Recovery of war-injured three-year-old Iraqi child compromised by State Department delays in issuing visas.
The public is urged to CALL AND / OR SEND LETTERS to the State Department urging that visas be issued immediately for Mustafa and his father.

San Francisco, CA:  Three-year-old Mustafa Ghazwan suffered complete hearing loss when a US missile struck near his home in Baquba, Iraq.  Today he is deaf, unable to hear sounds at 130 decibels.  Before the attack, he could say simple words like mama and memma (baby bottle in Arabic), but has not been able to speak since his devastating hearing loss.  It is imperative that he receive a cochlear implant and rehabilitative treatment as soon as possible in order to improve his prospects of recovery and a more normal life.

Doctors and community organizers in the Bay Area have made arrangements for Mustafa to receive this treatment at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center.  Surgery, post-operative speech and hearing therapy, and daily care for Mustafa and his father have all been scheduled.  “From our perspective,” said Dan Lowenstein, Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Neurology at UCSF, “everything is completely in place for Mustafa to receive the medical care he needs.  It’s critical that Mustafa and his father’s visas be granted immediately so he can begin treatment.”

Dr. Lawrence Lustig, the surgeon who will implant Mustafa’s cochlear device, says: “Proceeding with Mustafa’s cochlear implant as soon as possible is of critical importance,” said Dr. Lustig. “He is at a crucial age for language acquisition, and continued delay may prove highly detrimental to his future development. The medical science is very clear on this point: the sooner the implant can be placed, the better speech and language skills we can expect Mustafa to develop.  Waiting too long will jeopardize his ability to effectively use his cochlear implant.”

Mustafa Ghazwan and his father, Ghazwan Al-Nidawi, have been stranded in Amman for the last twelve weeks.  Visas for Mustafa and his father continue to be delayed, which could have dire consequences for Mustafa’s prospects of recovery.  The public is urged to write letters to the State Department urging that Mustafa and his father’s visas be issued immediately so they can travel to San Francisco and Mustafa can begin receiving the care he so urgently needs.

Please Write Today!

Letters should be directed to:

Janice L. Jacobs
Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
2201 C Street, NW
Washington DC 20520
(202) 647-9576

AND:
Stephen A. Edson
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services
2201 C Street, NW
Washington DC 20520
(202) 647-9584

Please help us with this campaign to help this little Iraqi boy by writing or phoning today!

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”
—Mahatama Ghandi

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
—Margaret Mead

Look at this!!!!!  PT and OT started working with Mustafa today. Mustafa got his own walker as the first step in the process of a prosthesis or whatever will be done to help him walk. He worked very hard, but notice the “thumbs up” sign! Geri (and, of course, Ahmed) were with him at this amazing moment. Geri’s words and pictures below say it all!!

Mustafa MAY get discharged tomorrow or Thursday–back to Ronald McDonald House to heal for a week or so, then to start at Shriners.

We want to start thinking about next steps such as community gatherings (potlucks, etc.), ongoing needs and ways people can help/be involved, press (they have a story that MUST be heard), school and youth involvement, outings, fundraising, etc. Send all ideas our way and we will talk with Ahmed, see when Mustafa is strong enough to start getting out, and start planning onward.

Best to all.
Happy Rosh Hashanah and Eid Mubarak.

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.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

Dear friends,

Some more pictures from today — thanks Geri!!!

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!!

In case you don’t know it, Mustafa loves soccer!!

So…here is what is immediately ahead: surgery next week — probably on Tuesday to… (more…)

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. (more…)

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!

(more…)

Hi Everyone,

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.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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!

(more…)