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A true story about friends...

rayyan

Well-known member
It is scorching down in the desert. The schools have just finished. Three youngsters with broken down sandals skip their way to their meager homes.

They hold a stick in their hand. There are berries on these thorny trees. The kids might be able to shake them off the tree...eat a few, sell a few.

You know Faisal, says Rayyan, maybe your mother has some old beef left forgotten?
No, says Ali. I would have eaten it by now, he continues. The kids head home, lost in some kid thoughts.

Wish we had money, says Faisal. Why?, from Rayyan. You would waste it anyway adds Rayyan.

No, says Faisal. I would save some money, buy my father and mother some food and keep the rest for studies.

Ali laughs. We the students. More like keeping our camel pen clean, if there are ever camels for us.
Let's get some homework done, else no schools either. At least we have shade in the school.


Ali makes an expert motion of his hand..like a wizard on your left. Snip. Faisal cuts. On your right.

Years spent in the States, Canada, and Saudia. Cleveland Clinic, Arizona, MI., MN, LA....Accreditions from the schools in the States that would make anyone envious.

Now they travel to the States..on lecture and demo tours. Heart transplants authorities from Saudia. Performing surgeries for those that cannot make it
here or to any other advanced facility....from the desert to the world.
From not having sandals to providing the gift of life and hope.

They have to work on a friend; someone they grew up with, in the desert, when food was scarce.

Last night 9 paedriactic heart surgeries. There was a time when there was none. Faisal looks down on his friend on the table. Heart stopped.

He laughs. Looks up at Ali. Rayyan has slept for more than 8 hours.
Time to bring him home. And amongst his friends.

The school still stands.

Faisal and Ali exchange a glance. It never would have been about money. It always was about the desert and its people. Their people, in the first instance. And then the others who do not have the money, from around the world.

p.s. that is me on the table. And my friends working over me.
 
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rayyan

Well-known member
To those who are not familiar with my country, Saudia, allow me to tell you something about its medical facilities....

The team that took care of me, is comprised of a lot of people. The hospital is a quarternary Specialist Care and Research Center. The Referral Center for transplants in the Gulf and Middle East Region. Heart, Lung, Kidney. The Referral Center in the Middle East for advanced Oncology treatment.

The Cardiac team that handled me ( as they handle all others ) is big.
Specifically I was handled by specialists from the following countries:

Saudia, USA, Canada, Britain, Pakistan, India, Australia, Phillipines, Malaysia,
Scandinavia. This was my Cardiac Surgery team plus those incharge of Anaesthesia, heart/lung machines and backup in the surgery room.

Two of the three surgeons are my childhood friends.

Saudia, Lebanon, Norway, Pakistan, Britain, New Zealand, Palestine. Supported by the best staff one could have wished for in the CS-ICU bed #15..intensive care.


Saudia..Medical Imaging, Interventional Radiology, MRI, CT and Nuclear scans...collegues of my son handled it here. Kids, I saw grow up together with my son in school and Medical College.

Calling this the ' A ' team would be an understatement.





The first question that Ali, the surgeon, asked me when I was conscious was
' which brand of cigarettes, do you want now ? '!

And above all, so that I do not ever forget..not far from where my surgery took place...

My beautiful, beautiful home..



And to the team...may God Bless you all.
 

Lloyd

Active member
I'm grateful for (and to) your friends. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Now about those cigarettes... ;)
 

ashwinrao1

Active member
Inspiring, beautiful post, Rayyan. You and your story are an inspiration to us all! I am glad that you have found safe passage back to us. Thank you for share with us your journey. It means a lot to me, us....
 

m_driscoll

New member
Rayyan,

You continue to amaze! Thank god you came through and are continuing to share with us. I haven't posted in a while, but, this makes me smile, and i wanted to tell you that.

Cheers, Matt
 

rayyan

Well-known member
I'm grateful for (and to) your friends. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Now about those cigarettes... ;)
Inspiring, beautiful post, Rayyan. You and your story are an inspiration to us all! I am glad that you have found safe passage back to us. Thank you for share with us your journey. It means a lot to me, us....
Rayyan,

You continue to amaze! Thank god you came through and are continuing to share with us. I haven't posted in a while, but, this makes me smile, and i wanted to tell you that.

Cheers, Matt
The greatest gift for me? To have friends like you guys. Never met anyone of you in the flesh. But seems we have hung out forever.

That is a blessing, I cannot ever forget.:salute::salute:
 

rayyan

Well-known member
I have read somewhere ( re: image making ) that for an image to have meaning the photog must ' feel', ' be involved '. How else would a viewer ' feel '
what was there?

This is the closest I can get to being involved. Although, I am not the photog and I can assure you all I did not ' feel '.


Press here to see a rendering of: Feelings I have none

The one below depicts the first of the three ' tubes' that were in need of plumbing. There were 3 in total with a double cut/paste in one of them.

See the narrowing on the right slight above center. Plaque deposits...Marlboro effects. Death was just around the corner. A heartbeat away?


There was someone, very dear and special to me. I am told she cried and she prayed. Being American, her Arabic leaves a lot to be desired. But Language was the last barrier she had. This is what she sent me, when they told her she could not visit me in the hospital!!

My grand daughter Mariam stuck a ribbon on this piece of paper and gave it to Ayesha with instructions that I got it!!


It really is everyone's choice. Marlboro or quality time with the grandkids.I pray we all make the sensible decision in this regard.
 

Godfrey

Well-known member
Your post is inspirational. As others have said, think about those cigs.

Recuperate and heal quickly.

G
 
Rayyan: Just missed your posts and your storytelling for a while and now that story ...

Makes me speechless but, happy for now, that you're back!! I deeply wish you a very, very quick and complete recovery and - be strong and forget those cigarettes (I did about thirty years ago).

All the best to you and yours.
 

fotografz

Well-known member
Incredibly moving and very personal story from a gifted mind.

To art, music, and mathematics, we can add medicine to the quest of one world united in peace and love.

Be well.

-Marc
 
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