Children
Treated In The US
The PCRF was created over ten years ago as a nonpolitical,
nonprofit humanitarian organization to help arrange free medical
care abroad for injured and sick Palestinian children during
the first uprising. Since then, we have provided hundreds
of children with free medical care not available to them in
the Middle East. We have since expanded our humanitarian efforts
to help Arab children in other areas of the region. We are
continually bringing needy children to the United States,
Europe, and other parts of the Middle East to provide them
with the specialized and lifesaving surgeries that they desperately
need. The following articles are about children that have
recently been brought to the US for treatment.
See Entire List of Children Treated in US

Two
Arab Children Get Treatment in Texas
In
early March, two children from the Middle East arrived in
Texas for treatment that was not available to them in their
homelands. 15-year-old Latifa Hemran from the West Bank town
of Jenin will have orthopedic surgery at the Scottish Rite
Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Latifa suffered a gunshout would
to her right shoulder last year and has significant scarring
and bone deformities as a result. KinderUSA is helping
with the local logistics in Dallas for her housing and appointments.
12-year-old Nasser Hamad Ibrahim from Al-Anbar in Iraq had
heart surgery at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston,
Texas. The boy was born with congenital heart disease and
could not be treated adequately in his war-torn country. Both
children are charity cases sponsored by the PCRF. Established
in 1991, the PCRF has sent over 800 sick and injured children
for tens of millions of dollars worth of medical care in North
America, Europe and the Middle East. Several more injured
children will be going to the Gulf and the USA for free care
in the coming months.
Injured
Iraqi girl has surgery in Ohio
On January 10, 2009, 7-year-old Shahed
Salah had orthopedic surgery at Aultman Health Center in Canton,
Ohio by Dr. Riester. This girl lost her leg from a rocket
attack on her home in Baghdad last year. She lost her leg
and will have prosthetic care for free after she heals from
surgery. Shahad was brought with her mother and is staying
with relatives in the Cleveland area.
Injured
Iraqi boy arrives for surgery
On November 5, 2008, 12-year-old
Abdullah Ali arrived with his mother from Iraq for plastic
and reconstructive surgery at the Shriners Hospital in Sacramento,
CA. This boy from Baghdad was injured during the war in Iraq
and could not get adequate care in his war-torn homeland.
A group of volunteers in Sacramento are helping with their
stay there, while he recovers from his first operation, which
was last week. He suffered third-degree burns on his head,
neck and upper torso. The PCRF is a humanitarian relief group
dedicated to helping Arab children from all over the Middle
East get the medical care that they need. While our primary
focus is to respond to the health-care crisis in Palestine,
we also have helped dozens of sick and injured children from
Iraq, Lebanon and Syria get free medical care that they otherwise
would not have access to. There are currently a half-dozen
injured Iraqi kids in the USA being treated through the PCRF.

2
injured Iraq kids arrive in the USA for free treatment
During the last week of September,
2008, two injured Iraqi kids arrived in the USA for free treatment
not available in their war-torn country. 6-year-old Shahad
Salah, who lost her leg last March in a bombing attack on
her home, will have orthopedic surgery and a new leg built
in north east Ohio. She came with her mother. 15-year-old
Ahmed
al-Etabbi also came at the same time and is being treated
for an amputated leg by Laurence Prosthetics in Oakland, CA.
He is staying with a host family from the Arab community in
the Bay area. He also lost his leg in a car bombing attack
in Baghdad. The PCRF is committed to helping Arab children
get free medical care that is not available to them in their
country, regardless of their nationality, religion or creed.
Injured
boy from Hebron arrives in Chicago for treatment
On
September 10, 2008, 14-year-old Khader Abu Karma from the
West Bank town of Bani Naim near Hebron arrived in Chicago
to start treatment for an injured he sustained in an accident
in 2006. He is to have a new artificial leg built at the Shriners
Hospital in Chicago, and is being cared for by a local host
family and the PCRF chapter in the Chicago area. Several injured
kids from Palestine and Iraq have been brought to the USA
for free care over the past year by the PCRF, and many hundreds
more treated in local hospitals through visiting missions.
