Maj. Kristian Sorensen, civil affairs officer, 16th Military Police Brigade, holds 8-month-old Hassan Fadhil after a talk with Hassan's mother, Indissar, about the infant's upcoming surgery. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jason Adolphson.
Posted on 05/21/2007 8:10:16 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD — Indissar Fadhil gave birth to Hassan about eight months ago. The boy was healthy aside from one major complication: He had a cleft lip and palate. His upper lip had no sides because they were compressed to the center. He had no roof inside his mouth to separate his mouth from his nasal cavity.
“I was astonished and worried for my baby because he wouldn’t stop crying and he was unable to eat,” Fadhil said.
Fadhil said she experienced many struggles and setbacks before receiving positive feedback about getting treatment for her son.
“I initially contacted several doctors in Baghdad.”
They all told her there would be an extensive waiting period and Hassan would require a series of four surgeries, each costing $1,000.
“I was completely devastated because we have no money and my husband is disabled without work,” Fahdil said.
To her relief, she was referred to the Civil Military Operations Center here. Maj. Kristian Sorensen, civil affairs officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16th Military Police Brigade, found out about Hassan’s condition at the CMOC.
“In this environment, birth defects are not entirely uncommon, though I’ve never seen a cleft lip/palate this severe,” Sorensen said. “I was automatically drawn to help this family.”
Sorensen took immediate action.
“I made phone calls to (several) groups and organizations and they all led me to Operation Smile,” he said.
Operation Smile, a nonprofit organization in Jordan, specializes in operating on children with cleft lips and palates.
Sorenesen said he took photos of Hassan and sent (them) to Operation Smile. One of the doctors told Sorensen that Hassan’s case was one of the most severe he had ever seen. With the help of professional contacts, Sorensen’s efforts made Hassan eligible for treatment.
Meanwhile, Fahdil has had to glue plastic mouth pieces to Hassan’s mouth in order for him to eat. Sorensen supplied a few mouthpieces and denture adhesive. Fadhil said they have to be replaced every couple months. She eventually ran out of mouthpieces to aid her baby.
Fadhil described a dangerous commute to the doctor in downtown Baghdad to get another mouth piece.
“I had my children with me and we were nearly hit by the impact of a car bomb. Once I reached the hospital, I was informed by the doctor that the mouthpiece would cost about ($50), which I did not have. I was sent away empty handed.”
Before a date was confirmed for Hassan’s surgery, the young mother’s eyes filled with tears.
“Now I have no choice but to feed him drop-by-drop out of an eye dropper,” she said. “It’s very time consuming and he’s sick. Between tending to him and my other two boys and going back and forth to doctors, I’m just tired.”
Fahdil wiped her tears with a section of her robe and recovered with a smile.
“I am very happy now because the surgery is soon underway.”
Hassan went to Jordan for his first surgery April 20. “Things are good and so much of my thanks are (due to) Major Sorensen’s help.”
Sorensen insisted everyone from linguists to doctors at the CMOC got involved and nothing would have been possible without them. He also spoke of a bond he established with the Fadhil family.
“As a father myself, I sympathized with the family,” Sorensen said.
Sorensen said it felt good to see the Iraqis recognized him not only as a Soldier, but also as a person.
“A lot of people will walk away from this war with scars,” Sorensen said. “Hassan’s scar will mean people loved him — many of whom he will not remember, but as he grows older, he will know it represents something special that happened in this world.”
Maj. Kristian Sorensen, civil affairs officer, 16th Military Police Brigade, holds 8-month-old Hassan Fadhil after a talk with Hassan's mother, Indissar, about the infant's upcoming surgery. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jason Adolphson.
Happiness is a Child’s and Mother’s Smile
I sure hope the Reid/Pelosi timetable is followed to the letter - I’d hate to see any more of these positive stories.
When I see your reply, I begin to think that the "axe" in your screen is nothing more than a misspelled synonym for donkey.
Well that’s one kid with a chance of growing up without a seething hatred of Americans.
But but this country is a war mongering enity. If the right wing muslim groups were behind what they said they would help this child but just like everthing else they are full of shit and only care about their narrow minded cause.
I am sick and damn tired of this country the US considered the bad guys. But just like this story and the majority of people in the US will never see this great story.
And exactly how do you think YOU are paying for this?
May God have mercy on you....
I see it as planting a seed of hope. Left as he was, Hassan would have been a prime candidate for a future suicide bomber. Terrorist recruiting is about finding weakness and exploiting it.
Now Hassan can grow up to be normal and he’ll grow up knowing that America gave him that chance.
“Operation Smile” does not use one penny of your money - it’s run by donations and volunteers = including doctors who volunteer time to help disfigured children throughout the world.
So sleep easy, your precious money wont help any children in desperate need. You do show one glimmer of intelligence - you gave yourself an apt screen name.
Looking back it was not my proudest post. Please allow me to write this off as a brain fart. I apologize.
Looking back it was not my proudest post. Please allow me to write this off as a brain fart. I apologize.
We all have them—no big deal. Apology accepted!
Then go out to Walter Reed on Friday nights. I am sure Code Pink would just love to have you officially join them.
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