Jobs disappeared. That’s what drove Yaqin’s family from Mosul. It was 2014 and the early days of ISIS in the city. Life was beginning to get difficult—the rules for living changed, tightened, but it was still manageable, except for the fact that paid work became scarce. Yaqin’s father couldn’t support his family, so they made …
She Escaped ISIS, Now She Survived A Life-Threatening Heart Defect Read More »
Every mom’s heart aches when her child is sick. It’s so hard to see them suffer and not know what’s going on, or how to help. For some moms it’s extra hard. When Yossef came down with the flu at two months old, he was taken to see a doctor. The doctor diagnosed not only …
How You Ended A Mother’s Desperate Search For Surgery Read More »
When Falah closes his eyes, he sees himself high above the clouds, in the cockpit of a fighter jet. When he imagines his future self, he is a pilot who helps to defend his country from the forces which seek to destroy. But today Falah is laying in his hospital bed recovering from the surgery …
Before Surgery, Falah Was Falling Behind—Not Anymore Read More »
Sometimes living takes you by surprise. Zahraa was in the step-down unit when we asked what her hopes are for the future. Today is just the first day after her surgery, but she is already well enough to smile at silly jokes. She is relaxed in her bed, and turned down the pain medication our …
She was blue. Well, she was beyond blue actually—purple. We started the day with a little purple baby thrust into our arms. “She doesn’t look very well.” That might be the understatement of the year. Umalbanen was admitted immediately, and examined to see just what was going on. The verdict? She was hours from death. …
Libya is a country in turmoil, with a health care infrastructure that is falling apart. We get criticized sometimes for continuing to go to Libya to perform lifesaving heart surgeries in the midst of the violence and chaos. ‘They need aid’ is what we hear in America, when the topic of Libya comes up. Here …
4 Reasons We Provide Heart Surgeries In A War Zone Read More »
“You’ll never be able to give away heart surgeries to kids around the world, Bill. There’s no money in that.” This is what then-resident Dr. Novick’s faculty adviser told him when he got back from his first heart surgery trip to Honduras. But he had found what he wanted to do with his life, and …
“What is my greatest dream for my daughter? With a little laugh, Sima replied, “To be human, of course.” There is nothing I want for Tarane, nothing more important in life than to show kindness to others, for her to treat the world with understanding and respect. That is what being fully human means.” Her …
“You’re beautiful,” Aylin’s mother sings to her. “We love you Aylin, the world is so beautiful with you in it.” Aylin or “Ducky” as we call her, fought for her life from the day she was born, but she doesn’t have much to help her fight. Her mother whispers and sings to her, all six …
Stories from Iran – After Lifesaving Surgery, Aylin’s Parents Dream About Her Future Read More »
Libya. Wednesday, 5:57 pm. ICU. We’ve dimmed most of the lights, so the patients can sleep more easily. Sleep is valuable medicine. Rouana’s mom sits beside her, gently cleaning tape scum off of her face with a damp piece of gauze, then feeding her a bottle. She talks in a soft voice, tipping her head …