Injured
Iraqi boy returns to the USA for treatment
On August 30, 2008, 14-year-old Majid Sabour returned to the
USA for free treatment. He lost both of his legs from a bomb
in his hometown of Al Kut in Iraq, and was treated three years
ago at Yanke Bionics in Akron, Ohio. Majid will be treated
again at Yanke Bionics, as his legs need to be rebuilt. The
PCRF is committed to caring for any injured child from Palestine,
Iraq, Lebanon or other parts of the Middle East who cannot
be treated within their local health-care system. While our
main focus is to provide relief in Palestine, we help kids
from other countries based on their needs. Read
news story
Triple
amputee learning to use
new legs in Philly
15 year old
Asaad Mahmoud arrived in the US in early July, 2008, to receive
treatment after losing both legs and an arm to an IDF bomb
last year. He was one of 5 injured kids from the Gaza Strip
whose treatment was delayed due to the siege and had to wait
several months for permission to cross though the Egyptian
border. Once he finally arrived in Philadelphia, he received
cost-free treatment at the Shriners Hospital there. In August,
Asaad received two new prosthetic legs and an arm. Asaad's
recov ery and rehab are going well and he hopes to return
home to the Gaza strip soon. Read News Article| Watch
News Story
Beduin
boy arrives in NY for free treatment
On June 21, 2008, 15-year-old Saleem Abdulhadil arrived in
New York for free treatment for his leg, which was amputated
in a car accident at the age of two-years. The boy is a beduin
living outside Ramallah and is being treated for free by Arimed
Orthotics and Prosthetics in Staten Island, New York.
Injured
Gaza kids finally cross into Egypt to start their journey
to the USA
On
Sunday, June 1, 2008, five injured kids from the Gaza Strip
and their adult minders crossed the Rafah border into Egypt
to begin their journey to the USA. Getting these injured kids
out of Gaza has taken several months and we would like to
thank the Egyptian authorities for arranging for them to cross
into Egypt. The Egyptian office at the UN was most helpful
in this. The children are Asad
Mahmoud, 14, from Beit Hanoun, who lost both legs and
an arm from an IDF bomb and will be treated in Philadelphia.
Faten Abu Mostafa, 15, from Jebalya, who was blinded by a
bomb and will be treated in Fresno. Muath Abu Harbeed, 13,
from Beit Lahya, who lost an eye from a bomb and will be treated
in New York. Nisreen Radwan, 13, from Rafah, who was born
with a congenital malformation of her leg and will have orthopedic
surgery in Los Angeles, and Osama Masad, 15, from Dier el
Balah, who lost a leg in an accident and will be treated in
Fresno, CA.
Iraqi
girl sent to Florida for heart surgery
On
May 10, 2008, the PCRF sent 6-year-old Sara Abdulsahib from
southern Iraq to the Congenital Heart Center at the University
of Florida Medical Center in Gainesville, FLA. The girl was
born with congenital heart disease and required care that
could not be adequately treated in her war-torn country. She
is being treated by Professor Joseph A. Paolillo, and her
care was arranged by Dr. Jay Fricker, who was part of a heart
surgery mission to Palestine in January through the PCRF.
They are staying with a local host family in Florida and will
return back to Iraq once her treatment is completed.
Injured
Boy arrives in New Jersey for Surgery
On April 18th, 2008, 17-year-old
Baha Sleem from the Old City of Nablus arrived in New Jersey
for reconstructive surgery following an injury in June, 2004
in which an Israeli bomb killed his older brother and injured
the rest of his family as they stood on the roof of their
home. Baha lost his eye and much of the orbit surrounding
the eye, which requires reconstructive surgery. He will be
treated as a charity case at Monmouth Medical Center by Dr.
Andrew Elkwood, who treated another injured boy from Gaza
two years ago. Baha is currently staying with a volunteer
host family in central New Jersey.
Palestinian
girl has Neurosurgery at Loma Linda
On December 7, 2007, 11-year-old Sera Ali-Nawaja,
a Palestinian refugee in Jordan, had neurosurgery at the Loma
Linda University Medical Center in California. Dr. Alexander
Zorous treated her for a congenital malformation known as
"tethered cord". She came with her mother Aida and
was housed by local volunteers near the hospital. Dr. Zorous
has done two missions to Palestine in 2007 with the PCRF,
where several children with similar disorders had surgery
in Ramallah and Makassed Hospitals.
