Injured Iraqi Child Getting Help In Pittsburgh

An Iraqi boy whose face was maimed after a U.S. air strike in 2004 is now in Pittsburgh for reconstructive surgery. (Watch Video Clip.)

Abdul Hakim Ismael Hussein, 8, was blinded in one eye and suffered injuries to his jaw and cheek, after the explosion near his family’s home in Fallujah.

“There are tens of thousands of Abdul Hakims,” said Cole Miller, from No More Victims, an organization that helps injured Iraqi children receive donated medical care in the U.S.

Children’s Hospital is footing the bill for half of his stay. His doctors are donating their services and a Massachusetts philanthropist, originally from Pittsburgh, is giving $50,000 towards his treatments.

Marian Gumina has opened her home and her heart to Abdul, while he undergoes the surgeries at Children’s Hospital.

“I just want to make him feel like, you are here, you’re going to get your medical treatment, no one is going to hurt you. You don’t have to worry about anything hitting your house,” Gumina said.

Gumina’s neighbor, Hayder Khdater, acted as interpreter for Abdul and his father Ishmaiel, who accompanied him to Pittsburgh.

“He feels good and wants to thank everybody for making this happen,” Khdater said. “He feels like he’s with his family.”

Categorised in: Abdul Hakeem, Children

This post was written by Cole Miller