963 Coffee Saves Little Iraqi Lives!
July 6, 2008 by Jeremy · 2 Comments
Our friends over at 963 Coffee facilitate the fair trade of coffee so that you get your daily Joe and the farmers get their fair share of that $5 cup of caffeine. Instead of beans on the dollar, they get a fair working wage, good working conditions, the right to organize themselves into unions, and a host of other benefits not afforded by other coffee companies.
In addition to what is already a great product, 963 Coffee has set up an affiliate program through which all of your purchases made by linking from PLC will go into an account with the Preemptive Love Coalition name on it. So on top of everything else, buying coffee will now fund heart surgeries for Iraqi kids, too!
We get 40% of sales from the store through this affiliate program. If you buy 10 bags of coffee for your office at $10/each, children in Iraq will receive $40 of your purchase. If you are an addict, we recommend the Monthly Obsession (like a subscription to coffee!). It only takes 63 friends at 2 bags of coffee per month, that would be $6,000 to children in Iraq in one year alone! That’s an entire heart surgery funded strictly by drinking coffee!
So forgo your POPULAR COFFEE CHAIN and drink some 963 Coffee instead.
NOTE: The coffee in question here sells in 12 oz. packages.
“I am an Iraqi Child” (Video) Posted
June 3, 2008 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Check out the new video and share it with your friends as a way of advocating on behalf of Iraqi children in need! Thanks for your support!
Embed this video on your blog or website:
Covering costs of past surgeries
May 20, 2008 by bobby · Leave a Comment
BSSL was just given a great opportunity to be able to cover the outstanding costs of 3 heart surgeries that had been done back in February and March. The bills for these surgeries were still awaiting payment and we were thrilled to be able to cover them! So meet Sarah, Shayan and Najeeba! All 3 kids are already back home in Iraq and enjoying the new life their healing hearts have brought them.
Here’s a recap on these little guys:
Sarah- 4 years old- Had surgery on February 20th. Sarah returned to Iraq on April 30, 2008 with a healthy heart. We saw pictures of her in the airport before she returned to Iraq playing “doctor” for a number of strangers. She’s been through the ringer and come out a healthy, happy little girl!
Shayan- 1 year old- We helped send Shayan to surgery on February 20th. He and his mother returned to Iraq on March 26, 2008 with an amazingly powerful little heart. Before he left the guesthouse to return home he was seen chasing balloons around the room and laughing big belly laughs… true signs of a healthy heart!
Najeeba- 4 years old- Najeeba successfully underwent surgery on February 20th. Sarah returned to Iraq on March 26, 2008 with a thriving heart. At first Najeeba had difficulty understanding why her mother would take her away from her home and let the doctors open her heart. But as she healed and was able to enjoy being a kid again, it seemed she was able to grasp the degree to which this surgery has improved and, in fact, saved her life.
Preemptive Love Art Exhibition.
May 8, 2008 by cody · Leave a Comment
If there’s one thing I’ve learned out here, it’s this: Always love. It doesn’t matter what it looks like or how it appears to those around you…just love. Maybe that’s because I’ve been exposed to so much hate here and I’ve grown to learn where that leads us as people. I say “us” because it’s in all of us. It’s not confined to Baghdad or terrorists or anybody else we label as a “bad guy.” We’re all affected by it. Another thing we have in common is the ability to love. Love isn’t contained in a building or in the “good guys” either. If you’re breathing…you can love.
Artists here in Northern Iraq recently pulled together to do exactly that. On top of all being able to breath, they are all extremely talented at creating art. Over thirty artists created and donated art to be displayed in Zamwa Gallery to show their support and advocacy on behalf of the children of Kurdistan. Instead of just being hung on a wall, their art is driving out complacency and hate and ushering in love.
When I first arrived here there were around 700 registered children with heart disease. Being registered isn’t a bad thing unless you’re lost in a list of 700 names waiting your turn to be send abroad for urgent surgery. Waiting in line isn’t a bad thing unless your heart needs to be treated immediately in order to survive. Just a few weeks ago we found out that the list of 700 kids has grown to a list of over 2,800.
If I’m completely honest then I’ll tell you that this is way too big for me. It’s way to big for you. It’s too big for an artist and even a doctor. But…if we’re still being honest, then I’ll tell you that all of us together CAN create change. We CAN help raise awareness. We CAN be a voice for these children. We CAN love. By “we” I mean painters, bloggers, doctors, writers, singers, students, business men, street sweepers, and anybody else that can breath.
So love. It may manifest itself in a piece of art, be shouted from a soap box or go completely unnoticed. It’s up to you. Just love.
All of the art from the gallery along with some of Buy Shoes. Save Lives.’ photography has been compiled into a book that can be purchased on our on-line store. Get one before they run out! All of the proceeds go to help fund heart surgeries. It’s simple.
