Building Peace on a Foundation of Health
By Tony and Jill Ledford
Two and a half years ago, nine year old Rahim was on his way to his
dad’s butcher shop in the small village where he lives, located in
Helmand province, Afghanistan. Rahim’s brother, just one year older,
and his cousin, who was engaged to be married, were both with him.
Suddenly, the ground exploded beneath them. Rahim’s cousin had
unknowingly stepped on a land mine -- a moment that changed Rahim’s
life forever. Remaining conscious throughout the entire traumatic
experience, Rahim remembers watching his cousin die, a large piece of
shrapnel protruding from his bleeding neck. Several members of the
Taliban, who Rahim believes planted the land mine, were nearby
fighting with Afghan police. And the heroes of the day were a group
of U.S. soldiers who happened to be patrolling in that area. They
rushed to the scene, loaded Rahim onto a U.S. military helicopter, and
flew him to the hospital. Rahim remembers seeing his brother running
after the helicopter, screaming and crying, as he flew away.
Seeing Rahim’s scars today, anyone can see that it’s a miracle he
survived. His body was riddled with shrapnel, he lost the lower
portion of his right leg, and over half of his right eardrum was gone.
Rahim’s left leg was covered with thick gnarly scar tissue, limiting
the movement of that leg. His brother, Ghafoor, suffered scrapes,
bruises, and some small painful pieces of shrapnel in one of his legs
-- fortunately for him, he had not been nearly as close to the
landmine explosion.
Solace for the Children is a non-profit organization of volunteers
providing medical, dental and optical care to the needy children of
Afghanistan. Rahim recently spent three months here in North Idaho,
through Solace for the Children. With roughly one physician per
50,000 Afghan citizens, any medical treatment, even the most basic can
be out the reach for most Afghan families. Innocent children suffer
the most. Some endure war-related injuries, others have been subject
to tribal conflicts (like young girls having acid thrown in their
faces on their way to school), several have birth defects, and many
experience simple childhood illnesses and accidents that result in
devastating physical damage. With this reality, Solace for the
Children has been addressing these needs since 2007 with two medical
hosting programs in the U.S.: Solace Summer Program and Solace
Extended Program. Solace also follows up with the children, after
they return to their home in Afghanistan, through Solace Learn.
Currently, there are three established Solace communities in the U.S.
where 5 to 25 children come each year: Lake Norman, NC; Jacksonville,
FL; and Los Angeles, CA. Rahim is the FIRST SOLACE CHILD to come to
the North Idaho/Spokane community! Over 150 Afghan children have come
to the States so far. Each one has had the privilege of seeing and
experiencing the unconditional LOVE of Christ in action through their
host family, medical community, and other Solace volunteers and
donors. Plus, every group of children regularly participates in peace
building activities while they are here, becoming friends with one
another, regardless of what tribe they are from! And finally, year
after year, Afghan children and Americans who might be adversaries in
other circumstances begin to build lasting relationships. Fears are
relieved and hearts are changed!
As Rahim’s host family, we had the privilege of seeing Rahim’s heart
change, during the three months that he stayed with us. The medical
community in North Idaho was an absolutely amazing part of Rahim’s
experience here, generously offering all their services and expertise
pro bono. Rahim’s interpreter, Shekeb, was also blessed. Dr. Zach
Brumbach provided all of Rahim’s and Shekeb’s dental care. Robert and
Linda Miller, of Kootenai Prosthetics & Orthotics, provided Rahim with
two brand new prosthetic legs (one he will wear home, and one extra).
“Dr. Bob,” as Rahim calls him, taught Rahim how to adjust each of his
state-of-the-art legs so they will grow with him. Dr. Craddock was
Rahim’s primary care physician, who gave him a complete physical and
coordinated Rahim’s surgery. Dr. Patrick Mullen removed shrapnel and
dense scar tissue from Rahim’s body, plus performed a Z-plasty on
Rahim’s scar so that he will always have full movement of his leg. A
local Ear, Nose, Throat surgeon (who prefers to remain anonymous)
reconstructed Rahim’s right eardrum. These two surgeries took place
at Kootenai Medical Center who also offered their services, along with
Anesthesia Associates of Coeur d’Alene. PAML donated a full blood
work lab for Rahim, and Panhandle Health has provided all of Rahim’s
vaccinations.
Quoted in a recent Spokesman Review article, Robert Miller of Kootenai
Prosthetics & Orthotics said, “There’s a real strong spirit of wanting
to help people here. We’re just trying to help him get the best care
he can – to walk and run and be a kid.”
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jul/19/international-care/
When Rahim headed back home at the end of August, he went with a new
outlook on America, and a new discovery of hope. Love, peace and joy
that have been so amazingly modeled to Rahim here will be shared with
his father, mother, 4 brothers, 4 sisters, and his community. It is
children like Rahim that will be the next leaders and peace makers in
Afghanistan, able to make a difference!
Opportunities to get involved with Solace for the Children:
• Volunteer as a host family for a Solace child or for a
Solace
interpreter Shaeq had life-saving surgery in July 2009 as part of the
Solace Summer Program in NC, when he had a tumor removed that was near
his brain stem. Now he needs another surgery, which the medical
community of North Idaho/Spokane, WA is ready and willing to provide
for him! Fourteen year old Shaeq needs one of his legs amputated that
has “died,” due to an untreated injury from many years ago. We are
currently seeking a host family in our area to volunteer with Solace,
and welcome Shaeq into their home.
• For business owners: Set aside a day to donate a % of
your profits
to Solace for the Children. Advertise ahead of time, and help us get
the word out about Solace. This has worked very well in other states
at restaurants, auto maintenance shops, and multiple other businesses!
• For medical professionals, clinics, hospitals, and
pharmacies: Let
us know if you would like to join the effort by donating your services
to a Solace child who comes to our area.
• For churches: Invite Rahim, or future Solace
children, to come
tell their story to your congregation. Rahim will be here for two
more weekends.
• For ALL local residents who are filled with the love
of Christ: As
the North Idaho/Spokane branch grows, and more Solace children come
our way, we will be seeking several volunteers for our team: board
members, a peace-building activities coordinator, fundraising
coordinator, help for mailings and office work, and support volunteers
who will come alongside host families to sit with Solace children that
are recovering in local hospitals for extended periods.
Because Solace for the Children is a non-profit organization of
volunteers, the only funding needed is for the cost of each child and
each interpreter’s travel expenses, plus any other Solace
administrative costs incurred in Afghanistan. Rahim’s and Shekeb’s
expenses totalled $7000. If you would like to contribute, helping
more children come to our area, please go to
www.solaceforthechildren.org
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