Mustafa came through surgery great! Yesterday was, I think, a turning point for that post-surgery pain and discomfort. He seems to be feeling better and now the tubes and IVs are gradually getting removed! I think the best moment was when he could have a drink of water as he was not able to have anything by mouth for over 3 days. Mustafa has been an excellent “trooper” during this whole process, which has been painful and unfamiliar. Ahmed too is amazing — such patience, grace and dedication to his son. They are both so wonderful to be getting to know.
It is fine to resume visits starting on Sunday — we would just really urge you to KEEP THE VISITS BRIEF — they are both exhausted and really need to rest.
I am so relieved to report that Mustafa came through the long surgery very well — no complications. The surgery accomplished the 3 things that were planned for: 1. removal of an egg-sized (literally) bladder stone that was obstructing the bladder and undoubtedly causing pain, 2. removal of one kidney that was not functioning and 3. revision of the colostomy so that it is smaller and easier to care for. Unfortunately, due to nervous system damage from the injury, Mustafa’s intestine could not be reattached, so the colostomy has to remain. Once he heals he should be pain-free. I think Ahmed is very relieved to have the surgery behind them, and he is grateful for the results.
Mustafa suffered very significant internal injuries from the bomb blast. He will need time, further evaluations of his kidney function, and further adaptations in order to get better and stay well. He has a long road ahead. BUT, he did very well today. We will have to reschedule the Shriner’s appointment (was to have been on this Thursday) for when he is feeling better.
As you can see, Mustafa is feeling so much better. Ahmed said he hasn’t looked this good in a long time. It is so wonderful to see his resiliency – now there are smiles and laughs and lots of eye contact. All who have visited are so impressed by how really bright and observant he is. He (and Ahmed) are definitely in our hearts!!
September 11th, 2008 | Posted by Ned Rosch and Maxine Fookson
Dear good friends,
Ahmed’s and Mustafa’s gentleness and bravery on this journey are totally amazing. Please feel free to get to know them. They were so moved by the warmth of the airport welcome and by the number of people who were there. I think we will all find it very easy to fall in love with them! Their story is so important to tell: here is this absolutely beautiful little boy whose injuries are extremely serious. It will be very moving to see this project evolve to tell Mustafa’s and Ahmed’s story AND to be a community that helps them heal.
A special thank you goes out to the members of the Iraqi community who have been so amazingly generous with their time, love, interpretation, meals and concern for Mustafa and Ahmed. Read the rest of this entry »
Our little Rusul has a new foot! She’s happily walking away on her new prosthetic and will be starting twice-a-day therapy as of tomorrow. At last Thursday’s appointment Rusul hopped on the examination table, pulled on her new prosthesis, jumped down and started walking! (Apparently, this isn’t the norm for someone just getting a prosthetic, but if you’ve met Rusul, you’d have guessed it’d be what she’d do!) She even entertained a bit with some mini-skips and hops, just to show us she could do it! I’ve even had to actually STOP her from taking off running as Ed Skewes (her prostheticist) said that this isn’t the “final” foot and it’ll break if she runs. She could do it if she tried though; and she’s aching to try!
I just got back from a weekend in Asheville with Rusul, staying at the beautiful mountain home of Paul Turner and visiting with him and Ymani Simmons (both of Asheville’s core group). The Unitarian Church in Asheville was donating Sunday’s collection to Rusul and NMV, and we wanted to be there for that. A big thanks to Lew Patrie of the UU church, and Susan Oehler of the Asheville Core group for setting this up!
Just to let you know that Noora is doing wonderfully. She has now had two post-op check-ups and is progressing along just as they had hoped. This past Thursday, her suture line had healed enough that they were able to begin the balloon expansion process, which will eventually create the skin that will cover the new prosthetic skull. Dr. Atwood will be expanding the balloon every 5-7 days for the next 6(+) weeks. Thankfully, the procedure is essentially painless!
Noora and Afef were honored to attend a lovely Sunday afternoon picnic, hosted by the Woodford’s Congregational Church in Portland, a couple of weeks ago (Woodford’s Church was one of the first organizations to sponsor a fundraising event for this project months before Noora’s arrival). Noora’s face lit up like a lightbulb when she saw that dalmas (grape leaves stuffed with rice, raisins, etc.) were on the menu! It’s one of her favorite foods, and one that she frequently talks her mom into making for her (per Afef). And, last week, Aynne Doil (a volunteer at RMH) kindly put on a delicious Middle Eastern dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, which Afef and Noora said “tasted just like home”. In anticipation of Ramadan, which began last Monday and continues throughout the month of Sept., Afef said he ate with fasting in mind. He will be abstaining from both food and fluid from sunup to sundown. Also during this time, both he and Noora will be attending nightly prayers and meals at the mosque.