Hussein’s heart strong, while mother worries about unrest in Iraq
April 24, 2008 by bobby · Leave a Comment
Last week Hussein was given the official clearance to head back home to Iraq! He had a bit slower recovery than the other kids have and required a pacemaker to maintain the health of his heart- but he’s pulled through like a champ! Hussein and his family are excited about his healthy heart, but are also bearing a great weight of concern about the safety of their city in Iraq. Our partner staff in Jerusalem wrote about Hussein’s mother:
“She had an emotional departure from our house in Jerusalem two days ago, and it was obvious when we visited them last evening in the apartment here in Amman that her heart was still full of conflict about leaving the people and the place where Hussein had received the help he needed. She spoke of how wonderful the people are, that there are many good people in Israel, and how thankful she is for the help they have received. And it is clear to those of us who first met her at the echocardiogram screening in October that the experiences they’ve had have changed the heart of both the mother as well as the son.”
The day Hussein and his mother flew back to Iraq:
“Hussein’s mother was quietly emotional during the time we spent together this day. They return to a very dangerous area of Iraq, and it is beyond the comprehension of most of us the extreme contrast she is experiencing at this time. While with us, she so enjoyed the freedom to go about the city and know she was safe… now she returns to the reality of a life I honestly cannot imagine. She was carrying so many things in her heart! I felt as we rode home from the airport it was as if a revolution was being birthed within her, one which perhaps represents the desires of many others in her nation who have not had the opportunity to experience the things she has. Please join me in praying for this beautiful mother and her son, and their family, as well as for the peoples in the land in which they live, to fulfill the good purpose God had when He created them.”
Baveel
April 16, 2008 by ruth · 1 Comment
Two weeks ago Baveel came to visit us at the office. We lost electricity just before he arrived so understandably he wasn’t’ able to make the climb to our office on the 6th floor so we just met outside in the car. He’s recovering reasonably well from his surgery and looks super cool with his new hair style which he had done in Israel! On the down side, he isn’t eating well and is quite underweight which is hindering him from reaching his full potential. He also needs to start building up his exercise tolerance; he had been spending the majority of his time indoors playing computer games. I explained the importance of eating well and being more active and gave him some ideas as to how to work on these things. I’m hoping that when we see him again next week that he will have his appetite back and that he’ll be playing less computer games and instead be playing much more outdoors with his friends. If you’re inclined towards prayer, lift up one for Baveel as he continues to recover.
3 heading home with healed hearts!
March 31, 2008 by bobby · 1 Comment
Aria, Juliana and Rebar all returned to their homes and families in Iraq on March 23rd after having successful heart surgeries and recoveries in Israel!
These kids are returning home as totally new little people! The blue tinge to their skin is gone. They can run and play like all the other kids. They can breathe normally and have boundless energy! The outlook for their future is bright!
We’re all part of something huge here- bringing hope for life to kids and their families and a whole country that desperately needs it. Thanks for being on board with us! Who ever thought shoes could be part of something this amazing?
Hussein’s recovery slow, but steady
March 31, 2008 by bobby · Leave a Comment
Four year old Hussein’s heart surgery one month ago was a success, but his heart has not been able to maintain a steady beat. On March 12th the surgeons placed an internal pacemaker into Husseins chest to regulate his heartbeat and to ensure that his heart continues to function properly.Hussein’s mother has been burdened with a lot of worry and stress as her son went through yet another surgery (this time for the pacemaker) and then they received news about increasing conflict in their hometown in Iraq.Our partners in Israel wrote, “Hussein’s mom looked very drained while we were talking, and after a little while of sitting with her, she got a phone call from her husband that made her upset. He told her that there was a great increase of conflict in the city where they live in Iraq, that it was dangerous in the streets and on the paths leading into the city. He told her that he feared for the timing of her return with Hussein. This was very upsetting news.”As Hussein’s heart is healing and being cared for in very tangible ways, we think of his mom and the burdens on her heart. And since it’s nothing that surgery can fix, we pray for peace in Iraq and for the hope that Hussein’s healing heart carries to spread throughout that country.
Trip to see Aras in Halabja
March 25, 2008 by ruth · 2 Comments
Last week I made my first visit to one of ‘our kids’ - Aras, the start of what I hope to spend much time doing here as ‘Director of Rehabilitation & Family Relations’ for BSSL.
Aras was the first kid that was mostly funded for his surgery through BSSL . When we arrived in his neighborhood we first spotted him out playing on the street with his friends - running around, laughing, having fun! It was my first time to meet him and I definitely would not have suspected that he had been through so much in the past few months!
I had a wonderful time with Aras and his family. They thanked us over and over again for all that we had done to help Aras. His mom had put together an extensive photo album telling Aras’s story during his time in Israel. It was fun having Aras talk me through all the photos from him lying on his bed immediately following surgery through all the various stages of recovery. He’s a real sweet kid!
Thank you for making it possible for kids like Aras to have the life saving operations that they need! Arya and Rebar just returned on Saturday so I’m also hoping to be able to visit them soon. This week I’ll also be visiting Baveel so check in again soon to see an update on how he’s doing.
this is what recovery looks like:
February 29, 2008 by bobby · Leave a Comment
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