Endrit in The Boston Globe
Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/natick/2009/10/natick_family_opens_its_home_t.html
Endrit in the Metro West Daily News!
MetroWest Daily NEws:
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1231801195/A-second-chance-for-boy-from-Kosovo
To Kosovo With Love
Behrije and Endrit arrived safe and sound back in their native Kosovo after a whirlwind, yet magical visit to America.
There were so many miracles that took place for them during the time that they were with us.
There was the miracle of the open heart surgery itself and of Endrit being restored to health; there was the miracle of Gani Abazi, MD, working tirelessly to bring the first 2 children (Endrit Zhushi and Beqir Agushi) from Kosovo to America through the Gift of Life New England program; there was the miracle of Dr. Frank Pigula and his phenomenal cardiology team @ Childrens’ Hospital; there was the miracle of the Kosovar community in the greater Boston area embracing their own when they learned of the boys and their mothers being here; there was the miracle of the members of the Albanian Church in Natick (special thanks to Madeline, Mary, and Harriett!) reaching out from day 1 with their ongoing visits, fabulous food, and unexpected gifts; there was the miracle of a very special Framingham family, Luan, Katie, and Kaltrina Jashari, who shared a number of meals with us so that we could offer dinner conversation to Behrije and Endrit in Albanian as well as in English!; and last but certainly not least, there was the miracle that Behrije and Endrit couldn’t possibly understand, but it was the miracle of the members of Natick Rotary who supported this mission 100% financially and emotionally so that Marc, Dani and I could be their host family.
Our house is very still right now. Everything has been cleaned and put back in its place. The borrowed car seat has been returned to one neighbor, and the bikes and cars have been returned to another. The booster seat has been given to a good friend for her granddaughter. The donated clothing that didn’t fit will be shared with another needy child. The 24/7 e-mails and phone calls have waned. We won’t feel the need to eat spinach pie for a while!
We’re starting to resume the pattern of our normal lives again after living a somewhat extraordinary life these past few weeks. I know that we’ll be reflecting upon this time for years to come.
One of the things I’ll remember most took place in the ICU the day after Endrit’s surgery. It was late and we were getting ready to head home for the day when Behrije started rummaging frantically through her pocketbook looking for something. What she finally found was an irregularly folded note on a torn piece of plain white paper written by her husband to be given to us. It may lose something in the translation, but this is what we’ve been told were his words:
“Dear American Family,
To first order I salute and wish you a long and happy life.
To welcome a mother and her sick child into your home is an act of great kindness.
Especially since our family is under great economic and financial distress.
What you have done for my family is the most humane gesture that one human being can
do for another and may G-d repay you with health and love.
Thank you, thank you, thank you”.
(translation courtesy of Luan Jashiri)
Post Op and the New England Aquarium
We took Endrit and Behrije to Childrens’ Hospital yesterday for Endrit’s first post-op visit. He came through with flying colors! . The surgery was a huge success and his recovery has been excellent. The cardiologists @ Childrens’ are hoping that after one more post-op visit next Tuesday the 29th he’ll be able to head home to Kosovo. It seems like only yesterday they landed @ Logan!
Today we celebrated the good news and went to the New England Aquarium with 4 passes that were donated courtesy of a member of Natick Rotary. My understanding is that Endrit has only seen fish on TV, so seeing them up close and personal was pretty awesome! We took a lot of pictures and you’ll be able to see them on Thursday.
Tomorrow, a reporter and photographer from the Middlesex News will be coming to interview us and take pictures of Endrit and Behrije. The focus will be on this family, but also on Natick Rotary and the Gift of Life New England program. We’re hoping the article will appear in Sunday’s paper.
As I’m sitting here and writing this entry to you, Endrit is looking very American as he’s riding a race car up and down our driveway!
So, we’re in the home stretch now and we’re hoping for more good news on September 29.
We’ll keep you posted.
