Eutrusca
28-12-2005, 16:04
COMMENTARY: Just another "feel-good" story from Iraq. :rolleyes:
Infant takes first steps to survival (http://www.military.com/earlybrief/0,,,00.html)
Iraqi baby Atlanta-bound for treatment of spina bifida
By MONI BASU
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/28/05
Abu Ghraib, Iraq — Baby Noor al-Zahra, born with spina bifida and little chance of survival in the slums of Abu Ghraib, made her first move Tuesday in a long journey that Georgia soldiers pray will end, possibly this week, with medical care in Atlanta.
And perhaps give the frail child new hope for life.
Born in September with the severe spinal cord defect, Noor was discovered by soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard's 48th Brigade Combat Team earlier this month when they raided the family home looking for suspected insurgents.
After two weeks of sorting out bureaucracy — it's not logistically easy to shuttle Iraqi citizens out of the war zone — and frantic communications with military officials, lawmakers and a host of Atlanta-area hospitals and charitable organizations, Gainesville-based soldiers picked up the baby, her father and grandmother Tuesday night and carried them back in a Humvee to Baghdad's Camp Liberty.
"I'll feel much relieved when we get her under a doctor's care," said Capt. Anthony Fournier, commander of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment.
The soldiers had instructed Noor's family to be ready to go at a moment's notice because when arrangements finally fell into place, there would be no time to waste; for Noor, every passing day lessened her chances of survival.
With just one last obstacle remaining — clearance for Noor to enter the United States — Fournier thought it best to bring the baby on base to be seen by military doctors.
A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) said the senator has been in touch with the American Embassy in Baghdad and that the paperwork for Noor and her relatives should be processed within two days or so.
"I'm very pleased that Baby Nora is now at a place where she can receive the critical attention she needs," Chambliss said in a statement sent via e-mail, calling the baby by the soldiers' nickname for her.
"This has been a top priority of mine over the past few days," Chambliss added. "I'm proud of our troops, and we will continue our efforts to get her back to Georgia, where she can be treated."
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is committed to treating the child at no cost, spokeswoman Jennifer Sinclair said Tuesday night.
Hours earlier, when Fournier took his men back to Abu Ghraib, he was concerned that the family would not yet be ready to go. He was unsure if they had been able to obtain passports on such quick notice — and if the family would be ready to let go of the child who lit up their lives.
For family members, whose full names are being withheld because of security issues, the moment was bittersweet. They want so much to see Noor receive the medical care she desperately needs. But America, the land of the gun-toting soldiers they know little about, is so far away.
"Please don't be afraid," Fournier told Noor's grandmother Soad through an interpreter as he looked over the three passports handed to him by the woman draped in black. "We are going to take care of you."
Three of Soad's daughters quickly packed a bag for her and Noor. They gave Soad a brand-new black purse to carry with her to America.
Tears rolled down the cheeks of Noor's mother, Iman. Only two adults could go with her only child: it was decided that her mother-in-law, Soad, the matriarch of the family, would be one; the baby's father, Haider, would be the other. The family thought it was inappropriate for a Muslim woman to travel unaccompanied by a male relative.
"I am happy my baby is going," said Iman, wiping tears. She knew that it could be many months before she would see her baby again. "It's hard to be separated like this. But what else can I do?"
Once Noor is fully evaluated by a pediatrician here and the family gets permission to travel to America, Charlie Company hopes to put Noor, Soad and Haider on a commercial flight to Atlanta.
Under cover of night — Noor's family lives in an impoverished area west of Baghdad that is wracked with political violence — the soldiers came into the modest house where they had found the baby two weeks ago during a raid for suspected insurgents. They were smitten with the tiny girl, cradled in her mother's arms.
"Most of my guys are fathers," said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Sonen, a furniture maker from Dahlonega. "We would do anything we could to take care of our babies. It's been a little frustrating that this is not working as fast as it could.
"She's so young," Sonen said. "What makes my daughter more special than this child? Nothing."
Noor was born with a severe form of spina bifida, in which her spinal cord was not fully enclosed during her prenatal development. She has a large, tumor-like growth on her back.
With no resources to treat her, Iraqi doctors told the family that Noor would not survive more than 45 days, but she beat the odds.
