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Sweet Shahid Returns!

November 17, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

A photo of Shahid and her sisters laughing.
Today the cardiologist screened some of the children who had surgery during the last mission. It was good to see them again, up and about.

One in particular caught my eye. A little girl who I remember from the echo room last mission. Her lips were so blue blue and her face was sad.

This was not the girl I met today.

She was laughing and smiling, playing with her sisters and posing for the camera. I love the day when the children from last mission come back for their post-op screening. It’s so fun to see how they’re improving—the kind of life they can have now that their heart is working.

We hope to see so many more transformed, happy children in Najaf and across Iraq. Thanks for doing this alongside us!

A photo of Shahid waiting for her echo results at the hospital in Najaf.


Our Partners:
Living Light InternationalInternational Children's Heart Foundation

Cayla Willingham is Remedy Mission Coordinator and Family Advocate. When she isn't spending time with families, she enjoys cooking, hosting friends, haggling in local bazaars and souks, and learning local languages.

My First Remedy—A First-Timer’s Look Into The Echo Lab

October 5, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

A photo of the International Children's Heart Foundation cardiologist in Najaf performing a screening on an Iraqi child.
I’ve spent the last three days of this mission in the echo lab, helping the cardiologist as she examines the hearts of children who make up what we like to call The Backlog.

It has been an interesting three days.

Each time we walk through the halls back to the echo room, we pass by dozens of anxious mothers, sitting, waiting, gripping their babies and hoping we’ll be the ones to bring them good news.

Family after family comes into the little room, puts their bundle onto the table and watches as the doctor probes their child’s chest. The older ones lay there patiently, but some of the younger ones aren’t so cooperative. Their parents try desperately to calm them down until the doctor finally has to give up and send them out for sedation.

It’s difficult to tell how effective the sedative will be. Sometimes the kids come back looking like a sack of potatoes while others come back just tired and angry. It doesn’t seem like the people administering the drugs have quite perfected the dosages.

A photo of the cutest little Iraqi girl ever getting screened at al-Sadr Hospital in Najaf, Iraq.
One little boy laid in his dad’s arms while the doctor tried to reach his chest, crying and crying, until he puked. That was gross. Another family drove hours to be there for the screening and then the child was so out of control he was sent away three times before the doctor finally managed to get a good look at his heart.

All-in-all, it’s been hectic. But it’s also been good for me to see first-hand how massive the need here is, and how much these parents love their children. The last little boy we saw today had been born with serious defects effecting his entire body, including his heart. The doctor explained to the translator why a surgery would be near impossible and the mother must have read it on her face because she started crying even before she understood what was being said.

So far, we’ve screened 45 children, and, considering we’re not even halfway through the mission yet, I’m sure we’ll see well beyond 100. Thanks for helping us screen and save these children, and come back tomorrow for an update on one you recently helped, little Zahraa!

Our Partners:
Living Light InternationalInternational Children's Heart Foundation

Cayla Willingham is Remedy Mission Coordinator and Family Advocate. When she isn't spending time with families, she enjoys cooking, hosting friends, haggling in local bazaars and souks, and learning local languages.

A First-Timer’s Excitement: Remedy Mission XII Has Begun!

October 3, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

A photo of Cayla Willingham on the first day of Remedy Mission XII in Najaf, Iraq.
We’re in Najaf, Iraq for our 12th lifesaving Remedy Mission, and today was the first day in the hospital. They performed 2 operations and screened 16 kids—on the first day! It’s amazing to see the ICHF team in action.

I’m particularly exited about this mission because, despite working with PLC for over a year, this is my first time to personally be a part of a mission. Like you, I’ve seen lots of pictures and heard lots of stories, but I can’t wait to experience it for myself!

So, over the next two weeks, I’d like to give you my first impressions of our work. I’ll be working with the cardiologist as she screens dozens of children, I’ll visit with families in the ward, and I may even get to sit in on a few operations! But none of this would be possible without you guys, and we’re honored to represent you and the rest of The Coalition by being here and helping these children.

So stay tuned, we’ve got our first ‘Update From the O.R.’ video coming tomorrow.


Our Partners:
Living Light InternationalInternational Children's Heart Foundation

Cayla Willingham is Remedy Mission Coordinator and Family Advocate. When she isn't spending time with families, she enjoys cooking, hosting friends, haggling in local bazaars and souks, and learning local languages.

