Shiad Abas Aziz and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luis Falcon, a squad leader with the 2nd Infantry Division, look on as Shiad is given instructions on how to properly care for her new legs. Photo by Airman 1st Class Andrew Davis
Posted on 05/12/2008 5:35:07 PM PDT by SandRat
Shiad Abas Aziz and U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luis Falcon, a squad leader with the 2nd Infantry Division, look on as Shiad is given instructions on how to properly care for her new legs. Photo by Airman 1st Class Andrew Davis
BAGHDAD (Army News Service, May 12, 2008) - A 12-year-old Iraqi girl received two new prosthetic legs May 9, as part of an Iraqi Ministry of Defence program at the MOD Prosthetics Clinic located in the International Zone.
Shiad Abas Aziz from Baquba Province, along with her mother Wahida Jabar Mohamed, traveled to the IZ with U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luis Falcon, a squad leader with 1-38 Infantry, to get fitted to her new prosthetics.
About six months ago, Shiad was walking home from school with her brother Ali, when an improvised explosive device detonated and severely injured both of them. Ali perished as a result of his injuries from the blast, but Shiad survived.
About a month after the attack, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Luis Falcon stumbled upon Shiad while doing a dismounted patrol in her neighborhood. Falcon immediately established a bond with Shiad and continued to visit her daily, bringing her toys and food for her family.
When Falcon asked what she wanted him to bring her she replied "all I want is legs to walk to school."
From that moment on Falcon did everything in his power to find a way to get her new legs. He stumbled upon the MOD prosthetics clinic and set up the visit to the clinic.
During the visit to the clinic Shiad was first measured for a mold and following hours of strenuous labor by the Iraqi Army officers who work in the clinic, they were finally ready to be fitted.
Fitted with two new shoes, Shiad took her first steps toward walking on her own. Assisted by Iraqi Army Capt. Osama, prosthetics technician, and Falcon she carefully made her way down a set of parallel bars one step at a time.
Shiad has many more appointments with the physical therapist to properly use her new legs, but she is well on her way to being able to walk by herself to school again.
What was the MSM story? I don’t recall seeing it, or was that your point?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2014982/posts anti war spin further in the Sacramento Bee article.
Thanks, Allegra’s comments in that thread explained it quite well.
I like her posture, she looks so graceful even with one leg on , one leg off, she just looks poised for someone who has been through so much suffering.
Is the prothesis program a Iraqi Internal Industry?
Don’t know, but it should be....
I hope the shoe size is just a photographic illusion.
"Twelve year old Shiad Abas Aziz had her legs taken from her in a cowardly attack by Iranian-assisted terrorists in their ongoing campaign to convince US Democrats to let slavery rule in Iraq. The US military, waging the most ethical war in world history, have reached out to you young Shiad and given her new legs and the Audacity of Hope."
OK,..... NBC didn't say this. But they should have.
Thank you for posting the true story.
Bless her and the American Soldier that helped her get her new legs.
Short focal length (wide angle) lens perspective distortion. (Look at the extreme "divergence" of the parallel bars...)
With that lens, a closeup of your face would make your nose look as large as both of your fists...
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