Charlie Company Lt. Jeff Morgan, a Douglas County engineering inspector, contacted his church back home for help. As the case drew more attention, the soldiers saw that their Christmas wish might come true.
"I am thankful that this child is being given a chance for a normal life, but she still has a long way to go," Morgan said.
Military doctors who have examined Noor said she is showing some signs of developmental delay but she could still have a chance at a productive life. Maj. Susan Robinson, an Army doctor who examined Noor on Tuesday, said she was doing well, "considering."
Babies born with this severe form of spina bifida usually don't survive very long.
In the United States, the defect is usually treated with surgery in utero or within the first few hours of birth.
As Robinson checked her, Noor smiled at her from a blanket-covered bed in a soldier's trailer. Soad covered the frail child with a white-lace zippered quilt to shield her from the night's chill.
"She's fragile, but she looks good. She will probably end up in a wheelchair, but she's doing remarkably well," Robinson said. Spina bifida often causes paralysis of the legs.
Spina bifida also could cause brain damage from too much spinal fluid buildup, Robinson said. Soad explained to the doctor that the baby's head was getting big.
"Where at the top of her head does it feel big?" Robinson asked, feeling Noor's head.
"It is bigger, especially in the forehead," Soad said.
Robinson said surgeons in the United States probably would have to insert a shunt to help the fluid drain.
The doctor's visit was happily interrupted by Sgt. 1st Class James Wong of the 48th Brigade's Chicago-based 133rd Signal Battalion, Alpha Company. He burst into the trailer with two beanbag toys for Noor.
"We heard the baby was here," Wong said. "I love babies. I've got two of my own. That's what we're here for — to take care of the kids for the future."
Fournier picked up a can of baby formula the grandmother carried and asked: "Is this the last of it?"
"Yes," Soad replied.
"OK, we'll get some more," said Fournier, writing down the name of the formula: Dieluc. "Can she eat oatmeal?"
His question generated a stream of laughter from both interpreter and grandmother. "No," Soad said. "She is only 3 months old."
Later, at Charlie Company headquarters, Fournier joked about calling in his latest assignment for his soldiers.
"Here's the mission," he said. "Find the baby formula. Stand by for the name."
Infant takes first steps to survival (http://www.military.com/earlybrief/0,,,00.html)
Iraqi baby Atlanta-bound for treatment of spina bifida
By MONI BASU
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/28/05
Abu Ghraib, Iraq — Baby Noor al-Zahra, born with spina bifida and little chance of survival in the slums of Abu Ghraib, made her first move Tuesday in a long journey that Georgia soldiers pray will end, possibly this week, with medical care in Atlanta.
And perhaps give the frail child new hope for life.
Born in September with the severe spinal cord defect, Noor was discovered by soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard's 48th Brigade Combat Team earlier this month when they raided the family home looking for suspected insurgents.
After two weeks of sorting out bureaucracy — it's not logistically easy to shuttle Iraqi citizens out of the war zone — and frantic communications with military officials, lawmakers and a host of Atlanta-area hospitals and charitable organizations, Gainesville-based soldiers picked up the baby, her father and grandmother Tuesday night and carried them back in a Humvee to Baghdad's Camp Liberty.
"I'll feel much relieved when we get her under a doctor's care," said Capt. Anthony Fournier, commander of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment.
The soldiers had instructed Noor's family to be ready to go at a moment's notice because when arrangements finally fell into place, there would be no time to waste; for Noor, every passing day lessened her chances of survival.
With just one last obstacle remaining — clearance for Noor to enter the United States — Fournier thought it best to bring the baby on base to be seen by military doctors.
A spokesman for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) said the senator has been in touch with the American Embassy in Baghdad and that the paperwork for Noor and her relatives should be processed within two days or so.
"I'm very pleased that Baby Nora is now at a place where she can receive the critical attention she needs," Chambliss said in a statement sent via e-mail, calling the baby by the soldiers' nickname for her.
"This has been a top priority of mine over the past few days," Chambliss added. "I'm proud of our troops, and we will continue our efforts to get her back to Georgia, where she can be treated."
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is committed to treating the child at no cost, spokeswoman Jennifer Sinclair said Tuesday night.
