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!

Serhang is Inoperable

February 23, 2009 by Erin · 1 Comment

We found out late Friday night that Serhang Yassen would not be receiving surgery while in Turkey. Unfortunately, he was initially misdiagnosed and the doctors now know that he is missing his pulmonary artery. This is the artery that helps regulate the blood pressure from the heart to the rest of the body. As a result of this his blood pressure is very high. The doctor said that Serhang would be unable to survive the surgery. He and his mother returned to Iraq on Saturday. We went to their village to see them today and Serhang was all smiles and hand shakes. He loved his time in Turkey and thinks it is the most beautiful city. His mother and father are very sad about the diagnosis and kept asking us today if there was any hope. We cried with them and told them that we have not lost hope for Serhang; that we believe that the God who created him has the power to heal him and we would continue to pray for him. We sat next to Serhang on the floor and put our arms around him and prayed for him. He is the sweetest, most gentle child and I think he wants to marry our physical therapist some day. His mom told us that while in Turkey when the doctors were having to do tests she would tell Serhang that if he would behave when he went back to Iraq he could grow up and marry one of us. Remember Serhang and his family today, because we cannot forget him.

Erin Priour is a Family Advocate with the Preemptive Love Coalition in Iraq, mother of one, and married to our Buy Shoes. Save Lives. Director, Jeff Priour. When not visiting PLC families in their homes, Erin is most likely to be found spending time at home with family and - whenever possible - reading a good book.

Filed under: Heart Surgery, Our Kids, Sad, SerhangYaseen, surgery updates

Surgery for Serhang

February 16, 2009 by Erin · Leave a Comment

Serhang will be leaving for surgery in less than 48 hours! His family has been waiting for this opportunity for him to receive the surgery he needs to be able to sleep comfortably at night and walk to school every day without breathing trouble for 11 years. They have known since birth that Serhang had a serious heart condition known as TOF (Tetralogy of Fallot), which is a very complex heart condition involving a hole in the heart and switched arteries. He was identified as an urgent case and his family was very relieved to receive the news that he will go to surgery so soon. Even with the severity of his heart condition, Serhang continues to get up and walk to school every day. However, he has been unable to make it past the first grade because the lack of oxygen his body and brain receive make it really difficult for him to learn. We rejoice with Serhang and his family in this opportunity for him to receive the surgery he needs to grow up and play and learn with the other children his age.

Filed under: Heart Surgery, Our Kids, URGENT

The Great Eight (Taban)

February 12, 2009 by Erin · Leave a Comment

After only 2 weeks in Iraq, working with families who’s children need heart surgeries to grow into adulthood, it was an exciting day to come face to face with two of these families and their children. Both families, whose children are 11 and 13 years old have known since birth that their children have serious heart conditions.

It was wonderful to be the bearer of such great news and tell Taban’s family, who has been waiting for 13 years to find a way to help cure their daughter, that she will be able to leave for surgery on Sunday. In just a few short days she will be on her way to Turkey where she will receive the heart surgery she desperately needs. I have been very touched by the kindness and devotion of these families to do whatever it takes to help their children get the surgeries they need. They are willing to entrust their children, their futures, and even invest their hope in us, The Preemptive Love Coalition.

As we shared several glasses of tea with them, they took the time to welcome me to their country and their village and thank me for leaving my home in America to come and help their children. Although these two children urgently need surgery, the Doctor reviewing their cases is very hopeful that their surgeries will be successful.

Not all of the children we have seen this week have as much hope for a full recovery, or even that they are eligible to receive surgery. And even in the midst of being the potential bearer of wonderful or terrible news for these families, I would not choose to be anywhere else in the world than here in Iraq sharing in the joy,

sorrow, hope, pain, and healing of these children and their families.