Recently, Ellen from the Portland, Oregon NMV chapter headed east to visit her hometown of Portland, Maine. While there, she met up with Portland, Maine organizers, Doug Rogers and Susi Eggenberger, who took Ellen to meet little Nora and her father, Afef!
During the visit, Ellen gave Nora and Afef each an “Ask Me About Mustafa” t-shirt from their chapter. The Portland, Oregon group is waiting for 6-year-old Mustafa Abed, who lost his leg and a large part of his hip to a US air strike in November of 2004, and created these shirts to spread awareness about Mustafa’s plight.
Nora, who needs plastic surgery on her skull, was more than happy to wear Mustafa’s shirt and show her support for another young victim of the invasion of her country.
Thank you so much to both Portlands for your support, creativity, and compassion for our friends, the civilians of Iraq! Read the rest of this entry »
Well, Rusul continues to be amazing! She’s cheerful and kind, laughing and loving. She came through her amputation with flying colors and “no ouch,” and her incision has now fully healed. She should have a new foot in ten days! And, anyone who’s seen how FAST she is hopping around without a foot (most of the time now, she just shoves her walker to the side), can’t imagine how speedy she’ll be WITH a foot! It’ll be hard to keep up with her!
Abu Ali continues to be the most loving and compassionate father. And, a good friend to everyone he meets.
So many wonderful folks from both the Greenville and Asheville areas have tended to their needs, extended warm bonds of friendship, and visited and played with both of them. Rusul’s discovered that she LOVES putt-putt, big blow-up slides, merry-go-rounds, spaghetti, making jewelry with beads, and of course, “potatoes with ketchup” (french fries). As soon as she woke from surgery, she demanded “potatoes with ketchup”; she had to be satisfied with “crackers” with ketchup (Saltines) for a while to keep from getting nauseated, but I think the ketchup was the main draw so she was a trooper as long as the ketchup kept flowing.
The word we received this morning from Cole Miller, (NMV Director) who is in Amman to accompany Mustafa Abed and his father Ahmed here, is that there is still the delay in the final travel stamp for Mustafa’s father’s passport. Hopefully, it will come through in a very short time. Cole will keep us updated and we will send out regular emails. Obviously, they won’t make it here in time for Mustafa’s scheduled appointment at Shriner’s this Wednesday, 8/27. I will work with Shriner’s to reschedule at the soonest time they can arrange.
So, we’ll continue to send our good energy to Mustafa and Ahmed, and hopefully, they will get here very soon. Enjoy the pictures!
Just a quick note to let you all know that Noora’s surgery went as well as they had hoped and that she is back at the Ronald McDonald House after an overnight in the hospital. Noora slept much of the day after the surgery, waking for short periods of time to talk or video/conference with her family in Iraq. Come 3:00 in the morning, however, Afef said she was wide awake and ready to play! As you can see from the photographs she’s now sporting a new headdress, which she’s not particularly thrilled about and fortunately will only have to wear for a short period of time while the wound heals. It’s been a tiring couple of days for both father and daughter but she is well on her way to feeling herself again!
Thank you so much for your love and concern,
Susi and Doug
Mustafa came through surgery great! Yesterday was, I think, a turning point for that post-surgery pain and discomfort. He seems to be feeling better and now the tubes and IVs are gradually getting removed! I think the best moment was when he could have a drink of water as he was not able to have anything by mouth for over 3 days. Mustafa has been an excellent “trooper” during this whole process, which has been painful and unfamiliar. Ahmed too is amazing — such patience, grace and dedication to his son. They are both so wonderful to be getting to know.
Ahmed’s and Mustafa’s gentleness and bravery on this journey are totally amazing. Please feel free to get to know them. They were so moved by the warmth of the airport welcome and by the number of people who were there. I think we will all find it very easy to fall in love with them! Their story is so important to tell: here is this absolutely beautiful little boy whose injuries are extremely serious. It will be very moving to see this project evolve to tell Mustafa’s and Ahmed’s story AND to be a community that helps them heal.
