Rusul goes back to Iraq

Photo is of Rusul, taken in August 2008. She likes to ham it up sometimes, at other times she seems quiet and reflective.

Rusul and her dad went back to Iraq last week. Rusul has a new right foot, and an extra one that is somewhat bigger for her to grow into.

I wish I could have gone down to Greenville and spend some more time with her this month, but the gas situation rather precluded doing that, unfortunately. They were back at home last Friday, per reports from No More Victims. Hey, I wish I could speak some Arabic also, and find out more about what they are thinking and feeling.

On my last outing with Rusul (in Greenville), she was singing 'Thank You, Allah' in a little song. She came to Asheville for a house party and LOVED jumping on the trampoline! She liked to put salt on a slice of lemon and eat it ~ she had some quirks, that's for sure!

Here is the last email from Ann:

Hello Friends of Rusul and Salee!

I just flew in late last night from an NMV event in LA but wanted to let you all know that Rusul and Abu Ali have made it home safely. They arrived at the NMV apartment in Amman on Wednesday, and were driven to Hasswa on Friday. (and by now, I'm sure that Rusul and Salee are deep in walking competitions!) Umm Ali had gone shopping with her parents in Fallujah last week to prepare for their arrival, so I'd guess that today would be a day of festivity and welcome!

I'll keep you all updated whenever I hear any news from them.

Please keep our other NMV children in your prayers. Nora is still receiving the saline injections in the balloon extenders on her head; she'll be ready for surgery by the end of October. Omar is still in Boston undergoing medical care after over a year and a half. Little Mustafa, who just got to Portland, Oregon a little over a week ago has now had one kidney removed. They also removed a stone in his bladder the size and weight of a chicken egg (the stone is what had caused the failure of his kidney). Many of the children are developing horrible kidney stones as a result of the devastation of the water supply due to the war. Doctors in Oregon said that Mustafa would have died in a matter of months if NMV hadn't gotten him out. There wasn't a lot that they could do for his bowels, however; his intestines still extrude from his body whenever his colostomy bag is changed, but this is one child whose very life was saved by the work that each of you is helping with. You might remember that Mustafa lost his leg and buttocks in a US air strike during the second seige of Fallujah, is six years old and weighs 22 pounds, so this little guy was really in serious shape. He'll undergo his prosthesis when he's fully recovered from these emergency surgeries.

And, 3 year old Mustafa Ghazwan is still waiting for visas at the NMV apartment in Jordan with his father. Please say a prayer for them; how hard this must be for them being away from home so long and in this state of uncertainty. Cole has contacts from Senator Kennedy to Nancy Pelosi's office all working on helping to expedite Mustafa's father's visa, but as of yet, there's been no change.

If you'd like to learn more about any of the children, please check out the website (www.nomorevictims.org ); we're trying to keep it updated as much as possible, or e-mail me anytime!

Thank you all, as always, for your compassion to the war-injured civilians of Iraq. As soon as I hear anything from Salee and Rusul's family, I'll pass it on!

with peace, Ann