Surgery gives Iraqi boy ability to live normal life

USAREUR ^ | September 16, 2004 | Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Boyer, Capt. Edward Cappellano, Task Force 2-108

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

		Public Affairs  Sep. 16, 2004
Surgery gives Iraqi boy ability to live normal life Story by Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Boyer and  Capt. Edward Cappellano, Task Force 2-108
Photo courtesy of Task Force 2-108
Sadjed, with his mother, a few days after surgery that allowed him to extend his leg again.
Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Iraq - After lengthy discussions, a badly injured four-year-old boy received life changing medical treatment to enable him to walk for the first time. The boy was first noticed in May 2004 by 1st Infantry Division Soldiers of Company B, Task Force 2-108, New York Army National Guard. While patrolling the Arab Jasim neighborhood in the Salah Ad Din Province, the Soldiers were approached by the boy’s mother. The child’s left leg had been severely burned when he was an infant and the resulting injury and treatment by Iraqi doctors had left the upper and lower leg grafted by a sheet of skin that made the leg nearly immobile, permanently keeping the leg in a flexed position, restricting its movement. The family was unable to afford the treatment that was needed, so it seemed the child would remain this way for life. The platoon medic, Cpl. William Provost, examined the child and took some photos to bring back to Forward Operating Base O’Ryan for the Battalion surgeon to examine. The surgeon, Col. Russell Zelman, concluded he could not help the child with the current level of medical equipment at the Battalion Aid Station. The only alternative was the Baghdad hospital. Shortly afterward, Company B was relocated to a different area of operations and was unable to pursue the matter further. One month later, attacks seemed to increase from the area of this tiny village. Company B was sent back into the area to quell the escalating attacks. They conducted reconnaissance, raids and searches in the area and opened lines of communication with the village leaders to try to eliminate the problem of the attacks. Once again the child’s mother asked the Soldiers for help. Platoon Sergeant Michael Boyer managed to get an appointment to have doctors at the Combat Support Hospital (CSH) on Logistical Support Area (LSA) Anaconda get involved. Col. Malaave, a senior officer at the CSH wanted to see the child for an evaluation. The patrol took the scared child and his relatives to the hospital where Malaave, a plastic surgeon, was confident she could do the necessary surgery with success. The date was set for Monday, July 12, 04.  Boyer’s patrol returned the child and cousin to the village and made the arrangements to have the child, mother and the cousin picked up Monday morning. A few days later other platoon members picked up the child, mother and another family member and brought them to the hospital. The mother and cousin chose to stay for the long operation. After 6 hours of surgery, doctors had removed the skin that restricted the leg’s movement and grafted parts of skin from the other leg. The operation was a success. The prognosis was excellent and it was assured the boy would be able to learn to walk normally over time. The child would need to stay in the care of the CSH over the next 10 to 14 days. Upon the mother’s return to village, she shouted with happiness to the people there, telling them the good news. The next day the mother returned to the hospital with the Soldiers and the reunion with the child was jubilant. The mother was overwhelmed with the progress the boy was making. More than a week later it was time to discharge the little boy from the military hospital. The hospital staff had assembled gifts and supplies for the family. The boy had actually started to walk for the first time, albeit with some help. The entire north section of the village appeared to be out on the streets when the patrol arrived. As the family stepped out of the military Humvee with the child, cheers rose up throughout the crowd. Everyone was clapping and singing. To add to the celebration, the platoon along with the headquarters personnel handed out treats, flip-flops and soccer balls to the crowd. It was a day of celebration in the village. The child will have to return several times to LSA Anaconda for follow up treatment and physical therapy, but the doctors believe he will make an excellent recovery and will be able to run and play and lead a normal life. Although the battles wage on, an Iraqi child in need of care was made better, and a mother’s hopes and dreams came true all because a group of Task Force Danger National Guardsmen from northern New York, who felt it was important to make an extra effort to bring some happiness and good will to a place that knows of despair and doubt. “We can all leave this place knowing that we did something good here,” says Boyer. “We made a difference in the life of an innocent child.”

[Prime Choice]

Very cool. Thanks for posting that. Our troops rock!

The sad part is that this story will get no coverage by the "mainstream" (sic) media. Hell, according to the Leftists, our troops aren't helping children; they're just blowing them up. (Curiously enough, these same Leftists gleefully ignore Arafat's sending children to blow themselves up...)

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 

 

New York Army National Guard,

 Ys and s, ping.

[EggsAckley]

Tears of joy here. Mama looks so very happy, and the boy just can't wait to get out and run around.

Thanks for this.

[Dubya]

Graet post.