Neighbors

May 18, 2011 by · Comments Off 

Neighborhood doorway

I love the spring, and I’m not the only one. Doors are open, people are out, the neighborhood comes alive. Our neighbors aren’t afraid to let life spill onto the street.

This morning when I left for the office there were boys rollerblading around me and a cluster of women reaching into the grape trees for leaves to make a traditional riced-stuffed dish.

As a newcomer to the neighborhood, I get excited about the opportunities that come with the cool breezes and the sunshine, and I’m reminded of how fortunate we are to live and work among the people here.

Cayla Willingham is Remedy Mission Coordinator and Family Advocate. When she isn't spending time with families, she enjoys cooking, hosting friends, haggling in local bazaars and souks, and learning local languages.

Leah’s Story Exemplefies The Need For Followthrough

April 22, 2011 by · 1 Comment 

As a new member of the PLC team, there’s always something to learn. One of the first things on the to-learn list was how to answer the question, “What’s your job?” in Kurdish. I usually use the term ‘social worker’ to describe what I do, so I asked my language tutor how to say that in Kurdish and she explained that there isn’t a word for it because there isn’t really a job like that in our city.

Because women tend to stay home, the need for a family advocate/social worker to come to them is huge. Unfortunately the need isn’t widely seen, and in many homes even basic healthcare knowledge is lacking.

Last week I went with our family services director, Jessica Courtney, to visit Leah, one of the children who received surgery in March. Jessica was there in the ICU to help Leah’s mom understand the importance of a feeding tube and, for the second time, I got to see her comfort and inform this worried mother about medicines, dosages and how to help her child recover.

Hospital trips and caring for a sick child can be fearful times, and mothers need someone they can rely on. We hope to be that for them.

Leah’s mother wouldn’t have understood the urgency of a feeding tube or her baby’s need for consistent medication if Jessica hadn’t been there.

This is why we Followthrough.

Cayla Willingham is Remedy Mission Coordinator and Family Advocate. When she isn't spending time with families, she enjoys cooking, hosting friends, haggling in local bazaars and souks, and learning local languages.

Fighting for Families

December 8, 2009 by · Comments Off 

familycare1

When a child is chosen for surgery, their family is adopted by a member of the PLC team. This person makes it their goal to do whatever is necessary to defend the family in this time of vulnerability. They are the family advocate.

The care offered to the family goes far beyond a healthy heart. When I visited the team in Iraq a month ago, I was able to see this care first hand on various home visits I made with PLC’s family advocates.

Here are some examples of what I saw:

  • Honya went to Istanbul for surgery in November. Her advocate sat with her parents to explain what the process would be like and what to expect in the hospital.

  • Heran needs a follow-up surgery but must gain weight before that’s possible. Her advocate has been visiting weekly, checking her weight and encouraging her closer to this goal.

  • Taban has completely recovered from her surgery but lacks motivation in school. Her advocate met with the school board, persuaded them to let her enroll, and continues to support her education.

  • Zana has also been doing well, but his mother was keeping him from school for fear he would turn up sick again. After some reassurance, she allowed him to begin his studies.

  • Shwana has fully recovered and is doing great, but others in his family are still in need. His family advocate is in the process of acquiring a wheelchair for his disabled cousin and was able to give helpful exercises to his grandma who recently had a stroke.


PLC does so much more than just heart surgeries; they truly care for the Iraqi people and work to show them that they matter. I was astounded to see how much is invested in the lives of the children and their families and how big of a difference it really makes.


HELP PLC IN THEIR ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF IDREES BY GIVING TO HIS SURGERY IN HONOR OF A FRIEND BELOW:

Idrees is slated for surgery in January 2010. PLC will be collecting money for his life-saving surgery throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. What a chance to make a profound difference in the life of a child and his family!

GIVING IN HONOR OF ANOTHER

In honor of a friend or family member, donate the amount of your choice to fund a January surgery for Idrees by entering it in the field below. PLC will send you a Christmas card about Idrees along with a Preemptive Love Coalition “Hope for the Holidays” magnet as a physical expression of your gift on behalf of another.





Cayla Willingham is Remedy Mission Coordinator and Family Advocate. When she isn't spending time with families, she enjoys cooking, hosting friends, haggling in local bazaars and souks, and learning local languages.

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 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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