Breaking News: Ali Made It Through Surgery!
January 19, 2012 by Cody · Leave a Comment

Ali was just brought out of the operating theater and into the ICU—with a mended heart!
The next 24 hours will be absolutely crucial for Ali, though. The operation was a complete success, but now we have to wait to see how his heart and the rest of his body will respond.
I ran into the ICU so I could take the above photo of Ali and show it to his mother. She was ecstatic to see her little boy!
Who knows what will happen next—Ali could be up walking around as soon as tomorrow!
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Cody Fisher is the co-founder and Development Director of the Preemptive Love Coalition. He moved to Iraq in 2007 where he met his wife and since then they've been waging peace and mending hearts across Iraq. His passions are photography, peacemaking, and food that doesn't come out of a can. You can follow him on Twitter: |
Ali Is In Surgery!
January 18, 2012 by Cody · Leave a Comment

I got to the hospital this morning only to find out Ali had just been wheeled into the operating room for surgery.
I went to see how Ali’s mother was doing and she was surrounded by a group of women—all with enormous smiles on their faces. I asked why they were all smiling and they said it’s because Ali is getting his heart fixed!
12 years of waiting for a lifesaving heart surgery…I’d be all smiles too!
Ali should be coming out of the operating room within the next few hours. We’ll let you know how it goes!
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Cody Fisher is the co-founder and Development Director of the Preemptive Love Coalition. He moved to Iraq in 2007 where he met his wife and since then they've been waging peace and mending hearts across Iraq. His passions are photography, peacemaking, and food that doesn't come out of a can. You can follow him on Twitter: |
Ali’s Heroes Join Together To Save His Life
January 16, 2012 by Cody · Leave a Comment

Did you ever get a chance to meet one of your personal heroes?
Given Ali’s dream of becoming a heart surgeon, spending all day surrounded by heart doctors was like spending an entire day hanging out with his heroes. Ali has never wanted to be a doctor as badly as he does right now! But without a heart surgery within the next few days, Ali will never be able to grow up strong enough to make that a reality.
Today, Ali was taken in for more tests so the doctors can fully understand his rare heart defect. Essentially, part of Ali’s heart never completely formed, so his heart needs to be repaired in a way that will help him grow strong enough to go back to school and get back to being a kid.
Thankfully, a heart surgery exists that can do exactly that.
I asked Ali if he’s still excited for his heart surgery and he responded even more enthusiastically “Yes – YES!” Who wouldn’t want a surgery that could put all of their dreams back within reach?
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Cody Fisher is the co-founder and Development Director of the Preemptive Love Coalition. He moved to Iraq in 2007 where he met his wife and since then they've been waging peace and mending hearts across Iraq. His passions are photography, peacemaking, and food that doesn't come out of a can. You can follow him on Twitter: |
Meet Ali!
January 15, 2012 by Cody · Leave a Comment

A lot of you met Ali already, when he welcomed you to Remedy.
Whether he’ll admit it or not, he’s the ringleader and the brains behind The Fantastic Five. When Ali and The Fantastic Five aren’t by my side, it usually means I’m in the OR or in a meeting, in which case Ali will patiently sit right outside the door separating us. Just last night he called me over a dozen times on my phone, asking how I was doing and exhausting all of the Arabic I know.

What excites me the most about my friend Ali, though, is what he wants to be when he grows up. He wants to become a heart surgeon.
Yesterday we sat down and talked about his heart defect and I asked him why he wanted to become a heart surgeon. He responded, “I want to save others like me.”
If all goes well, Ali is just days away from his lifesaving heart surgery, where he’ll be saved by a heart surgeon and his team. I asked Ali if he’s excited for his surgery and he gave me a thumbs up and said “Yes – Yes!”
Ali is one day closer to being saved and getting the chance to save others…stay tuned!
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Cody Fisher is the co-founder and Development Director of the Preemptive Love Coalition. He moved to Iraq in 2007 where he met his wife and since then they've been waging peace and mending hearts across Iraq. His passions are photography, peacemaking, and food that doesn't come out of a can. You can follow him on Twitter: |
Iraq Sees Its Second Arterial Switch—Ever!
January 14, 2012 by Cody · Leave a Comment

Baby Ridha was born just 19 days ago. She may not be old enough to keep up with The Fantastic Five, but she was born at the perfect time for the surgeons to save her life. By the time Remedy arrived, Ridha’s heart was at the perfect developmental stage to be fixed, making her the 2nd (and the youngest!) baby to ever receive an arterial switch in Iraq!
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Cody Fisher is the co-founder and Development Director of the Preemptive Love Coalition. He moved to Iraq in 2007 where he met his wife and since then they've been waging peace and mending hearts across Iraq. His passions are photography, peacemaking, and food that doesn't come out of a can. You can follow him on Twitter: |
In A Word: “Kia”
December 14, 2011 by matt · Leave a Comment
Kia received a lifesaving heart surgery at Remedy Mission VII along with 23 other children. Her surgery was a huge success and was made possible by our friends at I CARE.
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As PLC's Press Secretary, Matt Willingham writes, reads, edits, tweets, updates, and works with a camera so as to connect hearts and minds to Iraqi children in need. On the side, he likes reading stories, devouring the great food his wife cooks up and exploring DSLR work. He's also mildly obsessed with Twitter: @mehtin. |
After A Successful Surgery, Fatima Is Now Recovering In ICU!
November 18, 2011 by matt · Leave a Comment

