in her editing, she can be found reading every article on Copyblogger and doing horse gymnastics. Wait, you don't know what horse gymnastics is?! Click here immediately. Also her Twitter: @liz_bentley.

Finding Familiarity In An Unlikely Place | An Intern’s Perspective on Followthrough

June 10, 2011 by Adam · Leave a Comment 

A black and white close-up of a young Iraqi child months after he has life-saving heart surgery

Yusuf is a brave 1-year-old who underwent heart surgery this past March. When his family brought him to the hospital, Yusuf blood had low levels of oxygen that had already tainted his skin blue. The surgeon needed to fix four heart defects for Yusuf to survive.

But thanks to caring donors and local support, Yusuf is very much alive!

You helped Yusuf receive a heart surgery, and, because of you, I was able to visit and make sure his recovery is going well. This is what we call Followthrough. CLICK HERE to learn more on the importance of Followthrough.

As we sat down with Yusuf and his family I was overwhelmed with all the cultural differences around me, but there was a strange sense of familiarity as well.

Shortly after we sat and talked in Yusuf’s living room, his family rolled out a giant feast for us. We ate until we were full, and there was still enough left to feed us for dinner! Then we drank tea, and the refills seemed to be endless.

As we drank tea and took photos of Yusuf, his older sister played with him and entertained us with her hilarious faces. Yusuf’s grandfather would toss his phone across the living room floor while Yusuf would scoot across the room to return it again and again.

An Iraqi 1-year-old plays on his family's floor months after having life-saving heart surgery

The familiarity I recognized during my visit was the same warm family dynamic and rejoicing I experience with my own family.

Even though we ate sitting down on a concrete floor, followed a completely different set of manners, and understood very little of the words spoken, the joy and relationship between these family members was the same as many American families I know.

We laughed and enjoyed the fact that their son’s life had been rescued. At this point in the visit I began to see these faces as my family and friends rather than as distant strangers.

This family was so grateful for us, for their son, for his surgery, and for a community willing to come together to provide a solution for their needs. I felt the warmth in their home through photos of Yusuf, endless cups of tea, a floor full of food, and a room bursting with smiles.

No matter how great the cultural barriers there are some values and moments humanity can rejoice in and enjoy together. These shared moments and values are the most significant puzzle pieces of our own identity.

 width= Adam is spending his summer using words and writing to connect hearts and minds to children with CHD. That means poring over newsletters, blog posts, and photo captions to make sure these children are heard and that they get their shot at surgery. When not buried in metaphor, Adam enjoys playing the violin, hiking, and photography. He's also on Twitter @adamhallbrandt.

In a word: “Groceries”

June 8, 2011 by Lydia · Leave a Comment 

Groceries photo by Lydia Bullock.

A Kurdish grocer flashes a big smile for the camera.

Lydia Bullock wrote and photographed for us during the 2010 summer internship and then again for 7 months in 2011. She documented surgical missions in northern and southern Iraq. See more of her excellent work on our Flickr stream, or follow her on Twitter: @lydiabullock.

Meet the Interns: Our First Impressions of Iraq

June 7, 2011 by Ted · Leave a Comment 

Ted is making the magic happen as PLC's videography intern this summer ('11). He'll be the first to tell you: he shoots and edits to the glory of GOD and the benefit of Iraqi kids. When he isn't panning his camera, well... just go here to read just a few of Ted's lovable idiosyncrasies. He's also an avid Tweeter: @tedvid.

Have You Ever Seen How Much It Costs To Save 20 Lives? Here Are The Numbers:

June 6, 2011 by Jeremy · 1 Comment 

One of PLC's core values is financial transparency.

As we’ve looked across the landscape of organizations working in Iraq and around the world we’ve found ourselves wanting to know more about how their money is spent. We figure you are the same way – and we think you deserve to know. The scandalous press and allegations surrounding big name do-gooders, their books, and their organizations have all caused us at PLC to ask honest questions about how we can be fully transparent with you about your donations and our management of them in Iraq.

So here are a few real-time financial notes that will remain here for posterity’s sake:

- PLC spent $41,068.38 for airfare and hotels for Remedy V

- PLC spent $30,000 to the International Children’s Heart Foundation (ICHF) to procure their surgical expertise for this mission

- ICHF made approximately $20,000 in in-kind medical gifts to the mission (directly to the hospital in southern Iraq; not on our balance sheet)

- We have not finished tallying the field expenses for Remedy V yet but we anticipate it will account for an additional $1,790-$2,000

- Our partners in southern Iraq budgeted $1,500 for educational instruction

- More than $1,620 in visa expenses were covered directly by the Iraqi Ministry of Health (MOH) in Baghdad

- Security and transportation was provided to us, free of charge, by the MOH (worth, perhaps $10,000 as an in-kind contribution)

- Food, housing, and all local accommodations were provided by the MOH (worth more than $20,000 as an in-kind contribution)

We estimate the total cost of this particular mission to run all parties approximately $133,361. Our agreement with the MOH will subsidize approximately 77% of those costs, with roughly $2,800 for this particular mission coming from PLC’s international donor pool.

