Welcome home, sweet Soman!

This afternoon, I watched sweet Soman toddle back up our sidewalk, returning from the hospital – but this was not the same Soman who left our house ten days ago. This was a Soman with an amazingly new, healthy glow – brighter eyes and slightly rosy cheeks. Honestly, Sara and I feel as if we have been witnesses to a miracle – it is astounding and almost unbelievable that this beautiful, vibrant child is the same one we saw, and over whom we wept, post-surgery just ten days ago. Soman’s recovery since her surgery has been a beautiful thing to watch, as you could literally see the improvements every day, both physical and emotional. We were blessed with an around-the-clock army of volunteers who, along with us, never left Soman’s side while she was hospitalized. We were also blessed with a cadre of amazing physicians and nurses who fell in love with Soman, and embraced her story. Soman’s case is a joint venture between Solace for the Children and Patrons of the Hearts, another incredible organization here in Jacksonville that is led by some incredibly giving individuals.

Celebrating Soman's Return Home

As for when Soman will return to Afghanistan and her family there, we are not yet sure. She has a follow-up doctor’s appointment this coming week, at which we should have a better idea of when she will be able to travel. However, thirteen of the other Afghan children, with whom Soman originally travelled to Jacksonville, have now returned to Afghanistan. We said the emotional goodbyes to those children on Tuesday of this week, while Soman was still hospitalized. We’re just not sure how Soman is going to eventually handle the news of her inevitable trip home to Afghanistan… We’ve mentioned Afghanistan to her previously, and in turn, received some stern, disapproving looks. One evening this week, I asked Abed the interpreter to ask her if she was feeling better, to which she promptly replied “nay” (no). But then, she went on to tell him that she “missed home”. We collectively said “Ah, sweet”, and assumed she was missing Afghanistan. But when Abed asked if she meant Afghanistan, we then received another, yet firmer, “nay” and she promptly clarified that she was speaking of our (the Coker) house. Oh goodness…

This past Sunday, our church, South Jacksonville Presbyterian, hosted “Solace Sunday” in recognition of our Afghan children, host families, and volunteers. I was asked to offer a testimonial about our family’s Solace experience, which I will append below…

I want to speak with you this morning about why our family is involved in “Solace for the Children”…about why the Cokers went from being a pretty normal family involved in all the typical activities, to being the family who has hosted three Afghan children in our home over the past year, the family who now brings all of these different Afghan children to church, and in general, the family who now devotes a large portion of our time to Solace for the Children.

While I now speak to groups almost weekly about Solace for the Children, I have never publicly and openly spoken about our family’s motivation for being involved in this mission…

Many of you know that, in April 2008, our family’s world was forever changed when we lost Sara’s father, Chris Barnette, and we came close to losing Sara’s mom, Dorothy and our son, William, all in a very tragic automobile accident.

Prior to Sara’s father’s untimely passing, he enjoyed a career one of America’s most successful healthcare executives, leading many healthcare systems, and even serving as a board member of the American Hospital Association. Chris passionately believed in quality, equitable healthcare for all, and he saw providing that care as his calling in life, as his mission in this world. Sadly and ironically, his life was taken by what I would describe as healthcare gone wrong – taken by a person under the influence of prescription drugs – drugs that should never have been prescribed and given to her…  So, what does that have to do with Solace?

The motto of Solace is “building peace on a foundation of health” – this organization brings children from a war torn country where there simply is no viable healthcare system, to America, where these precious children of God can be blessed by the generosity of our healthcare system of doctors, nurses, dentists, and advanced facilities…

So, over the past year, as our family has watched kind, smiling Ashrafullah being wheeled into surgery, to repair his clubbed foot so that he can one day finally play Cricket with the other boys in Afghanistan… AND, As our family has held the hand of frail, little Soman, after 10 hours of excruciating heart surgery, to finally give her the oxygen she needs to live a full life…

We have done these things, not just as a demonstration of God’s amazing love, but we have done these things in honor and memory of a great man, Chris Barnette, who would have delighted in seeing these generous collaborative efforts within healthcare communities, and who would have delighted in seeing these precious children of God receive the care they so desperately need, and so very much deserve. He would have delighted in seeing this amazing effort, to build peace on a foundation of health.