Palestinian
girl completes successful surgery in Baltimore
At the end of December, 2007, 8-year-old Aseel Abu Dayyah
and her mother Fatheyya returned home to the West Bank
town of Hebron after successful orthopedic surgery at the
Johns Hopkins University Medical Center in Baltimore. The
girl was born with scoliosis and could not be treated in Palestine
due to the complexity of her problem. Aseel and her mother
arrived on November 28th, 2007 and received
donated treatment that was performed by Dr. Michael Ain. Aseel
and her mother stayed with a local host family during her
treatment.
Injured
Gaza boy in LA for surgery
On November 1, 2007, 10-year-old Mohanned Hammouda from Jebalya
refugee camp in the Gaza Strip arrived in Orange Country California
to begin a period of orthopedic surgery at the Shriners Hospital
in Los Angeles. Mohanned was shot in the leg by Israeli soldiers
last year during an incursion in his neighborhood. He was
walking home from school when he was shot. He is staying with
a local host family and being cared for by the PCRF LA chapter.
Iraqi
child leaves Cincinnati after successful surgery
Hussein
Keilani returned back to Iraq after undergoing cost-free surgical
care at the Children's Hospital in Cincinnati. Hussein and
his mother, Nawal, were brought from Baghdad to the US by
the PCRF. Dr. Mark Levitt donated his services to treat Hussein
and performed surgery to improve an imperforated anus. Hussein
and his mother were in the US for over four months.
Iraqi
boy and mother arrive in LA for orthopedic surgery
On September 9, 2007, Mohammed Sarteeb Hamed, 13, and his
mother Sayran arrived in Los Angeles to begin treatment for
the boy's hip disorder, a problem that could not be treated
in their homeland of Iraqi Kurdistan. The PCRF is a non-political,
non-sectarian organization dedicated to helping children in
need from the Middle East, regardless of their nationality,
religion, race or gender. Mohammed and his mother are being
cared for by the local PCRF chapter of Southern California.
Anyone interested in contacting this chapter to volunteer
to help with this boy or his mother, please email: pcrfsc@pcrf.net
Iraqi
girl Returns home after surgery
In the middle of August,
2007, Noor Sabah returned to Baghdad, Iraq after receiving
maxillofacial surgery at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York.
Noor was brought to NY in February by the PCRF in association
with the Virtue Foundation. She
was treated by Dr. Peter Taub, a plastic surgeon who agreed
to treat her as a charity case. Before arriving in the US,
Noor waited three months in Amman for a visa, but finally
got out with her mother and stayed with a local host family
during her treatment.
Boy
returns to US for second treatment
At
the end of July, 2007, The PCRF brought Omar Ghazal to the
US for cost-free care at Providence Hospital in MI. Omar is
a Palestinian living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia who is being
treated for a craneofacial deformity by Dr. Ian Jackson of
the Craneofacial Institute in Southfield, MI. The PCRF covered
the ticket for Omar, who came with his father.
Injured
Iraqi girl arrives in Cleveland for Surgery
On July 15, 2007, 5-year-old Teeba Farhat traveled with her
grandmother from Baghdad, Iraq to Cleveland, Ohio to start
treatment for burns she suffered in a car bombing, which killed
her brother. She is being treated for free by Rainbow Babies
and Children's Hospital of University Hospital in Cleveland,
and by "Wigs for Kids". The PCRF was brought into
this case by Cleveland resident Barbara Marlow, who read about
her story in the local newspaper and decided to help her.
View
People magazine story |
Read
Plain Dealer story

Injured Boy Arrives in DC for Treatment
On June 7, 2007, 13-year-old Mohammed
Elathamna arrived from the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun
to Washington, DC to begin treatment for injuries he sustained
in an Israeli attack on his families home last November that
left 18 relatives dead. Read
story
Mohammed lost his arm and will be treated at the District
Amputee Care Center. He is being cared for by the local PCRF
chapter and host family in the DC area. His cousin Abdullah,
7, who lost his leg, was recently treated in Oakland, CA.