[Go Gordon]

The sad part is that this story will get no coverage by the "mainstream" (sic) media.

I wonder why FNC doesn't have a show that would regularly report on all the good things that are uniformed men/women accomplish. Maybe a weekly one hour show on Sunday night. If it was done consistently, the buzz around the watercooler at work alone would lead to increased viewership and some good ratings numbers.

[blackie]

New York Army National Guard ~ Bump!

[Riley]

Outstanding!

[68skylark]

These NY Guardsmen are great for what they've done.

When they were training for Iraq, the NY Times had a really snide article that depicted them as old, overweight, weak and vulnerable. ("The challenge to the military, then, is much more urgent than dealing with frustrated National Guard families who want to see their loved ones during the holidays. It is how to keep these civilian soldiers alive...." National Guard at War at Home to Prepare for Real Thing in Iraq)

Since then, they've had an excellent record in Iraq. I wonder if we'll get a correction from the Times.

[Ladysmith]

Y'all done good! God bless each and every one of you!

[kellyrae]

Dayside with Linda Vester does these good news stories from Iraq (or at least used to, I don't get to watch very often). I e-mailed the article to her.

[BykrBayb]

This is the military that I know. They make us all proud to be Americans.

[mikegi]

Follow up to this story found today on Reuters:

---

Sept 18, 2004
Child suicide bomber hits LSA Anaconda
Logical Support Area Anaconda, Iraq

A four-year-old boy, who previously had life-changing reconstructive surgery provided by the US military, today returned to the hospital with an IED hidden in his bandages. Four US doctors were killed and 13 others were injured, some seriously. The dead included the surgeon, Col. Malaave, who performed the original 6-hour surgery to restore movement to the boy's left leg.

Reuters correspondents in the Arab Jasim neighborhood in Salah Ad Din Province described a scene of jubilation. Pictures of the boy were held in the air amid chants of "death to the Infidels". The boy's mother stated that "we had planned this martyrdom mission for several months". Resistance fighters had been unable to penetrate Ananconda's security until this incident.

The White House released a short statement acknowledging the attack: "Islam is a religion of peace".

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Tell me you are being sarcastic, please (and if so, tsk, mikegi).

[mikegi]

Tell me you are being sarcastic, please (and if so, tsk, mikegi).

Yes, I'm being sarcastic. It's just that I halfway expect to see a real news story like this in the future.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

It's more likely that this young boy and his family, and his village will be our allies for life.

They cheered, in public - a brave thing to do in a country where Saddam's neighborhood thugs murdered children to coerce parents into submission.

A few (more reliable) Iraqi "news" sources:

8http://www.greatestjeneration.com

8http://iraqataglance.blogspot.com

8http://hammorabi.blogspot.com

8http://messopotamian.blogspot.com

8http://www.iraqthemodel.blogspot.com

8http://baghdadee.ipbhost.com

8http://www.dear_raed.blogspot.com

8http://www.nabilsblog.blogspot.com

8http://healingiraq.blogspot.com

 

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[solitas]

Surgery gives Iraqi boy ability to live normal life

Remember though: a 'normal' iraqi life seemingly consists of setting IEDs on the side of the road, or getting vaporized by a car-bomb while standing around minding your own business on a streetcorner, or...

[texasflower]

What a joyful look on that mother's face. This is a wonderful story.

Thanks for posting this.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Remember though: a 'normal' iraqi life seemingly consists of setting IEDs on the side of the road, or getting vaporized by a car-bomb while standing around minding your own business on a streetcorner, or...

Remember who's been reporting the daily war news from Iraq. Our troops and the Iraqi people are being betrayed daily.

See #16.

Iraqis continue to choose to serve, knowing the risks to their families - and die fighting our mutual enemies daily.

It's a country the size of California, with 25 million Iraqis - most of whom are minding their own business, grateful to our troops, and to America.

Unfortunately, they also now receive 24/7 spin from Dan Rather, Al Jazeera +++++...and when they're told their nation's in flames, how would they know, if they don't look beyond the press?

We don't have the excuse we had during Vietnam. We have access to the primary sources - to our troops, CENTCOM, Iraqi bloggers. We can bypass the msm, debunk the spin with facts, help our troops.

"The American soldier is trying to protect me from the terrorists and the American president saved me from Saddam's regime. If this is an occupation then I show my deepest respect to it and if such suicide attacks are called resistance then let the resistance go to hell." - Hoshyar Zakhoi-Duhok/Iraq                          - Liberating Iraq ^ | 09/11/2004 | Patrick McGuinness (Freeper WOSG)