So, my friends, THAT is why we are involved with Solace for the Children...building peace on a foundation of health.

Saying Goodbye - The Solace-Jacksonville 2011 Summer Program

Peace!

Bryan

Surgery Complete - Recovery Begins

Soman had her extensive heart surgery this past week on Tuesday. It was a long day, with almost 10 hours of surgery, and some scary moments. The day prior to the surgery was July 4th, and we were intent on Soman having a great day – we finally told her about the surgery, along with our interpreter Abed, at dinnertime. We didn’t go into great detail with Soman about the critical nature of the upcoming surgery or the long hospital stay ahead, but simply told her she was going to the hospital the next day “to have her heart fixed”. It was difficult for Sara and me to see Soman the next evening, following her surgery – this precious little child, in the PICU, with tubes and wires everywhere. The first 18 hours after the surgery, her chest actually remained open, as the OR team feared she might need to be taken back into surgery due to bleeding complications. She was kept completely sedated and paralyzed those first few hours. Thankfully, the bleeding complications subsided and Soman’s chest was closed the next day, Wednesday. I was glad to visit her Wednesday evening, and have her open her eyes and even try to speak with us. Since Wednesday, her progress has been pretty amazing – she’s now alert, drinking, eating, and she even sat up in a wheelchair for awhile today! Sara, Nana, myself, and a cackle of amazing (did I say amazing?) friends and volunteers are taking shifts at the hospital. Soman remains in the PICU now, and will likely be there through the weekend before being transferred to a regular room.

One amazing thing we’ve already noticed since the surgery – Soman’s color… Due to the lack of oxygen Soman was receiving prior to her heart surgery, she had a blue tint, especially on her fingers and toes, as well as around her mouth. Well, our girl is pinker now – with amazingly pink finger nails and toenails. It’s very cool and uplifting to see.

Thanks for your continued prayers for Soman, who is being given a new chance and lease on life.

Bryan

Photo Update on Sweet Soman

I've been rather bad about blog updates lately, so here's a photo update of the past few weeks...

Chris, Soman, & Caroline enjoy our backyard hammock

Soman & I "funyaking" during Solace day @ Camp Montgomery

Soman's first (ever) trip to the ocean @ Jacksonville Beach

I love this pic - she's such a beautiful child

Happy face...

Two beautiful girls - Soman loves her American mom

Soman loved tubing on the St. Johns with Finn & William

Woo hoo!

Soman & Caroline on the Fourth of July (the day before surgery)

Thanks for all of your prayers for Sweet Soman.

Bryan

Quick Update

Please see the e-mail below, which I sent to friends and posted as a note on Facebook...

Dear Friends:

As many of you know, Soman, the 8-year old Afghan girl who has been staying with our family for about five weeks now through Solace for the Children, will be undergoing heart surgery tomorrow (Tuesday, July 5). This heart surgery will occur at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, and is extensive, estimated to take 8-9 hours. The surgeons will be correcting the transposition of Soman’s major heart valves, as well as repairing a hole between her two heart chambers (this is my rudimentary explanation and understanding of the surgery). Soman is such a tiny and frail child, and the thought of her undergoing such invasive, lengthy, and complicated surgery is tough for us. However, this surgery is why she travelled to America from Afghanistan, and this surgery will offer her the best chance at a healthier and longer life.

For those who may have been checking our Solace blog (http://summerofsolace.blogspot.com) for updates, I apologize for not updating the blog recently. Our experience with Soman has been challenging at times – much different from our previous Solace experiences with Sahar and Ashraf. Hosting a younger child and one with such involved medical needs has simply been a very different experience. However, despite the challenges, Soman has undoubtedly won over our hearts in recent weeks, in her own special way.

Most of the other children involved with the Solace summer program will be returning to Afghanistan next week, but Soman will still be in the hospital when they depart. She will, obviously, be staying in Jacksonville longer, but we are not sure of the timeframe at this point. We are told Soman will be in the ICU for up to six days following the surgery, and then in a regular hospital room for 5-6 additional days.

Thanks, in advance, for your prayers, thoughts, meditations, etc. (whatever works for you) for Soman. I’ll pass along updates as we have them.

Bryan