Live from Iraq - Buy Shoes. Save Lives. Podcast #1
February 12, 2008 by Jeremy · 1 Comment
Thanks for tracking with us… press play below or visit us on iTunes to hear our most recent - and first ever group - podcast, Live from Iraq. In this installment, we discuss the scope of the problem facing Kurdish children with heart problems, Relevant Magazine’s tremendous contribution to our work in Iraq, and the likelihood that all of us volunteers here will die from the black lung. With you, Jeremy and Cody
Hussein’s Sister Died of Heart Complications
November 8, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
This is cross-posted from our partner Shevet Achim’s site. We wanted you to hear this story so you could feel the gravity of the problem these famillies face.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Sister Died of Heart Disease
Filed by Donna Petrel
A sleepy Hussein arrived with his mother from the Save A Child’s Heart house this morning, along with Mustafa and his mother, for his echo and further tests. Yesterday Dr. Katz attempted to do an initial echo on Hussein, but none of us could settle him down enough for the echo to be done. Because it was late in a very long day, the doctor decided that waiting until today would be best for all of us, and dismissed Hussein to the SACH house. This morning Hussein was given a syrup to make him sleepy so he would not be distressed over the echo, and even though he arrived at the hospital already sleepy, this did not stop his fearful fretting for quite awhile. Yet when he finally fell asleep, he was peaceful during an hour-plus long echo by several doctors who were discussing his complicated case as they went through the examination. Hussein awoke before the end of the exam, and Dr. Tamir spoke to him gently about helping him grow up to be a big boy, which seemed to settle him back down so the exam could be finished to the doctor’s satisfaction.
During today’s exam when Dr. Tamir took some family information about Hussein, his mother told of the death of an older daughter who also apparently had heart problems. She told of how the doctors in Iraq could not help her after she was admitted to the hospital at the age of nineteen, and so after four months, the daughter died. She had shared with me in Amman that one of her children died, but she did not tell me the details. After hearing this today, it helped me realize why she is so anxious to know whether Hussein will be able to have surgery or not.
Later in the day as Hussein still waited at the hospital, this usually shy boy was content to go to the children’s playroom where they were making balloon animals. He also enjoyed playing with his friend Mustafa and visiting with Hedi in his room there. It was determined that both Hussein and Mustafa could return to the SACH house for the night, and come back for more testing later in the week. Tomorrow we hope to visit them there. Please keep praying for Hussein and his mother as they wait for the surgery which will give him a new heart, and give joy to the heart of his dear mother.
Anonymous Donor Partially Funds Two Children for Buy Shoes. Save Lives.
November 6, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Hedi, 8 months old
Thanks to an anonymous gift directly to our partner organization on behalf of Buy Shoes. Save Lives., Hedi will be able to have the operation he needs to fix the hole between the ventricles of his heart. Your advocacy among your friends is apparently working! Keep it up!
Hussein, 3 years old
Hussein is from one of the few Arab (non-Kurdish) families who made it safely to the October screening. Doctors singled him out as urgent, as he periodically runs out of breath and cries. Our partners at Shevet Achim took him across the Jordan River Monday with Hedi (above), and thanks to an anonymous gift on behalf of Buy Shoes. Save Lives., his sponsorship was completed at three minutes to midnight the same day!
Three-Way Partnership Signed
November 4, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Cody Fisher with Dr. Noaman and Dr. Muhammad upon signing a three-way partnership deal between Buy Shoes. Save Lives., Kurdistan Save the Children, and Rayalla.
As of this afternoon KSC has a database of 1,617 children who need some sort of emergency medical attention. Over 700 of those cases are heart problems.
Estimations say more than 1,000 unregistered children have various kinds of urgent congenital heart diseases which will leave the children dead or paralyzed within weeks if not treated. The blood disease Thalassemia is also hitting children hard, with more than 508 cases in Sulaimanyia and 450 cases in Kirkuk. There is no cure in Iraq, and without help from abroad, these children are just waiting for death.