PCRF
helps injured Iraqi boy travel to Philadelphia for Treatment
On April 25, 2007, 10-year-old Hisham A. Ibraheem from Anbar
in Iraq traveled with his mother Anwaar and a medical escort,
Dr. Hamed, from Jordan to Philadelphia for treatment for a
spinal cord injury that he sustained in the war. He was paralyzed
and could not move. The PCRF covered his plane ticket and
worked with several other NGOs, most notably the International
Organization on Migration (IOM), to get him to the USA.
Five Gaza Kids Arrive for treatment
At the end of March, 2007, the PCRF
managed to get 5 injured children out of the besieged Gaza
Strip and to the United States for free medical care that
they could not get in their homeland. This took months of
preparation after their surgery was arranged, as the border
between Gaza and Egypt had been closed by the Israeli occupation
authorities and only opened occasionally, and with very little
advance notice. The children sent outside for free care were:
Abdullah
Al Athmana. He is 7-years-old from the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.
On November 9, 2006 he was sleeping with his family in their
home when an IDF tank shell hit their home. His mother and
two sisters were killed, as were several other extended family
members. Their home was destroyed. Abdullah lost his right
leg below the knee and was accepted for free care at CIRS
Prosthetics and Orthotics in Oakland, CA. He stayed with a
local host family and was cared for by the local PCRF chapter.
Watch news story |Read
news article |
See before & after
photos
Thaer Al Jamal. He is 17-years-old from the Gaza refugee camp
of Maghazi and lost both of his legs above the knees in July,
2006 by an Israeli helicopter rocket as he was walking down
the street. He was sent with his mother to the Shriners Hospital
in Greenville, SC.
Mayce Abu Rezeq. She is a 15-year-old girl from the Khan Younis
refugee camp. In 2005, she was shot in the back by Israeli
soldiers. The bullet hit her arm, where she suffered painful
nerve damage. She was treated at the Shriners Hospital in
Philadelphia and stayed with a local host family.
Oday El Jamal. He is 6-years-old from Jebalia Refugee camp.
He suffered several shrapnel injuries to his legs and body
from an IDF tank shell in 2005 and has been accepted for free
prosthetics and orthopedic care by the University of California,
San Francisco ( UCSF). The PCRF sent him with his mother and
they are staying with local host familes during his treatment.
Ahlam
Abu Ouda. She is 17-years-old and from the town of Beit Hanoun.
She was in New Jersey for opthalmic surgery (corneal grafts)
by Dr. Michael Wong. She was hosted by a local family and
the New Jersey chapter took care of her daily needs during
her treatment.
Iraqi
Baby Has Life-saving Surgery in Columbus
On March 8, 2007, 18-month old Badr
Taha underwent life-saving open-heart surgery at Children's
Hospital in Columbus, OH. He was sent by the PCRF with his
mother, Donya. The boy was born with a congenital heart defect
known as "tetrology of fallot" and was referred
to the PCRF by Washington-based Civic. This is the second
case brought to the USA referred by CIVIC. Badr's father and
uncle were killed in the war and during his treatment Badr
was cared for by volunteers from the local Iraqi community
in Columbus. The surgeon was Dr. Mark Galantowicz. Read
news story
Iraqi
Girl Travels to NY for Surgery
In late February, 2007, 3-year-old
Noor Sabah from Baghdad in Iraq was brought to New York for
maxillofacial surgery at Mt. Sinai Medical Center. She was
treated by Dr. Peter Taub, a plastic surgeon who agreed to
treat her as a charity case. Her care was also supported by
the Virtue Foundation. Noor waited three months in Amman for
a visa, but finally got out with her mother and stayed with
a local host family.

Injured
Boy Treated in Dallas
On December 9, 2006, 6-year-old Ameer
Abu Hadad from the West Bank city of Hebron traveled to Dallas,
Texas for a new artificial leg, which was built at the Scottish
Rite Hospital. This was the second case treated at that hospital
on a charitable level in 2006. Ameer lost his leg in an accident
and could not be treated locally. He stayed with a local Palestinian
family.
