• ABOUT
  • Our Mission
  • Congenital Heart Disease in Iraq
  • How We Work (Methods, Values, etc)
  • Our Kids
  • Our Network (Philanthropists, Artists, etc)
  • Leadership & Financial Info
• BUY SHOES. SAVE LIVES.
  • Klash
  • Kids Klash
  • Fair Trade
• ACTION
• DONATE
• SHOP
• BLOG

Introducing the Shad Faraydoon Memorial Fund: $50k to Fund 10 Infant Surgeries

June 29, 2009 by admin · 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.

Our 2009 goal for the Memorial Fund is
$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.

         

Shad in Critical Condition after Two Emergency Surgeries

June 4, 2009 by admin · 3 Comments 

Ten year old Shad is back in ICU after a surprisingly wonderful night last night with his father up in their personal hospital room. Shad spoke with his dad a great deal last night about his excitement to return to Iraq, his eagerness to sit with his mom and play with his little brother and little sister, and his excitement over how many people were going to come visit him upon his return.

But if things do not turn around significantly - and fast - it looks as though many people will come to visit Shad in Iraq, but not in the way we’d all hoped and planned.

Shad’s blood does not respond well to anti-coagulants, being very viscous and subject to so many years of oxygen deficiency. Last night after a sudden bout of diarrhea it seems that Shad became dehydrated very quickly giving rise to blood clots which eventually blocked the flow of blood in his pulmonary artery. His oxygen level quickly decreased as he was rushed to the ICU.

He was quickly admitted to his third surgery in a week where doctors put him back on the “heart and lung” machine and began their third attempt at correcting years of damage.

But three hours after the surgery finished, while resting under heavy sedation in ICU, Shad went into cardiac arrest again and the doctors had to open him up in ICU and perform the fourth surgery on Shad.

As we write this (10pm, Istanbul, 06/04/09) Shad is still in critical condition but his father has lost all hope that he will pull through. Doctors are saying there is a chance, but it is clear that after ten years and four surgeries in one week the odds are severely stacked against him.

In the midst of great grief (real and anticipated) Shad’s father has been very grateful today to Dr. Çiçek, his team, the nursing staff, PLC, and ultimately to God - in whose hands are all things. He has also spent a lot of time telling us how much he has learned from his son about patience, kindness, and caring for others.

In any case, Shad was made to wait ten years too long for these surgeries. But it doesn’t have to be too late for other children in Iraq.

Shad is still alive. And so is our hope.

         

Better Late Than Never: Shad Comes Out of ICU!

June 2, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment 

It took him longer than the rest of the kids - a direct result of so many emaciating years of lack of oxygen that has made his body too weak to cough (to clear his lungs) and move on his own. Nonetheless, Shad emerged from ICU today and is on the road to being a much healthier young man! A weight has clearly been lifted off his father’s remarkably strong shoulders…

Thanks for all you’ve done to make this new future a reality for Shad, his parents, and his little brother and sister.

         

Heran & Shwan In Airport Headed Home After Life-Saving Surgery

June 2, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment 

Things happened so fast we never even introduced you to Shwan… but 10 year old Shwan also had life-saving heart surgery this week. Heran finished strong and left the hospital in a little flower hat… Thanks for all you’ve done!

         

Lawen is Receiving Life Now!

June 1, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment 

I just walked 16-year-old Lawen down to her cardiac catheterization procedure, where she is receiving an umbrella-like closure device inserted through the artery in her thigh to close a .55 inch hole in her atrium. This will allow her to finish school, go to college, one day marry, have kids, and grow well into adulthood.

Thanks for all of you who have contributed so graciously to Lawen’s surgery!

         

Lawen to Receive ♥ Correction with Umbrella Device via Thigh

May 31, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment 

We ordered an $8,000 corrective [umbrella] device and Lawen will receive her repair on Sunday night or Monday morning.

         

Heran is Out of Surgery & Breathing On Her Own in ICU

May 29, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment 

Heran’s surgery was not quite the masterpiece that the doctors were hoping for. Unfortunately by the time a child reaches 7 years old there are so many years of damage that have been done to the heart by overworking, high pressure, and lack of oxygen that some of the damage is irreversible.

In Heran’s case, her pulmonary pressure was too high to perform the Fontain procedure they had hoped to do. But they were very happy with the by-pass they performed and though her pressures are still higher than they’d like, they predict she will leave ICU tonight and return to Iraq in a few days.

We’ll probably talk about a second surgery for Heran in the next year or two to finish the Fontain procedure.

In any case, she is doing wonderfully! One of her doctors said she was “perfect!”

Photo: Matt Addington

         

Roman is Doing Amazing & Out of ICU with his Mother

May 28, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment 

This is a picture of Roman after surgery. This little two year old was rushed into our group at the last minute due to what the Iraqi doctors understood to be the urgency of his condition.

Just these few days later and he has been released from ICU and is playing with cars in his room, watching TV, eating soup, and doing wonderfully!

Photo: Matt Addington

         

Heran Goes Into Surgery Looking Blue

May 28, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment 

Heran on her way into surgery with very low blood-oxygen saturation.

She has emmerged from surgery and is recovering in ICU where her blood-oxygen levels are now at over 90%. That - and all other signs - say that she is doing well!

Photo: Matt Addington

         

Shad Makes it Through Surgery!

May 27, 2009 by admin · 1 Comment 

This is what a fighting chance at life looks like!

But Shad’s dad couldn’t stand it… he said he didn’t want to see his son like this. He’ll return to ICU once they take out the tubes and have him more stable.

Nonetheless, Shad’s father understands the ramifications of this life-saving surgery and is full of joy and hope today.

From Shad’s family, Roman’s family, and all of us at the Preemptive Love Coalition “thanks!”

PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Addington (ToOpenYourEyes.com)

         

Next Page »

• Shopping Cart

  Your shopping cart is empty.

  Visit the shop

  SAVE HUSSEIN CAMPAIGN

  In partnership with PLC
  
  

  CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE IN IRAQ

  
  
  
  

• RECENT POSTS

  • Media Coverage of PLC by Former CNN Anchor & Oprah Radio Host, Daryn Kagan
  • Introducing the Shad Faraydoon Memorial Fund: $50k to Fund 10 Infant Surgeries
  • Ranu Giving Others Rides on Her Bike After Her Successful February Surgery
  • Bruska Ready for School in the Fall After Successful Heart Surgery Last January
  • Roshna Surprises All by Passing Her Classes In Spite of Many Absences Prior to Surgery

• ARCHIVES

  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • October 2006

MORE ABOUT PLC









FUNDRAISING LINKS