Hours earlier, when Fournier took his men back to Abu Ghraib, he was concerned that the family would not yet be ready to go. He was unsure if they had been able to obtain passports on such quick notice — and if the family would be ready to let go of the child who lit up their lives.
For family members, whose full names are being withheld because of security issues, the moment was bittersweet. They want so much to see Noor receive the medical care she desperately needs. But America, the land of the gun-toting soldiers they know little about, is so far away.
"Please don't be afraid," Fournier told Noor's grandmother Soad through an interpreter as he looked over the three passports handed to him by the woman draped in black. "We are going to take care of you."
Three of Soad's daughters quickly packed a bag for her and Noor. They gave Soad a brand-new black purse to carry with her to America.
Tears rolled down the cheeks of Noor's mother, Iman. Only two adults could go with her only child: it was decided that her mother-in-law, Soad, the matriarch of the family, would be one; the baby's father, Haider, would be the other. The family thought it was inappropriate for a Muslim woman to travel unaccompanied by a male relative.
"I am happy my baby is going," said Iman, wiping tears. She knew that it could be many months before she would see her baby again. "It's hard to be separated like this. But what else can I do?"
Once Noor is fully evaluated by a pediatrician here and the family gets permission to travel to America, Charlie Company hopes to put Noor, Soad and Haider on a commercial flight to Atlanta.
Under cover of night — Noor's family lives in an impoverished area west of Baghdad that is wracked with political violence — the soldiers came into the modest house where they had found the baby two weeks ago during a raid for suspected insurgents. They were smitten with the tiny girl, cradled in her mother's arms.
"Most of my guys are fathers," said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Sonen, a furniture maker from Dahlonega. "We would do anything we could to take care of our babies. It's been a little frustrating that this is not working as fast as it could.
"She's so young," Sonen said. "What makes my daughter more special than this child? Nothing."
Noor was born with a severe form of spina bifida, in which her spinal cord was not fully enclosed during her prenatal development. She has a large, tumor-like growth on her back.
With no resources to treat her, Iraqi doctors told the family that Noor would not survive more than 45 days, but she beat the odds.
Charlie Company Lt. Jeff Morgan, a Douglas County engineering inspector, contacted his church back home for help. As the case drew more attention, the soldiers saw that their Christmas wish might come true.
"I am thankful that this child is being given a chance for a normal life, but she still has a long way to go," Morgan said.
Military doctors who have examined Noor said she is showing some signs of developmental delay but she could still have a chance at a productive life. Maj. Susan Robinson, an Army doctor who examined Noor on Tuesday, said she was doing well, "considering."
Babies born with this severe form of spina bifida usually don't survive very long.
In the United States, the defect is usually treated with surgery in utero or within the first few hours of birth.
As Robinson checked her, Noor smiled at her from a blanket-covered bed in a soldier's trailer. Soad covered the frail child with a white-lace zippered quilt to shield her from the night's chill.
"She's fragile, but she looks good. She will probably end up in a wheelchair, but she's doing remarkably well," Robinson said. Spina bifida often causes paralysis of the legs.
Spina bifida also could cause brain damage from too much spinal fluid buildup, Robinson said. Soad explained to the doctor that the baby's head was getting big.
"Where at the top of her head does it feel big?" Robinson asked, feeling Noor's head.
"It is bigger, especially in the forehead," Soad said.
Robinson said surgeons in the United States probably would have to insert a shunt to help the fluid drain.
The doctor's visit was happily interrupted by Sgt. 1st Class James Wong of the 48th Brigade's Chicago-based 133rd Signal Battalion, Alpha Company. He burst into the trailer with two beanbag toys for Noor.
"We heard the baby was here," Wong said. "I love babies. I've got two of my own. That's what we're here for — to take care of the kids for the future."
Fournier picked up a can of baby formula the grandmother carried and asked: "Is this the last of it?"
"Yes," Soad replied.
"OK, we'll get some more," said Fournier, writing down the name of the formula: Dieluc. "Can she eat oatmeal?"
His question generated a stream of laughter from both interpreter and grandmother. "No," Soad said. "She is only 3 months old."
Later, at Charlie Company headquarters, Fournier joked about calling in his latest assignment for his soldiers.
"Here's the mission," he said. "Find the baby formula. Stand by for the name."