Our next mission – Remedy VI – in southern Iraq is scheduled for June 25th.

Here’s the bottom line to all this: you are indispensable to our work. We cannot help Iraqis reach their desired vision for the future without you. We cannot eradicate the backlog of untold thousands of children waiting in line for lifesaving heart surgery. And we cannot create the systems they need to do this work on their own without you.

But….

You are not alone! This is not a “hand-out” program in which you unload your hard-earned money into a foreign country (no matter how poor or decimated), without calling on local families, organizations, and government to carry the majority of the financial burden. This is what we mean when we talk about development. This is what we mean when we talk about graduating a program from foreign aid.

They cannot do it without you. But hopefully in the next few years that will no longer be true. Stay tuned in the coming months as we begin publicly exploring our EXIT STRATEGY and what exciting promises that holds for our dear friends here in Iraq!

With you,

Our Partners:
Iraqi Ministry of Health International Children's Heart Foundation Living Light International

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. Follow Jeremy on Twitter: @JCourt.

Bubble-Blowing, A Work-Out? Moustafa’s Recovering Beautifully!

June 3, 2011 by Lydia · 1 Comment 

Moustafa, a young Iraqi boy, blows bubbles to strengthen his lungs after a life-saving heart surgery

Did you know bubbles are a part of the routine for discharging children from ICU?

It’s because blowing bubbles is a fun way for kids to strengthen their lungs and improve their breathing after hours of being on a heart-and-lung machine. Don’t believe me? Go here to find out more on how blowing bubbles is beneficial to your health.

You may remember that I was looking forward to giving you good news about Moustafa’s surgery, and I got it! Moustafa passed his healthy heart and lung test and is ready to make the trip back to his hometown – praise God!

You helped send Moustafa to surgery, and because of your donations and prayers his once-broken heart is now mended.

Thank you for choosing to be a heart-mender, and thanks for helping to save Moustafa!

Our Partners:
Iraqi Ministry of Health International Children's Heart Foundation Living Light International

Lydia Bullock wrote and photographed for us during the 2010 summer internship and then again for 7 months in 2011. She documented surgical missions in northern and southern Iraq. See more of her excellent work on our Flickr stream, or follow her on Twitter: @lydiabullock.

How Moustafa and His Soccer Ball Captured Our Hearts

June 3, 2011 by Lydia · 2 Comments 

Moustafa, a young Iraqi boy, after his life-saving heart surgery.

Moustafa’s parents spent years scouring hospitals across Iraq in search of someone who could fix their little boy’s heart.

Doctors eventually told them that he had no hope in his home country and that they needed to go to India, which meant Moustafa would never receive surgery since his parents could never afford to send him abroad.

But thanks to you Remedy Mission is here, and Moustafa is finally receiving his heart surgery!

Moustafa, a young Iraqi boy, awaits heart surgery (though a little nervous about all the doctors).In many ways, Moustafa is pretty similar to the other 6-year-old boys I know. His father, mother (who’s always by his side), and older brother all love him very much. He’s energetic and loves to play – especially soccer. But unfortunately I didn’t get to meet Moustafa at the park, or at his school. My first glimpse of him was in the children’s ward of a hospital awaiting surgery.

But all that has the chance to be fixed starting right now, and I’m eager to hear good news of a successful surgery. Keep reading for updates!

Our Partners:
Iraqi Ministry of Health International Children's Heart Foundation Living Light International

Lydia Bullock wrote and photographed for us during the 2010 summer internship and then again for 7 months in 2011. She documented surgical missions in northern and southern Iraq. See more of her excellent work on our Flickr stream, or follow her on Twitter: @lydiabullock.

In a word: “Change”

June 1, 2011 by Lydia · Leave a Comment 

In Sulaymaniyah, you pass your bus fare forward in hopes that you’ll get change back. It’s always an adventure.

Lydia Bullock wrote and photographed for us during the 2010 summer internship and then again for 7 months in 2011. She documented surgical missions in northern and southern Iraq. See more of her excellent work on our Flickr stream, or follow her on Twitter: @lydiabullock.

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