Mar 23, 2007 7:36 pm US/Eastern
Child Wounded In Iraq Gets Help At Children's
by Lisa Hughes
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
One of the horrible facts of war is that innocent children all too often become victims. A young boy who was a casualty of the war in Iraq is receiving life-changing at Children's Hospital in Boston.
His name is Omar. He is 5-years-old, and he's been through a lot. He's also living with serious injuries. A little over a year ago, Omar and his family were driving from their home in Mosel, to Baghdad when an American convoy open fired.
"Omar's father was shot three times...the vehicle burst into flames, Omar was severely burned.....and his mother died," said Cole Miller, who heads the anti-war group "No More Victims" and arranged to bring Omar to Children's Hospital.
With the help of an interpreter WBZ talked to Omar's father, Sabah.
"I was sleeping in the car," he said.
He woke up in the burning car and pulled Omar to safety.
"Omar sustained burn injuries to about 25 percent of his body," said Dr. Brian Labow of Children's Hospital.
Labow and Dr. John Meara will perform a series of plastic surgeries.
"On his right hand he has, um no, he's missing a thumb and index finger. On the left hand he has a scar that is fixing his thumb to his palm," said Labow.
"The burns also affected his head, and so he had about 60 percent full thickness burn affecting his scalp, in which he lost his ear as well," said Meara.
They hope to free his one thumb, use a toe to replace the other thumb, re-construct his ear, and lessen his severe scarring.
"I do not care very much for American politics, but I love the Americans and their openness and their love," Sabah said.
Sabah also said he is grateful to everyone involved with providing this care for Omar.
"My desire is for him to heal, and get better, and that way he will recover both psychologically and physically," Sabah said.
The doctors at Children's are donating their services and Omar will have to have a number of surgeries.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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