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~~My son Mohammad~ Part I
 
Mohammad in Syria
 
With the lorikeets
 
Everyone who met you loved you~

 THE MARFAN SYNDROME  Click Here 

I am asking everyone who views this tabblo to please check out this site and to become familiar with this disorder and spread the word to help save lives.  Because of my experience with Mohammad and the National Marfan Foundation...I have become accustomed to asking anyone who is taller than 6'2 if they know about the Marfan Syndrome and to ask their doctor to check them for the signs.  Although not always tall... these are the kids who are often the naturals at basketball and track and the National Marfan foundation has designed materials especially for Jr high and Highschool coaches to help them recognize students who may display the signs of the Marfan Syndrome.  Please help to spread the word.

Thank you from my heart,

Rhonda and family

This is my son Mohammad from Damascus, Syria.

I am not his birth mother yet he is my son in every way and a beloved brother to my children.  

I am so grateful and honored to be his "American mom".  I will forever cherish the way he called me "Mama Rhonda" and how he pronounced my name..."Rhonde"  sounding like Rhon-day.

I always told him that I would be making a splendid tabblo about him but that I was afraid...I wanted him to stay safe in these dangerous times and he traveled so much and standing at 6 ' 7 he was so easy to recognize...I wanted him to stay safe as a mother wants to protect her children...but last night I recieved the news that my son has passed away from this earth...he was just 30 years old.

 

 

Mahommy, I cannot even begin to comprehend this grief...I trust God to take good care of you for us.

All I know is that I must tell the world about you~

Mama Rhonda

 

  

~First visit to America~

 

Dr. Mohammad was born with THE MARFAN SYNDROME and had his first lifesaving aortic surgery in Syria at age 16. 

He was a 21 yr old medical student at the University of Damascus when he and my daughter began to write to each other as penpals - the letters turned into phone calls and then before too long it was decided that he would make the long flight to America  to come and visit his new friends.  We will never ever forget the sight of the tall handsome young man walking out of the gateway...and instantly into our hearts!  His many suitcases were filled with gifts for everyone in the family.  I treasure the memory of him proudly presenting his gifts to us...beautiful Syrian serving trays with the inlaid wood...Syrian teapots and bags of aromatic spices for cooking... fine sweets from a shop in Damascus that were made with pistachio nuts.   He became a part of our family and stayed with us for a month~ how he adored our city of Portland, Oregon...what a happy beautiful summer that was in 2001. 

He left us to go home to Syria on the 9th of September with plans to return the following summer.  There was no way for us to see what lay ahead... 

 

This is all I can write tonight...so many memories and tears.  I will write more soon.
COMMENTS
Welshchick said at 6:47 a.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
~Pain and Joy...Joy and Pain~We said goodbye to little Lucy Sept 29th...We celebrated Cheryl's wedding lst weekend...I was still working on her wedding pictures when we found out about our precious Mohammad... I ask your prayers for Mohammad's family in Syria and please for my family and I...we loved him so much...he was a brilliant compassionate young doctor who loved people and wanted to help make the world a better place to live. He had unbelievable charisma and wisdom beyond his years because of the pain he suffered...He was my son.
Tishfish said at 7:09 a.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
My dear Rhonda, you have had so much pain within a few weeks, my heart goes out to you, I will pray for you to be strong through these troubled times. Mohammad is not in pain now, just you. Keep yourself strong dear and look after yourself now.
Wildthing said at 7:37 a.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
So sorry to hear of your, and Mohammad's family's tragic loss, Rhonda. Life is a balance of joy and sorrow, laughter and tears. Somehow most of us can overcome the bad times and find solace in the good times.
Mirella said at 7:45 a.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
Dear Rhonda, I remember we saw Mohammad in an old Tabblo; as I have just read in the web, that desease is very difficult to deal with. Mohammad had a lot of love in his life, two families and many friends . He is in peace now, your faith will help you; soon, perhaps, your daughter will give you another life to care about. Hugs ! Ciao
Pattymaryclare said at 10:59 a.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
OMG rhonda!!! You had spoken to me about him (yes i did write but never received reply!? some time ago!) OH MY LORD yes I know well of MARFAN's as you know.....THIS IS HORRIBLE AND YET THIS IS!! WHAT these geneticallu different people live .....and very ofen die with!!? YOU'VE HAD SO MUCH GRIEF AND PAIN in such a short time. My only consolation that I could give for you and his wonderful presence shown here is that mercifully as do most Marfan's folks, passed very suddenly and quickly due to the heart valve(s) giving out. (Marfan is a faulty (much weakened)collagen genetic makeup that affects EVERY cell, organ joints, soft tissue etc. in their bodies!

