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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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Sara Enjoys a Visit from U.S. Supporters Who Funded Her Surgery
March 9, 2010 by Jeremy
As cute as the babies are, we do enjoy interacting with these older kids. Watching them work through their fear, and seeing them come into their own in a foreign culture, is a real joy. Plus, it seems like the “mark” we’re leaving for life will be more profound for these adolescents.
If you’ll remember, Sara’s family comes from Kirkuk, Iraq. One of her cousins left Iraq over ten years ago and currently lives in Istanbul. So we’ll be discharging Sara into the care of her cousin this week so he can show her the sites and so they can reconnect a bit as a family.
But before she leaves, we were honored to host one of our biggest advocates and long-term supporters, Chelsea Pershall (center), and two friends (Erin [left] and Ashley [right]) for Spring Break in Istanbul. They came specifically to meet Sara, whose surgery they funded through a widespread grassroots effort on the Baylor University campus via FWCM.org.
Sara’s family was so grateful to meet these three girls and beyond the life-saving money they represent, found a lot of comfort from hours of broken English conversations and card games.
Do you know someone who might be interested in joining us for a summer of this kind of work in Turkish hospitals and Iraqi homes? Click here to consider our Summer Internship.
Follow Sara on Twitter: @SaraMuaeed. Subscribe to Sara’s updates via RSS HERE. Follow Sara’s thread of longer stories (with pictures & video) on the PLC blog HERE.
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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. |
Baroof Works His Lungs After Discharge from ICU
March 8, 2010 by Jeremy
At first Baroof was a little ambivalent toward the exercises designed to improve his lung capacity and rehabilitate him after his heart surgery. As much as he wants to get back outside and play football (soccer), he has a hard time connecting these “meaningless” exercises with his real end game!
But when Jessica - our Family Services Director - pulled out the camera and made it a game, Baroof was plenty excited to show off.
Baroof is looking really great and his mood is as happy as we’ve ever seen it. His fear of the Turks attending to his needs (”Turks” about whom he has no doubt heard plenty of disparagement in his border town) has turned into affinity; and his uncertainty about these weird Americans always trying to speak his language and take his pictures has turned into was just might be abiding friendship.
Comprehensive, human-scale peacemaking efforts and long-term, whole person family services - two of our core values at the Preemptive Love Coalition in action here in Istanbul, Turkey and in Iraq this week.
     
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| We are on the brink of sending six kids back to Iraq with healthy, happy hearts this week. And it’s all because of you. Still, we know you do not only want us to mark surgeries like notches on a belt. We’ve heard your desire that we invest ourselves - and your money - in long-term followthrough.
To keep us engaged in long-term followthrough for these kids and others once they arrive back in Iraq, all you have to do is:
Alternatively, you can make a check payable to “Preemptive Love Coalition” and send to: 373 Freear Dr. Buellton, CA 93427 You can also speak with a real person and make a gift over the phone by calling 805-245-4666 during normal business hours. We’ll get the next child on their way in a few weeks! |
With thanks and joy!
Follow Baroof on Twitter: @BaroofAbdul. Subscribe to Baroof’s updates via RSS HERE. Follow Baroof’s thread of longer stories (with pictures & video) on the PLC blog HERE.
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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. |
Deelan Responded Well to the Nitric Oxide Treatment in ICU; Pressures Decreased
March 8, 2010 by Jeremy
It’s amazing what a few days of nitric oxide - named the Molecule of the Year in 1992 - can do to change the life of a child. Truly GOD has an amazing world! For just $2,000 this gas treatment has taken the rising pulmonary (lung) pressure in Deelan’s body and, by expanding the blood vessels inside, has brought it down drastically, saving his life and allow his repaired heart to actually make a difference in his long-term well-being.
Little Deelan’s time in ICU is almost over. We hope to discharge him to his private room here at Anadolu Medical Center later today… and possibly send him home to Iraq later this week.
 Molecule of the Year (1992), Nitric Oxide |
To save lives through the very specific provision of nitric oxide, please contribute your desired amount below. One container of nitric oxide costs us approximately $2,000. |
Follow Deelan on Twitter: @DeelanKameran. Subscribe to Deelan’s updates via RSS HERE. Follow Deelan’s thread of longer stories (with pictures & video) on the PLC blog HERE.
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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. |
Sara Rests in Her Room After Surgery; Quickly Discharged from ICU
March 7, 2010 by Jeremy
Sara breezed through ICU in just 24 hours! She’s now back up in her room resting, spending time with her extended family who migrated away from their tumultuous city of Kirkuk years ago currently live in Istanbul.
She wasn’t really feeling like any more photos… I imagine I would not have been either! So we left her alone and let her rest after snapping this shot!
Follow Sara on Twitter: @SaraMuaeed. Subscribe to Sara’s updates via RSS HERE. Follow Sara’s thread of longer stories (with pictures & video) on the PLC blog HERE.
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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. |
Sara’s Valve Surgery is a Complete Success!
March 5, 2010 by Jeremy
Drs. Sertaç & Ahmet Corrected a Life-threatening Problem w/ Sara’s Valve in a 4 hr. Surgery
Sara’s surgery was a complete success! And for a child living with a congenital heart disease for 14 years, that is no small celebration! Not every condition or child is the same, but generally speaking, congenital heart defects are best addressed at a young age. Years of damage and overcompensation often render a child inoperable or create attendant problems such as pulmonary hypertension.
It’s a joy to see Sara come through surgery with the exact corrective procedure that the doctors had planned on performing prior to surgery.
Yesterday it was virtually out of the question for Sara to marry and have children - her heart condition simply wouldn’t allow that sort of additional stress to her body.
Today, doctors estimate that they have extended her life by up to twenty years before she’s likely to need any additional procedures. At that point, the field of cardiac surgery will be more advanced, and it’s hard to even speculate what options may be available to her at that time. In any case, her heart is healed and her body is healing.
And if she wants to, she can even dream about having kids someday! It’s amazing what you’ve done!
To make a small donation to the next child in Iraq waiting for a surgery similar to Sara’s, please enter the amount of your choice below and press “Donate.”
Follow Sara on Twitter: @SaraMuaeed. Subscribe to Sara’s updates via RSS HERE. Follow Sara’s thread of longer stories (with pictures & video) on the PLC blog HERE.
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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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