By Mark Bashore, WKAR News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-969545.mp3
EAST LANSING, MI –
Several dozen Libyan students and their families at Michigan State University face an uncertain future as political control of their country hangs in the balance. Consumed by a civil war more than four thousand miles away, many of these young people also contend with uncertainties over money, food, housing, legal assistance and health challenges. WKAR's Mark Bashore reports on the whirlwind surrounding one young family.
AUDIO:
Like other Libyans in East Lansing, Enas and Ahmed Mohamed-Suliman are wrapped up in the drama in their country. This tension spiked seven weeks ago, when the Libyan government financially stranded them and others by suddenly ending funding for their schooling. MSU says it will temporarily cover housing and food assistance. But if and when an end date is determined, it's not clear what would happen after that. 30-year-old Ahmed says fitful nights are common.
(translator): "My problems, the current situation, the problems with my sick son, and my family's situation, the situation of my family back in Libya, it means I'm not sleeping," he says. "I'm not eating. Mostly, it's lack of sleep. That's the worst thing."
But there's even more keeping this young family of five up at night. In March, 28-year-old Enas gave birth to the couple's third child, a little boy they named Ali. He arrived 10 weeks early and spent two months in Sparrow Hospital, much of it in neonatal intensive care. Inas says the boy has battled a brain hemorrhage, serious respiratory problems and hydrocephalus, or fluid on the brain.
(translator): "My son Ali, he needs physiotherapy," she explains. "He has nervous contractions, twitches." Early on, doctors described Ali's condition as "very critical." A neonatal neurosurgeon implanted a shunt to the brain to drain the fluid. Ali finally went home to Spartan Village about 10 days ago.
Dr. Said Omar is an MSU Health Team physician working at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. He's working to get the two-month-old through this precarious phase. He says ideally, the baby should remain in East Lansing for a year.
"Now I told them the sooner you will go, which I really don't totally approve, is two to three months," he says. "Because I don't think the baby's gonna get the care he needs" (in Libya).
Even if the Suliman family returns safely to Libya, they may need to travel to Egypt to get adequate medical care. Still, the young family yearns to return home to rejoin loved ones.
MELISSA INGELLS: And Mark joins me now with more on the situation involving the Suliman family. Hi Mark.
MARK BASHORE: Hello, Melissa.
INGELLS: I understand you have an update on this story. What's the latest?
BASHORE: First of all, the family's working with a number of physicians. The family's told me that one of them, apparently Ali's neurosurgeon who implanted the shunt, has suggested his recovery is going well enough that Enas and Ahmed are actually considering returning to Libya as early as next month. I learned this late on Tuesday and I spent much of yesterday trying to learn more but was unable to reach anyone who could clarify. This is apparently one physician's recommendation and it's not clear if the other doctors are even aware of this yet. How the other physicians will feel about the family leaving earlier is the question. All I know is it's much sooner than originally discussed.
INGELLS: And has the family indicated what they're likely to do at this point?
BASHORE: It's clear their desire to return home is really strong. Their situation here is confusing and unpredictable. The husband doesn't speak English, they have no car. We're talking about big families back home. They've told me they intend to do what's best for Ali, but if the different doctors they're consulting with suggest different dates, I think they're tempted to leave at whatever the earliest date is. Now, how much influence the doctors with other opinions will have on their decision is, I'm sure, being discussed right now.
INGELLS: All right, WKAR's Mark Bashore, thank you very much.
BASHORE: Sure Melissa.