(Not to be unduly critical of Michael Schiavo), but unlike Michael, who didn't live in a war zone under constant threat of death, and who didn't personally care for his wife day after day and night after night with bombs exploding nearby, and who fought to have his wife killed by judicial fiat instead of doing everything in his power to keep her alive and comfortable - Sabah Jasim and his children struggle under difficult and often dangerous conditions to care for Selma, his wife and the mother of his children, and to keep her alive.

(And unlike Michael), they don't consider food, water, and personalized loving care, as extraordinary medical procedures. (Instead, they struggle to provide what Sabah describes as the most basic of necessary human needs.)

In the following excerpts from today's email, Sabah describes not only the effects the electrical problems are having on Selma's care, but also interesting comments on terrorism from his unique perspective - living in a mixed neighborhood of Sunni and Shiite Muslims:

.... You may remind me of those sacred people like Jesus, who cares much for others but in the meanwhile he suffers how to squeeze such hard experience to make people happier and in a quicker time!

.... our internet service suffers of some obstacles. The server, seemingly, is not good enough to allow us to follow our subjects in time. The internet system we shared is NERA - receiver internet satellite - Intilsat 1002, 1 degree westward. At the beginning it worked perfectly good but later - 3 moths - it showed poor service. We contacted people in charge in UAE but still they kept us under false promises.

... We twice changed our participation but the server problem is unfortunately the same! So if you find my delay reply it is this problem.

... But we are also having severe problems for Selma, because we suffer of electricity current ill service especially these days - summer time - when temperature goes up 53 centigrade.

... Our residency is within a complex mainly belong to a state chemical plant for producing alkaline caustic soda and chlorine gas for water treatment etc. The state plant is supposed the main source for producing sulfuric acid for batteries. That is why electricity all along the sanctions imposed on Iraq during old regime, continued to be properly served and our complex never suffered lack of electricity.

[...] The paradox here is that after a visit made by our Iraqi military force in charged together with a representative of one of the Coalition Forces - I guess one of the USA Marines - where they held a quick meeting with the officers presenting their suggestions and thoughts about terrorism etc.

Soon after this visit , the residents of the complex together with the plant itself suffered an absence of electricity for about 8 hours a day! The product of the plant suffered much of such lack of electricity. The management of the plant made their necessary contacts with the high control of the ministry of industry in Baghdad. And thus we were living a game ! Jumping electricity service!

So , things gathered on me , I tried my best to secure electricity at home so I bought a small generator. Then another problem aroused: securing fuel for the generator. I was obliged to buy the fuel (usually benzene ) from the black market. This would add a further burden on my income balance.

So l found myself with some of my friends around running here and there just to fetch the required fuel to keep electricity on its minimum for keeping Selma cool and to secure preparing her food by the mixer.

Moreover, owing to the carnage happened recently in our city we have to follow up checking those injured and to attend funerals for the victims. Tradition here is a must besides it goes with human relationship.

... Regarding the subject of Islamofascism I believe that Iran together with Syria and Saudi Arabia are the colony for terrorism germination. The problem is how to quench such germination especially in Iran.

... Extremism is the twin of ignorance in that entire human. Here we need to use the necessary weapons to stand such colony rotten vomiting. There appears the necessity to dry all those terrorism sources. Economy is the most useful weapon. Iran should face the International humanity answer to their evilness. We need to stop them not to congratulate them and give them a gift to have their dirty fingers into Iraq body.

In my next message I wish to continue enriching this thought.

Kind regards,
Sabah Jasim
Babylon, Iraq

(Sabah and son with Selma these days - nail clipping in the garden)

We'll continue to provide further updates on Sabah's family, and in the meanwhile, we are working on how best to get critical medical supplies and equipment to him in order to care for Selma. We are also considering sending funds to help pay for fuel for the generator.