You WERE a blessing in his life and I celebrate his too short LIFE and yours forr making him happy....near tears again here ..........Bless you Mohammad with the angels and to the family who misses you so much...........:-(( Patty xo
Hollyridger said at 11:09 a.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
Rhonda, I am thinking of you - this is sooooo sad. Take to heart what Mike has to say above. I will pray that some balance comes to your life soon.
Andre. said at 12:30 p.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
..........
Pkeener said at 12:35 p.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
Rhonda, so touched by this and so sorry for your loss. Mohammad was a sweet and gentle spirit and his spirit remains with you
Candlepower said at 2:03 p.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
I am so very sorry Rhonda. Much too young!
Ira said at 2:11 p.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
The liking mum Rhonda... A part of your heart with the son. I so sorry...
Debdog said at 2:20 p.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
i am so sorry! if not for your efforts, Mohammed would not have lived, and gotten the surgery that allowed him to live seven more years of GOOD < QUALITY>>> LIFE!!!andthem be ableto give back to so many by being a doctor...in many poor areas where his body would not be able to fight the infections that a normal immune system could. YOU were a gift TO HIM!!!! to allow him to fufill his time on earth. He died doing what he loved, and was MEANT to do. It was not just serendipity that your lives crossed paths. SO bitter, painful, yet so sweet that your lives touched in such a meaningful way.You will see hm again and hug the gentle BIG hearted man he was! MY HEART to yours...hugs and love....xxxxoooo
Debdog said at 2:22 p.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
my sympathy to his immediate family in Syria for their loss. RHonda, you were HIS angel...:):)
Thechillofeons said at 5:44 p.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
I think he appreciates this very much.
Leftofcenter said at 6:04 p.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
so sorry, for his family, yours, you... may he rest in peace. hug.
Fabio_DL said at 10:12 p.m. on Oct 12, 2009:
Hugs to you and to your family, Rhonda. I am so sorry to hear about Dr. Mohammad's passing.
Robya said at 9:49 a.m. on Oct 13, 2009:
I can see his beautiful Heart , Which will live on, So Sorry Rhonda, I could only imagine what you are going through, So many tugs to your Emotions. Blessings. Hugs, Sincerely, Robbi
Moorlerche said at 6:58 p.m. on Oct 13, 2009:
Rhonda, I am always at a loss at expressing my feelings in the face of death. It leaves me speachless. So my sincerest feelings reach and my Mohammad's soul fly free into the land of good dreams.
Irishlady725 said at 6:00 a.m. on Oct 14, 2009:
i am quite sure that Mohammad appreciates this tabblo more than anything ... mom this is a very beautiful tabblo...
AdSR said at 12:47 p.m. on Oct 14, 2009:
I'm so sorry to hear this, Rhonda.
AdSR said at 12:52 p.m. on Oct 14, 2009:
On a more earthly note, I didn't realize the Marfan syndrome was so dangerous. So I'm glad Dr. Mohammad found the good angel in you, and I hope your spreading the news will help save someone's life in the future.
Ebucar said at 8:36 p.m. on Oct 15, 2009:
Oh, Rhonda, this is so touching, dear...
NeusinhaGedoz said at 9:47 p.m. on Oct 15, 2009:
I'm sorry, Rhonda!
YonderCreature said at 2:00 a.m. on Oct 16, 2009:
This tabblo is truly beautiful and it resonates so deeply. In your time of unutterable grief, my heart goes out to you and your family, and I hold you all close in thought and prayers.

Thank you, Mohammad, for the miracle you've been in that you can touch so many lives in such a positive way. Peace to your families in Syria and America.
Eduardo.affonso said at 11:51 a.m. on Oct 17, 2009:
So sorry, Rhonda. You have a huge, generous heart, and it`s both a blessing and a curse. You love more people, in a deeper way, and the more people you love, the more people you will miss.
Liliana said at 4:43 p.m. on Oct 17, 2009:
Rhonda, I only can send you a hugh and imagine Mahommad is full of hughs , too. It is impossible to say any useful thing in those cases. The only thing are the memories... I can understand what are you feeling...
Welshchick said at 9:38 a.m. on Oct 19, 2009:
Thank you from my heart everyone. Your words are very precious to my family and I ~ Thank you.
Michelleyork said at 2:18 p.m. on Nov 1, 2009:
Dear Rhonda, I have not been online for a while and today I went through your Tabblos of Mohammad. There is enough love in your heart to heal the world...You now have an 'angel' watching over you and those you love. So sorry to hear of your beloved Lucy...Sending you hugs, warmth and love.
msinjem@***.net said at 1:44 p.m. on Nov 2, 2009:
My Friend, Rhonda,
What a lovely and compassionate gem you are. I feel so fortunate to have met you. I'll never forget that summer day at a garden party where I first met Mohammed. I thought, Oh my God, there's someone here among all of these people who speaks my Mother tongue. And how I quickly sought out the source of that voice. When I found the source it came in a most bubbly, tall, larger than life sweet and handsome young man. God! he was like sunshine with his high energy and enthusiasm. He quickly took me into his conversation and made me feel like I'd known him all my life. Because there was a generation between us, he'd tease me about my old fashioned way of speaking Arabic, as I had been raised in the fifties with what was considered modern dialect back then. He was sooo cute about it and one couldn't take anything he said to be anything more than jestly teasing the relic way his new friend(me) spoke his Mother tongue. I do miss him also, Rhonda. I so wanted to see him again and even nurtured the thought of someday he and your family accompanying Mike and I to find some of my lost relatives. Love&Light Sunni&Mike.
Welshchick said at 10:51 a.m. on Nov 3, 2009:
Oh, you have touched my heart ~ Thank you everybody~ Michelle, he is with us and as my friend Sunni says here: Larger than life...yes, Larger than Death too...his spirit is SO alive! Sunni, I can just hear him affectionately teasing you about your dialect :^D We are having a "Mohammad Celebration" on Saturday~I will videotape it and send it to his family in Syria and the UK. Thank you everyone~
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