Friday, May 11, 2007 Jobe wrote:
Dear Friends and Family,
Only nine days ago I sent the message below and, I must say, the response has been nothing short of overwhelming. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everyone taking the time to reply with suggestions and forward it on to others. Through our collective efforts, Dr, Christian Pizarro and Alfred I. duPonte Hospital for Children in Wilmington Delaware, have graciously offered to take the case if and when I can get Hibrahim to the States. This is a huge and encouraging first step and I can’t wait to tell Rahim in the morning (they have Fridays off). Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone who has helped so far and especially to Dr. Pizarro, Nemours, Beth Volk and Dr. Del Nido of the Children’s Hospital Boston, and finally Vicki Pemberton and Gail Pearson of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
We still have a major hurdle in getting them into the country, but I wanted to let everyone know where we are so you can all stop looking for doctors. I’ve done my best to add everyone who’s replied to this distribution, but I’m sure I don’t have them all. Please pass on the good news!
Thanks again,
Jobe
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Dear Friends and Family,
In my last update, I announced the generous commitment from Alfred I. duPonte Hospital to donate Hibrahim’s surgery. Since then, I have been working on the logistics of the trip. One of the issues is long term post-op care, but that can be arranged in Kabul (8 hour drive from here). A much more difficult hurdle has been transportation. Military flights are nearly impossible for Afghan civilians and commercial travel is very complicated. You can't just go down to the travel agency and buy a ticket all the way through to Wilmington Delaware. I found out that the best we can do from here is buy a ticket from Kabul to Dubai. Once in Dubai, Rahim would have to try to get a flight to Kuwait. Then, in Kuwait he would be able to get a flight to New York, and so on. I’m sure you can imagine how daunting this would be for a man who doesn't speak the language in Dubai, Kuwait, or the US. He'd be on his own with a weak toddler who he doesn't have much experience caring for (in Afghan culture, the mother cares for the small children almost exclusively). I think it could work if we got him an international cell phone, but the chances of something going wrong are too great. A US visa is another big road block for Afghans. It is possible to get one for medical reasons, meaning the embassy is taking applications, but the process is very lengthy and the system is flooded with such requests. Also, part of the requirement is to present evidence that you intend to return, i.e. return ticket. A few days ago, I was really starting to worry that I wasn't going to be able to pull this off.
However, two days ago learned out about some Military folks in Kabul who recently sent two Afghan kids to India for heart surgery. They only had to raise $11,000 to cover the cost of both surgeries plus transportation for one parent each, food, lodging, and interpreter for two weeks. But, the news gets better.
As I learned about how the India mission was accomplished and met some of the people involved, I got an email from Sandy McMahan (she’s copied on this one). Sandy is the Administrative Director for the International Children’s Heart Foundation. The money for the India mission was raised on the International Children’s Heart Foundation website, www.BabyHeart.org. Sandy monitors all the donations and will put money aside for specific children if it’s requested by the donor. The international Children’s Heart Foundation paid the hospital directly so the fundraisers and the families didn’t have to worry about handling the money. This completely takes care of the fundraising question. Believe it or not, the news gets better still.
Sandy informed me of an upcoming mission to Pakistan. From June 16th through June 30th, a medical team from the US will be at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology located in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Sandy can get Hibrahim his surgery during this mission to Pakistan. The cost for the surgery will be about the same ($4,000 - $5,000), but logistically Pakistan is even easier than India. There will be no need for an interpreter, the whole family can drive there, lodging is cheaper, and the visa is free and easy to get. Hibrahim's father was terrified about going to the United States alone, but now that he knows about the Pakistan mission, he's very relieved.
Don’t ask me why I didn’t contact them earlier. I’ve been donating to the Children’s Heart Foundation since my son received his heart surgery six years ago. Anyone who wishes to donate to Hibrahim’s cause and help save his life, please go to www.BabyHeart.org. You will see the information about the Pakistan mission on the home page. Once on the site, click on “make a donation”. On the next page you will see a similar button that says, “Please click here to be transferred to a safe and secure online donation form”. That button will open a new window that is the secure donation form. The most important thing to remember is to make a note that your donation is for Mohammad Hibrahim Amiri in the comments box. Then just continue with the form as if you were making a purchase online. My guess is that $6,000 will do it. Sandy will track the donations and keep me informed. When there is enough to cover the costs I will send another email to let everyone know.
I realize some of you may have a phobia about online credit card transactions. You can still donate by mailing a check to the address below. Just remember to include a note indicating who the funds are for, Mohammad Hibrahim Amiri.
International Children’s Heart Foundation
1750 Madison Avenue, Suite 100
Memphis, TN, 38104
So, this is the plan. We’re sending Hibrahim and his family to Rawalpindi for his life saving procedure. Everything is in place except the money, and that is only a matter of time thanks to you all. Thank you everyone for taking the time to read all these lengthy updates and for all the help you have sent me. I will keep you informed of all the progress and will also send pictures as things develop.
By the way, the foundation is still looking for team members for this mission. They need PICU Nurses with at least 2 years experience in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit, an Intensivist/ICU Physician, and an Anesthesiologist if any of you qualified folks are interested.
Take care everyone,
Jobe
I will post the remaining follow up letters from Jobe and some of the pictures as soon as I can get my hands on them. Until then, take care and I look forward to seeing all of you soon.
