November 18, 2011
This is Lamia, Sami’s sister writing to you from his ICU room. He is comfortable in his bed, hooked up to different lines and machines. He cannot talk so he has a marker and a dry erase board with which he communicates.
Last Saturday, Day 12 since his transplant, he was not doing well with very low white blood cells and no platelets. He had difficulty breathing and almost choked at different instances. So the decision was made to intubate him and “put him to sleep” for a few days as also the pain was intolerable.
You have not heard from him, because for 4 full days he was asleep in the arms of Jesus who took his pain away and helped him get better. I literally saw his room full of fluffy angels and “the one the Lord loves was resting on His shoulders” (Deuteronomy 33:12).
Day 18, yesterday, they decided to remove the tube as his blood count was back to a safe number. However, his throat was still very irritated and they did not want to risk another choking incident, especially at night, so they performed another surgery where they made a hole in his neck so he can breathe freely. And then they woke him up.
He will be in ICU for a day or 2 as he is now stable. Back in a normal room for a few more days. Then they will close the hole in his neck and send him home.
He is not able to get visitors and currently only Jacqueline and I are allowed by his bedside.
This week has been a very stressful week yet we felt “carried by the everlasting arms”.
We knew prayer warriors were on their knees and that’s what kept us going.
We cherish your continuous prayers, hopefully I posted this correctly and next time it will be Sami writing!
Lamia Raad
Sami Lahoud 
Thank you Lamia for the update…
We trust the living LORD to take care of Sami… Yes, we do…
Many prayer warriors are lifting Sami up in prayers…Habibna Sami will be fine…Yes, he will… In JESUS mighty name…Amen.
Thanks Lamia for your update, we were waiting for his news while praying intensively so that he doesn’t suffer during this time. God always finds ways to let his child be in peace and recover in His mighty and tender arms. Many persons are praying in Lebanon for Sami, and not all of them can write. Prayer is doing miracles !
Big hug to Jacquo, may the Lord continue to give each one of you extra strength until Sami fully recovers and comes back home.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
Thanks for pleasant update. I was wondering but just heard yesterday about ICU. You all are continously lifted in prayer.
Thanks for the update Lamia, for the last few days I’ve been concerned and praying for Sami. It’s not like him to go this long w/o an update and I was hoping that things were still going well What an experience this has been for him and all your family!! God is definitely carrying all of you through this valley and I have no doubt that the Lord will be glorified through Sami and all his family. Big hugs to all; can’t wait to hear good news.
Oula
We praise the Lord deeply from our hearts because he heard the prayers of hi saints , from
my heart, I refer all of you and us an Arabic song based on psalm 116. and the song in our hymnal (green)book no. 433. احببت ان سيدى يسمعؤصوتى ودعاى
ويستجيب طلبتي فهو مخلصي رجاى
Amen ya rub
Thank you for letting us know. Glad to hear that Sami is resting and getting better daily. What a journey this has been; please tell him Marlon Punch said hi…
Thanks for the update Lamia, God willing the next one will be from Sami writing from the comfort of his home and surrounded by his loved ones.
We are praying for him and for you all.
We love you.
Thank you Lamia for the latest news about Sami .My heart goes out to all of you since Ive been there, we will continue to pray for him and all of you. We love you all.
Psalm :23
Dear Lamia, thank you for the update. I was really concerned and certainly praying for Sami. What you wrote was indescribable. All I can say is your faith is makes all the difference. The Lord be with Sami and with you his family. All the angels and saints be with him in this difficult time. Your sister in Christ Eva Abbas
The Hernandez family remains in continuous prayer for Sami and the strenght of all those surrounding him.
Oh Thank God for His continuous care. Was praying all this week..please Sami don’t give up!! after experiencing all this spiritual journey…and the greatness of our Lord, I was afraid he would deny pain its physical rights!!! Let it be Sami…take it easy with your mending of your vessel..
Thank you Lamia for the update..
Thanks for the updates Lamia. InshaAllah Sami will be fine within couple of days…our prayers are with him. There are lots of people who really love Sami and praying for his good health. May Allah give Sami and his family courage and strength to go through this hard time.
Habibti Lamouch
Can’t imagine what u r going through as a family. For some reason I knew something was not right this week. I felt restless and wondered about all of you. At the same time I knew that God is in control/ I pray that the God of peace will continue to fill your hearts with his everlasting peace. I am praying for all fo you a a family and specially for Samsoum . and I am reassured that He who started a good work.. will continue till the end
Love you all and miss you soooo very much
thank u Lamia for the update. we are with u in heart and prayer. bon courage pour vous tous. a special hug to habibet albi jaco. xo
Thank you, Lamia, You are all in our prayers…always. Sami has the strength of thousands praying for his recovery.
i Lamia, thank you for this update, I really, felt as if my soul was going out of my body and came back when I read your update. You are always in our prayers. We love you. Your sister,Mariam.
Sami – our prayers will continue to be with you and your family during this challenging phase in your journey. And, we look forward to seeing you again once it has passed.
ياتي يوم يطوى يوم
Thanks Lamia for the update. We will keep Sami in our prayers as he makes it through this hard period. May God continue to carry him in the palm of his hand..
lamia, issam, waddad, jacquline, nayla, theo, and sami I would like to say one sentence I love you all and we prayed all of us in church( habib badr) for all of you and i hope and pray daily for all of you and my dear godmother lamia, aunty salma has a frame still in her room which says ” underneath are the everlasting arms” we believe and we thank him daily for his fresh lively water sent daily to cure sami inshallah and get him back to his familiy
Anis Khoury and Family
mom is also praying feverishly loving hugs to all
Thank you for the update, Lamia. I keep you all in my prayers.
Thanks for the update! We are praying for Sami daily and hope he’s home for the holidays soon. Love Manali, Terry & Mila Bettendorf and The Patels
Please let Sami know we are all pulling for him in every way possible!! You are all in our thoughts and prayers each day.
Please tell Sami we are praying for him to get better.
Dear Sami and Lamia
Thank you for sharing with us this journey . My prayers and love for you all.
God bless You . Salm 117
Dear sister Lamia
I would like to send you and to every body who need to know my healing testimony ( From Mantle cell Lymphoma) , it is in Arabic , if you like , please send your e-mail address as follow ( rassouad@idm.net.lb )
Raouf Assouad
Ras Beirut Church
Beirut – Lebanon