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Hold on through the night... Part III.

Thank you all for letting me share from my  heart~

 

 

To tell the rest of Mohammad's story

I  must stop stop and allow myself to be drawn back in time...

 

Hold on to your dreams

Hold on through the night

The precious light of love has come

Everything will be alright

 

2001

The day after he arrived home in Syria the world heard the news of September  11th and all of our lives changed~

I remember the horror of those days and the anguished letters of condolence from Mohammad ...he had attended the National Marfan Foundation conference in Seattle, Washington and had met many friends and he had forged a deep bond with us.  He wanted to return to visit us the next summer but would he be allowed to come again with all of the new security laws in place? 

 

 

A new problem to deal with also...

His heart was showing signs  of failure.    The surgery he had when he was 16 yrs had given him seven years but now the aortic root was deteriorating and he was becoming increasingly fatigued with breathing problems.   As a medical student. he was very knowledgeable about his condition.  We discussed the future over many serious letters that fall and winter... This is when  I started a serious habit of praying for this boy along with my own children...

He had become one of my own.

2002

We were so excited to hear the news that the National Marfan Foundation had invited Mohammad to the 2002 Conference in Baltimore, Maryland...!  Once again...he walked through the airport to us...the same handsome elegant Mohammad...we all embraced and rejoiced to be together again and we collected his many suitcases at the terminal...filled with carefully selected treasures as before.   

This time it was a homecoming...Lucy, our little dachshund was ecstatic at his return.  She always loved it when her family was home safe where she could guard and protect..

The summer was magic as before...picnics at Multnomah Falls, discovering Portland,  we visited mosques with him,  he visited churches with us ...we discovered alot about each other's customs, cultures and beliefs along with...FOOD.   One thing Mohammad loved telling everyone repeatedly and he always laughed when he said it:  "My American mother is very beautiful but she cannot cook!"  He would tell everyone this and would enjoy the astounded look on my face :^o  What  could compare to the Syrian cuisine prepared by his mother, Dalal?  He told us "You will gain twenty pounds each when you come to Syria and taste my mother's cooking"! 

 

 I wonder if she will give me cooking lessons...?

 

God was merciful though and through the Marfan Foundation Mohammad met another family also...Ths was ideal because on the days that we were all working- he had another family to hang out with and enjoy dinner with...

 

Thank you Barb and Jon and Brady and Cole for being a wonderful family to Mohammad and for opening your home and hearts to him~

P.S. Barb can cook... ;^)

The conference in Maryland was a pivitol point-

He had a great time meeting friends, touring Washington DC and the White House,  (bought himself a cowboy hat) and he had a personal work up with the Marfan Specialists.

The news was stunning and sobering.

Mohammad must have a new surgery to replace the aortic root and he must have it within two years...  the sooner the better.

 

It was a different Mohammad who returned back to Portland before leaving to go home to Syria.  He was tired and out of breath...and strangely quiet...I had never seen him like this before.

He shared with us his grim news.  For him to have a surgery like this was nearly impossible...He had barely survived the surgery when he was 16 and this would be much more complicated...a repeat surgery to replace the aortic root.

I told him to hold on and that somehow things would work out...I remember him sadly smiling at me.

I wasn't sure how but SOMEHOW.  

 

Moments that seem sacred now

The next day when we were getting ready to take him to the airport homeward bound for Syria...I gave him a hug goodbye and because he was so tall my ear was up against his heart and...the sound coming from that precious heart made me freeze...I remember so well looking up in disbelief and seeing Mohammad's face with that gentle longsuffering smile...Cheryl was there and the three of us cried together ...I told him that I would do something...to hang on and believe...that he would get that sugery somehow

   At the airport we were all quiet...we couldn't  walk him to  the gate as usual -

we had to say goodbye at the checkpoint. 

He smiled at us and we watched as he went through the detector and took his shoes off and then finally how he gave us a John Wayne style flourish of his hat right before he turned to go down the hall...one last smile for his family.

 

 

 

My next tabblo...The Miracle
COMMENTS
Irishlady725 said at 5:06 p.m. on Oct 19, 2009:
awe this is heart touching i love it.... miss you
Merja-zerga said at 5:40 p.m. on Oct 19, 2009:
Le souvenir est toujours présent...
ThierryKarine
Tishfish said at 6:08 p.m. on Oct 19, 2009:
This has to be very hard on you Rhonda.
YonderCreature said at 6:17 p.m. on Oct 19, 2009:
Thanks for sharing your heart and Mohammad with us all. *hugs* I look forward to "The Miracle" tabblo!
Debdog said at 6:40 p.m. on Oct 19, 2009:
This is a beautiful heartrending story ... A TRUE one ...I wish I could hug you in person ... O pray that this catharsis gives you a measure of peace . Again it was YOUr love and caring that gave him his miracle xxoo hugs dear friend ,.. Prayers for all of you .... Mohammed was a blessing AND blessed in his short life ,...0
Cowgirl said at 7:37 p.m. on Oct 19, 2009:
Oh so, SAD ...
Pattymaryclare said at 10:51 p.m. on Oct 19, 2009:
Rhonda, likely you haven't seen this but I thot you should ...it's truly a beautiful tribute ^^^our Bobbie made for you........... http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/1767130/

Again, my heart is sad yet full of pride that so many care for well............so many and that tabblo touches so many lives as did Mohammed. Blessings Bobbie Rhonda Mohammend Lucy and all! xo Patty
Gerardfotografeert said at 5:48 p.m. on Oct 20, 2009:
0..................................... very touching Rhonda.
Robya said at 10:31 p.m. on Oct 20, 2009:
Gosh Rhonda, What a Touching Experience. What a Lovely Friend you had. I see he was a beautiful person as you too are a beautiful person. Big Warm Hugs for all you have been through. Blessings to Mohammends Family and What a gift to have known him. God is bigger than it all and takes care of those who are his. Sincerely, Robbi
Krisu said at 1:11 a.m. on Oct 21, 2009:
Touching....
Ira said at 2:45 p.m. on Oct 21, 2009:
Very sadly and touchingly...
Welshchick said at 12:55 p.m. on Oct 23, 2009:
Thank you everyone~ It helps to write this story~ Hugs to you all
AdSR said at 12:51 p.m. on Oct 24, 2009:
The most touching stories are always those written by life...
Welshchick said at 3:16 p.m. on Oct 28, 2009:
Thank you Artur~~ written in the stars I think. :^)
Babooshka said at 2:12 p.m. on Oct 29, 2009:
very sad
Fabio_DL said at 10:40 a.m. on Nov 1, 2009:
Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Rhonda!
Welshchick said at 11:12 a.m. on Nov 4, 2009:
Make sure to read Part IV and V... Thank you everyone- Hugs, Rhonda "Never, never, never, never give up."
-- Winston Churchill
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