Much Love,
Michael
Dear Friends and Family,
Only nine days ago I sent the message below and, I must say, the response has been nothing short of overwhelming. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everyone taking the time to reply with suggestions and forward it on to others. Through our collective efforts, Dr, Christian Pizarro and Alfred I. duPonte Hospital for Children in Wilmington Delaware, have graciously offered to take the case if and when I can get Hibrahim to the States. This is a huge and encouraging first step and I can’t wait to tell Rahim in the morning (they have Fridays off). Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone who has helped so far and especially to Dr. Pizarro, Nemours, Beth Volk and Dr. Del Nido of the Children’s Hospital Boston, and finally Vicki Pemberton and Gail Pearson of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
We still have a major hurdle in getting them into the country, but I wanted to let everyone know where we are so you can all stop looking for doctors. I’ve done my best to add everyone who’s replied to this distribution, but I’m sure I don’t have them all. Please pass on the good news!
Thanks again,
Jobe
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Dear Friends and Family,
In my last update, I announced the generous commitment from Alfred I. duPonte Hospital to donate Hibrahim’s surgery. Since then, I have been working on the logistics of the trip. One of the issues is long term post-op care, but that can be arranged in Kabul (8 hour drive from here). A much more difficult hurdle has been transportation. Military flights are nearly impossible for Afghan civilians and commercial travel is very complicated. You can't just go down to the travel agency and buy a ticket all the way through to Wilmington Delaware. I found out that the best we can do from here is buy a ticket from Kabul to Dubai. Once in Dubai, Rahim would have to try to get a flight to Kuwait. Then, in Kuwait he would be able to get a flight to New York, and so on. I’m sure you can imagine how daunting this would be for a man who doesn't speak the language in Dubai, Kuwait, or the US. He'd be on his own with a weak toddler who he doesn't have much experience caring for (in Afghan culture, the mother cares for the small children almost exclusively). I think it could work if we got him an international cell phone, but the chances of something going wrong are too great. A US visa is another big road block for Afghans. It is possible to get one for medical reasons, meaning the embassy is taking applications, but the process is very lengthy and the system is flooded with such requests. Also, part of the requirement is to present evidence that you intend to return, i.e. return ticket. A few days ago, I was really starting to worry that I wasn't going to be able to pull this off.
However, two days ago learned out about some Military folks in Kabul who recently sent two Afghan kids to India for heart surgery. They only had to raise $11,000 to cover the cost of both surgeries plus transportation for one parent each, food, lodging, and interpreter for two weeks. But, the news gets better.
As I learned about how the India mission was accomplished and met some of the people involved, I got an email from Sandy McMahan (she’s copied on this one). Sandy is the Administrative Director for the International Children’s Heart Foundation. The money for the India mission was raised on the International Children’s Heart Foundation website, www.BabyHeart.org. Sandy monitors all the donations and will put money aside for specific children if it’s requested by the donor. The international Children’s Heart Foundation paid the hospital directly so the fundraisers and the families didn’t have to worry about handling the money. This completely takes care of the fundraising question. Believe it or not, the news gets better still.
Sandy informed me of an upcoming mission to Pakistan. From June 16th through June 30th, a medical team from the US will be at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology located in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Sandy can get Hibrahim his surgery during this mission to Pakistan. The cost for the surgery will be about the same ($4,000 - $5,000), but logistically Pakistan is even easier than India. There will be no need for an interpreter, the whole family can drive there, lodging is cheaper, and the visa is free and easy to get. Hibrahim's father was terrified about going to the United States alone, but now that he knows about the Pakistan mission, he's very relieved.
Don’t ask me why I didn’t contact them earlier. I’ve been donating to the Children’s Heart Foundation since my son received his heart surgery six years ago. Anyone who wishes to donate to Hibrahim’s cause and help save his life, please go to www.BabyHeart.org. You will see the information about the Pakistan mission on the home page. Once on the site, click on “make a donation”. On the next page you will see a similar button that says, “Please click here to be transferred to a safe and secure online donation form”. That button will open a new window that is the secure donation form. The most important thing to remember is to make a note that your donation is for Mohammad Hibrahim Amiri in the comments box. Then just continue with the form as if you were making a purchase online. My guess is that $6,000 will do it. Sandy will track the donations and keep me informed. When there is enough to cover the costs I will send another email to let everyone know.
I realize some of you may have a phobia about online credit card transactions. You can still donate by mailing a check to the address below. Just remember to include a note indicating who the funds are for, Mohammad Hibrahim Amiri.
International Children’s Heart Foundation
1750 Madison Avenue, Suite 100
Memphis, TN, 38104
So, this is the plan. We’re sending Hibrahim and his family to Rawalpindi for his life saving procedure. Everything is in place except the money, and that is only a matter of time thanks to you all. Thank you everyone for taking the time to read all these lengthy updates and for all the help you have sent me. I will keep you informed of all the progress and will also send pictures as things develop.
By the way, the foundation is still looking for team members for this mission. They need PICU Nurses with at least 2 years experience in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit, an Intensivist/ICU Physician, and an Anesthesiologist if any of you qualified folks are interested.
Take care everyone,
Jobe
I will post the remaining follow up letters from Jobe and some of the pictures as soon as I can get my hands on them. Until then, take care and I look forward to seeing all of you soon.
Much Love,
Michael
