LIFESAVING HEART SURGERIES FOR IRAQI KIDS IN PURSUIT OF PEACE BETWEEN PEOPLE AT ODDS.
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Backed Into a Corner: Doctors Adapting to Hardships in Iraq
June 30, 2010 by Preston · Leave a Comment
As a doctor, decisions that affect a person’s quality of life come with the job, and this is no different for our local cardiologist, Dr. Aso Faeq. While shadowing Dr. Aso in his office earlier this week, I witnessed how the problems in Iraq make these decisions even more difficult.
As I saw patient after patient visit Dr. Aso’s office last Wednesday, the fact that congenital heart disease is a rampant problem here in northern Iraq became blatantly obvious. Families drove for hours just to see this one cardiologist examine their child, and so many of them were told about the urgency of their child’s heart condition.
Though so many cases are urgent, Dr. Aso is restricted from the limited options he has available to him in Iraq. The lack of training and technology for doctors along with poverty and cultural dilemmas prevent many children from receiving surgery in the country. It’s hardships like these that affect Dr. Aso’s decision making every day.
One of his decisions that resonated with me concerned the fate of a three-month-old boy. His parents brought him to the office knowing he had a heart problem, but they needed Dr. Aso to examine and diagnose him. After a few seconds of doing the echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart), Dr. Aso’s whole demeanor changed instantly.
He explained to us that two of the little boy’s heart chambers were malformed and merged into a single chamber causing immense pressure to build in his heart. As the family and Dr. Aso discussed their options, the limitations became obvious. The surgery the child needs could be done in a town six hours away, but the family did not have the money to do this. On top of this, the next group of American non-profit surgeons who will perform local surgeries here does not arrive for another fifty days, which could be too late for the dying boy.
For a solid 10 minutes Dr. Aso did not say a word. He sat there, weighing the child’s options and deciding his fate. Imagine the immensity of this decision. Dr. Aso has basically been backed into a corner and told to make a decision on this child’s life. And so, he did. Waiting is the only option. He spoke to the parents, comforted them, signed the papers, and watched as the next patient walked in.
Dr. Aso often finds himself faced with difficult decisions, but with the options available to him he takes the initiative to make the best call for these children. These families are, in fact, some of the strongest people I have ever witnessed. They face impending tragedy while dealing with poverty and neglect. Sitting in Dr. Aso’s office, however, allowed me to see that real initiative can cause real change in the face of immense hardship.
People like Dr. Aso take this initiative as far as they can, and PLC hopes to offer opportunities for this initiative to be extended across the world. Whether it be through buying Klash from our Buy Shoes. Save Lives. program, supporting local healthcare through Remedy Mission, or creatively partnering with PLC to find new ways of providing these heart surgeries, you can also take the initiative to make a difference in childrens’ lives.
Photo of the Day
June 16, 2010 by Lydia · Leave a Comment
PLC interns have recently worked with local shoe makers to design the first-ever pair of female Klash! Here, a Klash-maker cuts ribbon for the bow, which is one feminine aspect of the new shoes. Pre-order a pair here for a limited time only.
www.buyshoessavelives.com
A PLC Intern’s Thoughts on Brain and Feet Soup and New Cultural Experiences
June 16, 2010 by Preston · Leave a Comment
Experiencing Iraqi culture in a variety of ways is one of the great parts of being a PLC intern. The tasks we take on allow us to build meaningful relationships with new friends as we work. So far, a few of us interns have been a part of this relationship building through working with our new friend Aram. Aram is a local Klash maker who uses his unique gift to help PLC provide much-needed heart surgeries for children right here in his home country. For the last few weeks, the interns have been working with Aram on new ideas for Klash. Day after day, at least two of us have been frequenting his shop, speaking in broken language, trying to communicate new ideas, and in doing so, slowly building a great relationship while experiencing a new and exciting culture!
This culture is one of great hospitality. Every time we step foot in his shop, Aram is quick to offer water and tea. Often times we try to pay for the drinks he gives us, but the gesture is always denied. Many people here have a joy about them as they serve their guest. Even after three weeks of our visits, Aram never fails to extend his hospitality. On one of our latest visits, we partook in a rather unusual adventure of the culinary type.
While sitting in Aram’s shop during lunch time the other day, he asked if we would like some sêrûpê. This dish that I’ve only heard tale of, has often times made our Iraqi friends laugh by even just mentioning the name. The food that was brought to us was a green-yellow, brothy mixture containing sheep brain, foot, tongue, and mid-region. I know the thought is quiet unappetizing, but after timidly tasting the first bite, we understood that the Iraqi people know what’s going on when it comes to food. They can even make sheep brain and feet taste delicious. Served with a tortilla-type bread called naan, the meal could not have been more delicious.
Along with experiencing the culture through food, we’ve also experienced a type of relationship building that can only be formed by sitting in a Klash shop in the middle of Iraq while sipping hot tea. After sitting around a bit and talking about our new Klash ideas, the conversation can quickly drift to dugolie (the Kurdish word for “soccer” or “futbol”), especially focusing on the World Cup and the many reasons why Aram thinks Germany will win it all. We talk about the trade, argue about sports, and work on Klash together. Spending time in Aram’s shop has been one of the best ways of experiencing the culture so far.
Photo of the Day
June 7, 2010 by Lydia · Leave a Comment
Klash are a Kurdish tradition in footwear. PLC works with local shoemakers, selling pairs of Klash to fund heart surgeries. Its a beautiful way to invest in the community on another level!
The Preemptive Love Coalition covered by NEED Magazine
February 16, 2009 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Thanks to Michael Duffield and NEED Magazine for covering Kadeeja’s stories and lending your voice in support of the effort to help Ahmad and the others from the Great Eight whose surgeries we are funding in Turkey right now.
Click here to read the article online.
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