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American Forces Find Help for Iraqi Child in Need

Nov-18-2005 » Filed Under: 172nd SBCT

Link to Full Article with Photos
2nd Lt. James Snoddy
Co. A, 1-17th Infantry

MOSUL, IRAQ — A young boy named Mohammad Abdullah Ahmad, of Tal al Ruman, had a tumor in his skull.

I met Mohammad soon after we arrived in Iraq as my counterpart was showing me where I would be working. This was before he was able to get surgery.

My counterpart told me to take a picture of Mohammad, for identification purposes later.

I did, with my digital camera, and moved to show it to the boy.

When I placed the camera in front of him, he did not look at it, nor did he make any discernible acknowledgment of my presence.

He was listless and looked to be a very sick boy indeed. Then his mother informed me that he couldn’t see.

American forces set Mohammad up with a doctor in Basra to get the tumor removed. After his surgery, he returned home a new kid. The next time I saw him was a couple weeks after the surgery.

His head was stitched, he was shaved almost bald, but he could see and he responded to my voice.

Now, we’re working in conjunction with a doctor in Jordan to secure radiation therapy to prevent recurrence in the event Mohammad needs it.


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