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Visitors in Iraq find PLC caring for little Heran herself & not just treating her as a project
October 7, 2009 by matt · Leave a Comment
Heran underwent a successful surgery last February, and yesterday’s follow up visit indicates continued improvement. She was all giggles as she played with Ruth, a PLC Family Advocate, by hiding her keys and showing off her English homework.
But the doctors have told her she has to gain weight in order to be eligible for a much-needed second round of surgery. Only further visits and checkups will tell if or when she’ll be eligible.
Being first time visitors, my wife and I were eager to experience PLC’s follow up process with the kids. On the practical side, these visits are for monitoring the kid’s condition pre- and post-op, but we also saw a relational aspect to it that goes beyond just a simple checkup or examination. We knew PLC was passionate about caring for Heran’s heart, now we know they’re also passionate about caring for her.
Heran Full of Energy & Center of Attention Back in Iraq
June 17, 2009 by Jeremy · 1 Comment
On Wednesday of last week PLC Family Advocates and our summer interns were blessed with the opportunity to see little Heran less than 24 hours after she arrived back in her home city.
She and her family were beaming with gratitude as she was passed from lap to lap of her four older sisters. As the youngest sibling, she is used to standing back and observing, and now she is not quite sure how to handle all of the attention. Even though her words were few, she sat by our sides and happily showed each of us every picture on the camera she took to Istanbul. She would smile shyly as her parents proudly talked about her improved overall health and new opportunities that are now before her.
Her energy was almost surprising after such an invasive surgery, quickly bouncing from the living room to the bedroom to the kitchen. Her family was so receptive and welcoming to the PLC staff; it is exciting to know that all of their hearts have been touched through this process, not just Heran’s.
Heran Goes Into Surgery Looking Blue
May 28, 2009 by Jeremy · 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 & Heran Accepted to Surgery
May 25, 2009 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
We just left the cardio catheterization lab at ASM Hospital in Istanbul where Dr. Cicek has accepted Shad (10 yr. boy) and Heran (7 yr. girl) to surgery. It was a phenomenal moment!
Upon going upstairs and telling Shad’s father and Heran’s mother we all erupted in hugs and celebration… praises to God and thanks to each other after a long day of waiting, playing, and patience. It was a moment we will never forget!
Roman goes to surgery at 10 a.m. Istanbul time, Tuesday morning.
PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Addington (ToOpenYourEyes.com)
Meet Heran
May 25, 2009 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Heran is a 7 year old girl, the youngest of 7 children. Families tend to be much bigger in Iraq! She’s much younger than the rest of her siblings and they all treat her like a little princess! Heran is currently at our partner hospital, Anadolu Sağlık Merkezi (ASM) in Turkey waiting to see if she will be accepted to life-saving heart surgery or if it is too late (and God-willing, it is not).
Everyone in her large family is so happy that she’s finally able to have a chance at the surgery that she needs and is so thankful to PLC and everyone around the world that made this essential next step possible.
Hiran is very small for her age, hopefully after her surgery she will gain some weight and the symptoms from which she currently suffers will be gone forever. She loves coloring, playing with her doll and trying to help her older sisters around the house. She has a very fun little personality, she makes us laugh a lot every time we are around her!
Keep checking back as we’ll do our best to keep you updated over the next few days of diagnostic tests, decisions, and - hopefully! - surgery.
PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Addington (ToOpenYourEyes.com)
Three Iraqi Kids to Surgery Tonight
May 23, 2009 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Tonight at 3 a.m. 3 Iraqi kids and one parent each will board a plane with representatives of the Preemptive Love Coalition to travel to life-saving heart surgery in Istanbul, Turkey.
Accompanying the group will be filmmaker Michael Dalton and photographer Matt Addington. You can view some of their documentary work about these children and the Preemptive Love Coalition at www.ToOpenYourEyes.com and below.
Roman
Heran
Shad
PHOTO CREDIT: Matt Addington (ToOpenYourEyes.com)
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