Posted on 01/02/2006 6:08:21 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
ATLANTA (AP) -
An Iraqi infant with severe birth defects arrived in Atlanta Saturday for medical treatment that was offered after U.S. soldiers discovered her during a raid on a home.
Baby Noor al-Zahra, or "Baby Nora" to the Americans, was responsive Saturday evening and in good condition, said Kevin McClelland, spokesman for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. He said it likely will be another week before she goes into surgery.
The three-month-old child left Baghdad in a military transport plane Friday, accompanied by her grandmother and father. An airport worker in Atlanta translated the grandmother's brief comments after they arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
"She said they're happy to be here," the worker said
U.S. troops discovered the baby three weeks ago during a raid of a house in Abu Ghraib, a poverty-stricken district west of Baghdad. The soldiers noticed paralysis in the baby's legs and what appeared to be a tumor on her back.
They later learned the 3-month-old child had spina bifida, a birth defect in which the backbone and spinal cord do not close before birth. The "tumor" on the baby's back was actually a fluid-filled sac containing part of the spinal cord and membranes that are supposed to cover the spinal cord.
U.S. doctors were sent e-mail photos of the baby and received some medical information, but they still needed to do a full evaluation before attempting surgery, said Dr. Roger Hudgins, a pediatric neurosurgeon who agreed to take the case.
"I think the chances of her survival are good," Hudgins said Saturday. Without more medical care, "she would have died."
Baby Noor's health care is to be provided for free, he said. The surgery and accompanying care would cost about $200,000 if it were billed.
Hudgins also praised the soldiers for their role in getting Baby Noor to the United States. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., helped arrange the trip. "This is certainly an exciting day for everyone," said his spokesman Greg Wright.
Baby Noor will probably need one or two months in the United States to complete the medical repairs and recovery before returning to Iraq. Her grandmother and father are to stay with a host family arranged by Childspring International, a faith-based children's medical charity.
The organization also will arrange follow-up medical care for the infant in Iraq, said Rose Emily Bermudez, the group's executive director.
--
I wonder about some American kid with the same affliction.
yeah no kidding
The average hard working American is rapidly becoming disposable.
One can assume this tiny toots shall be getting plenty of prayers going upward. So much for carrier ops.
Baby Noor is at a premier children's hospital here, she'll get the very best of care.
And for those of you who are snarking about American babies, it's a nonprofit hospital and they do TONS of work for local kids whose parents can't afford the care -- thanks to donations from folks all over Atlanta. Don't badmouth our soldiers' desire to help the particular kid in trouble who appears in their orbit. The best charity is personal and spur of the moment.
I think it is a great story!
Thanks for the info.
My son was treated at this hospital, so I know a number of the doctors and surgeons there. If I know the surgeons, I'll pass the word.
From the press release: "As a not-for profit organization, Children’s provides the necessary resources to serve children and enhance each child’s life through excellence in pediatric care. In 2004, Children’s provided $73 million of unreimbursed care."
When WWII ended, my Father was with the first american troops sent into Berlin after the Russians captured it. The city was basically a mess. Daddy began to feed two children named Fritz and Ingrid. He could go through the chow line as often as he wanted so he would go through once and give the food to the kids then again for himself.
Daddy got to go home before too long and the civilian population, at least in the areas occupied by Americans were already recovering.
You have a tag line that praises American troops but when they do something noteworthy like this you bitch. Don't you believe what you say? Our babies get taken care of. We don't have a government health care system(and don't need one) but our system will find ways to help those in need. God bless these troops. I guess you think they should have just let her die, huh?
Nice PR stunt.
That was NOT the point and you know it. If you are just in the mood to pick a fight with someone, look elsewhere, idiot.
At least the troops got some positive press out of it. That counts for something.
Thanks for the link. I had not seen the baby before. Her smile is a keeper.
We are such good people.
We are such good people.
She is a beauty.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.