That’s why we’re so grateful for these partnerships and for your help!
Sincerely,
BSSL
Volunteer Opportunities with BSSL Available
October 31, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
If you have any skills at all, we probably have a place to get you plugged in in the cause of raising awareness and advocating on behalf of Iraqi children who have been neglected and left behind in the wake of politics and war.
If you have skills in PR, marketing, film-making, photography, or graphic design - we will put you to work immediately today!
Listen to the podcast below if you are more inclined toward verbal invitations!
Aras Now Fully Funded!
October 29, 2007 by Jeremy · 1 Comment
Aras, 12 years old
Halabja, Iraq
Aras should have had surgery as an infant, and thanks to your thoughtful buying practices and great compassion Aras will now inshallah, LORD willing, get that surgery he needs. This surgery was co-sponsored by Buy Shoes. Save Lives. and other private donors with BSSL paying over 68% of the $7,000 base. With surgery Aras is expected to lead a normal life! Israeli doctors have accepted him as a surgery candidate, and we will attempt to send him as soon as possible.
Urgent Appeal from Kurdistan Save the Children
October 23, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
We have thousands of desperately sick children who need urgent surgery and treatment outside Iraq, as they cannot be treated in Iraq.Include more than 1000 children with various kinds of urgent congenital heart diseases, which will leave the children dead or paralyzed within weeks if not treated.
So far, 493 children suffering from heart disease have enrolled with the health sector of our organization, and they are waiting for treatment outside Iraq.
The blood disease Thalassemia is also hitting children hard, with more than 508 cases only in Sulaimanyia, and 450 cases in Kirkuk. There is no cure for them within Iraq, and without help from abroad, these children are just waiting for death.
We need help finding hospitals that can treat these children, as well as funding for the surgeries and treatments. The medical journals can be provided immediately upon your request.
These children are in desperate need of your help!
From http://www.ksc-kcf.com/Howtohelp/UrgentAppeal/tabid/91/Default.aspx
BSSL Featured on Relevant Store
October 10, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Thanks again to Matt Addington and everyone else at the Relevant Media Group for their interest in the well-being of Iraqi children.
This week they’ve decided to feature Buy Shoes. Save Lives. on their online store - which is a great honor given the other wonderful products and organizations with whom they partner.
So check out the Relevant Store as a partner in our effort to save lives in Iraq by selling our one-of-a-kind fashionable shoes. Buy something while you’re there. And leave a review on their site if you’ve bought something from us and LOVE IT!
Thanks, Relevant. You’re saving lives!
Jeremy, Cody, Jessica, & Michelle
Big Relevant Fans
Buy Shoes. Save Lives. Signs w/ Kurdistan Save the Children
October 2, 2007 by Jeremy · 136 Comments
Today, by the grace of God, Buy Shoes. Save Lives. and Kurdistan Save the Children shook hands on a deal to partner together to address the needs of over 1,000 children registered with KSC who have congenital heart problems needing immediate surgery.
Buy Shoes. Save Lives. agrees to…
- commit as much money as we can to heart surgeries from shoe sales
- promote this cause through photography and video
- be the ambassador to Shevet Achim and facilitate the sending of children
Kurdistan Save the Children agrees to…
- promote this cause also through documentaries on the children
- collect all the necessary medical documents
(and wait for it…wait for it…)
- give a MINIMUM of $10,000 a month directly to Buy Shoes. Save Lives. to be put towards heart surgeries via Shevet Achim.
Additionally, KSC is seeking to expedite the visa process with the Iraqi Embassy in Jordan. They are also making efforts to get airfare at half price from Iraqi Air.
We are so pleased to see Kurdistan Save the Children and (Mrs.) Hêro Xan Talabanî get behind our efforts to get behind their children.
The Peace of God be with you…
Jeremy, Cody, Jessica & Michelle
Buy Shoes. Save Lives.
-
-
Recent Posts
-
Archives
Your shopping cart is empty.