If you’ve been following Fatima’s story, you’ll be happy to hear that her surgery was a HUGE success! Her mother was right: this was a gift from God. She may not seem energetic now, but in a few days she’s expected to be as joyful and fun as ever.
As of today, the grand total of heart operations for Remedy Mission VII is 24! That’s the largest number of lifesaving operations ever provided during a single mission, and it also puts us over 200 total!
These are big milestones, and they’re proof that you and I–along with the rest of the Coalition–are capable of truly blessing hundreds of families in Iraq. Right now, 24 families in southern Iraq are on their way home to celebrate new life. Thank you for giving them that reason to celebrate!
Our Partners:

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As PLC's Press Secretary, Matt Willingham writes, reads, edits, tweets, updates, and works with a camera so as to connect hearts and minds to Iraqi children in need. On the side, he likes reading stories, devouring the great food his wife cooks up and exploring DSLR work. He's also mildly obsessed with Twitter: @mehtin. |
Mohammed’s New Heart…and Handlebar Moustache
November 17, 2011 by Cody · Leave a Comment

If you’re a child in a hospital waiting for a lifesaving heart surgery, your days are going to be crazy. There’s no way around it.
You’ll be whisked away from one appointment to the next. The cardiologists want to look at your heart, the nurses want to understand your blood, the doctors want to get their hands on your medical reports, and your parents are being walked through the actual procedure that will be performed on your heart. For sick children, life in the hospital is chaotic at best.
But Mohammed isn’t sick anymore. He experienced the rushing of the days leading up to his surgery, but now that he’s no longer sick his days are pretty boring!
The doctors don’t need to see him anymore. The cardiologists have seen all they need to see to know Mohammed’s heart is in great shape. The nurses have no reason to run more tests or prescribe medicine. His medical reports are now stamped “CURED” and are a thing of the past.
There’s no reason for healthy children to be in the hospital and there are less and less reasons for Mohammed to stick around any longer!
But we’re taking advantage of our down days with Mohammed – playing soccer, going on walks and trying out moustaches.
What do you think of this one?
We knew you’d like it.
Our Partners:

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Cody Fisher is the co-founder and Development Director of the Preemptive Love Coalition. He moved to Iraq in 2007 where he met his wife and since then they've been waging peace and mending hearts across Iraq. His passions are photography, peacemaking, and food that doesn't come out of a can. You can follow him on Twitter: |
The Surgery Was A Success! After Much Difficulty, Mohammed & His Mother Are Going Home!
July 10, 2011 by Alex · 1 Comment

Mohammed – quite possibly one of the cutest kids in southern Iraq – is currently resting after his successful surgery!
On our last day at the hospital we found out that Mohammed has suffered through much more than a failing heart; just before he was born his father left their family, and his mother was left to raise him alone.
That’s a big deal in a region like southern Iraq. It’s not easy for a woman to take on that kind of responsibility alone, which is why I feel such respect for Mohammed’s mother.
Like so many single mothers, she worked hard to raise an amazing kid, and she helped get him to the place where his life could be saved.
So, as we near the end of Remedy Mission VI, we’re celebrating Mohammed’s successful surgery, but we can’t really celebrate his life without acknowledging the hero who has always stood behind him.
We’re excited that Mohammed’s heart is healing, and he can now grow into a man capable of caring for the woman who sacrificed so much for him.
So from Mohammed, his mother, and all of us – thanks for saving his life!

Our Partners:

| Alex Phillips, a two-time PLC summer intern ('10 & '11), has invested his heart into the surgical and medicinal aid available to the children of Iraq, hoping to better understand the complicated ties between poverty and health. On his off days, Alex spends his time reading up on his field, listening to punk rock, riding his bike, and updating his Twitter: @_alexphillips. |
After Nearly Two Weeks of Waiting, Mohammed Is In Surgery!
July 8, 2011 by Alex · 1 Comment

After nearly two weeks of waiting, Mohammed is now in surgery!
He’s brightened our days here in southern Iraq, and now our Iraqi and international surgical team is working to repair his heart so he can continue brightening days for many years to come!
Stay tuned…
Our Partners:

| Alex Phillips, a two-time PLC summer intern ('10 & '11), has invested his heart into the surgical and medicinal aid available to the children of Iraq, hoping to better understand the complicated ties between poverty and health. On his off days, Alex spends his time reading up on his field, listening to punk rock, riding his bike, and updating his Twitter: @_alexphillips. |














