The ABC's of Shevet Achim

Each year, more than one million children worldwide are born with some type of heart defect. Many of them die before their first birthday, and thousands more die before reaching adulthood. Since 1994, the organization Shevet Achim ("Brothers Dwelling in Unity") has enabled children from Gaza, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan, and Syria to receive life-saving heart surgery in the hospitals of Israel. In the "land of their enemy", these dying children are given a second chance at life.

During my time in Israel working with Shevet Achim, I held babies from Gaza, made cookies with mothers from Kurdistan, shared living space and meals, prayed together as Muslim, Jew, and Christian, laughed and rejoiced together, cried and mourned together, and grew to love my fellow staff members and the families who we have served.

Shevet Achim is entirely not-for-profit, supported solely by donations and by volunteers who give their time (including the medical staff who provide care at a fraction of the normal cost) to save these children's lives.

This "alphabet list" encompasses some of my memories from Shevet Achim, and hopefully gives you a glimpse into our common goal: to save children's lives. Saving lives and creating peace and reconciliation in the Middle East, one healed heart at a time.

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A is for Ameliyah, “surgery” in Kurdish, surgery that restores broken hearts and brings new life.

B is for the Beach in Tel Aviv, with its warm sand and crashing ocean waves, a wondrous sight that families from the mountains of Kurdistan have never seen.

C is for Candy, a sweet treat to dry tears and dispel fears.

D is for Doctor, the skilled magicians who work magic with their knowledge and equipment to heal broken hearts.

E is for "Echo", echocardiogram, pictures of the heart.

F is for Faith, prayers to Jesus and to Allah, in English, Hebrew, Arabic, and Kurdish.

G is for Games, played together with friends.

H is for the Hospital, where hope and healing are found.

I is for Ice Cream, shared on a park bench on a sunny day.

J is for Jerusalem.

K is for Kurdistan, a land of mountains, ancient cities, tragic history, and the place that these families call home.

L is for Lion, the Lion of Judah mosaic statue in the Old City of Jerusalem. Large, colorful, and fun for children to climb on.

M is for Mothers, the women with beautiful spirits, wonderful hearts, and a fierce love for their children.

N is for Naptime; several children and a volunteer dozing together in a hammock in the warm afternoon sunshine.

O is for the Old City of Jerusalem, a place of cobblestone streets, ancient architecture, and beauty.

P is for Pita, delicious warm flatbread fresh from the oven.

Q is for Quilts, colorful handmade gifts of love sent from a group of grandmothers in America.

R is for Running, children leaping and playing after surgery, their bodies healed and alive with new energy.

S is for Scar, a neat line down the center of the chest after surgery, a battle wound and a mark of courage.

T is for Table, a wooden table in the kitchen, where families from Kurdistan and Shevet Achim staff from many nations gather to share meals.

U is for Unity. The words of Psalm 133: Shevet Achim (Brothers Dwelling in Unity). Christians, Jews, and Muslims, dwelling together under one roof, living in peace.

V is for Vessels, delicate and intricate structures in the heart.

W is for Waiting, the time spent pacing hospital floors and waiting anxiously for news.

X is for X-ray.

Y is for Yofi, “beautiful” in Hebrew. Beautiful hearts, beautiful people, beautiful peace.

Z is for Zor Spas, “Thank you very much” in Kurdish. Families and children, grateful for their healthy hearts and new lives.

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