Amputee
Returns to Chicago for Treatment
17-year-old Bara' Ghanem from a village
outside of Ramallah returned to the Shriners Hospital in Chicago
for artificial limbs after being accidentally electrocuted
in his home. He lost both arms and legs and was first sent
to the Shriners by the PCRF in 2001. As he has grown, the
need to upgrade his prosthesis has increased. He stayed with
relatives in the Chicago area.
Injured
Girl Sent to Minneapolis for New Leg
On November 18, 2006 16-year-old Bara' Sofan from Nablus was
sent to the Shriners Hospital in Minneapolis, MN for a new
artificial leg. She lost her leg in an accident in 2004 and
had a new one built by the Shriners.
Injured
Boy Travels to USA from Gaza
On October 30, 2006, 9-year-old Adham
Ghalia traveled to the USA for free neurosurgery and orthopedic
surgery at Monmouth Hospital in New Jersey. Led by Dr. Andrew
Elkwood, Adham had surgery after being injured last June 8,
2006 when Israeli artillery killed his family as they had
a picnic on a Gaza Beach (see
report).
Adham is one of the sole survivors of his family and was cared
for by volunteers from the local PCRF chapter and community
in the Princeton area.
Injured
Gaza Boy returns home after treatment
Mutussam Abu Karsh from Jebalya RC in the Gaza Strip recently
returned home after treatment for injuries he sustained in
an Israeli artillery attack in Gaza in December 2005.
He lost his leg and part of his right hand from the bomb and
had orthopedic surgery, as well as a new limb made at the
Shriners Hospital in LA. He was hosted by a local family and
was in the Southern California area for several month.
Watch
news story

Palestinian girl comes from Nablus for new leg in Houston
In July, 2006, 10-year-old Yasmeen Najjar
traveled from the West Bank town of Nablus to Houston for
a new artificial leg at the Shriners Hospital in Houston,
Texas. She lost her at the age of 6 after being hit by a car
and was provided a new leg and physical therapy at the hospital.
Burned
girl from Hebron travels to US for plastic surgery
In July, 2006 15-year-old Majd Hmouz from
the West Bank town of Hebron went to Ohio for free plastic
surgery after being burned in a home accident in her home
in the Hebron area Fawar refugee camp at the age of three.
She suffered extensive third-degree burns on her abdomen and
chest and had donated plastic and reconstructive surgery by
Dr. Zaheer Shah in Canton, Ohio, who has been on several missions
to Palestine over the past few years. She was also treated
at Mercy Hospital in Canton on a charitable level.
Injured
Gaza girl gets new eye in San Jose
On June 13, 2006 3-year-old Isra'a El Batsh and her mother
Dalal traveled from Palestine to San Francisco for treatment.
Isra'a lost her eye from an Israeli air raid in Gaza on March
6, 2006 in which two of her small cousins were killed and
her 10-year-old brother Mohammed was injured in the leg. Isra'a
lost her eye and suffered other facial injuries and was treated
by Raymond Rendon & Associates, Inc. in San Jose. Isra'a
and her mother were cared for by local host families in the
San Jose area and supported by the PCRF Bay Area Chapter.
In addition to her physical injuries, Isra'a suffered from
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), due to her injuries
and the constant IDF shelling near her home in the Shujaya
quarter of Gaza City.
Injured
Iraqi Boy Travels to USA for Surgery
On May 17, 2006, 3-year-old Mohammed Amir traveled with his
grandmother to Spokane, WA for free surgery after the child
was shot in the head by insurgents in Iraq. His treatment
was arranged by the Northwest chapter of Healing the Children.
The PCRF arranged for his housing and visa in Amman and assisted
in their coordination out of the Middle East. Their plane
tickets were donated by Northwest Airlines. The boy is blind
in both eyes and was treated by a plastic surgeon, as well
as an ophthalmic surgeon.
Iraqi
Kids Get Treatment in Michigan
On April 25, 2006, two Iraqi children were brought to Ann
Arbor for extensive medical care that was not available to
them in their war-torn country. 10-year-old Majid Mousa lost
his leg and eyesight from a bomb in his town of Najaf, while
14-month-old Amir Rheef was born with bladder extrophy.
He is from Sadr City in Baghdad. Both children arrived with
their mothers and were brought by the PCRF to Michigan. They
were cared for by volunteers in the local community during
the treatment. Majid was treated by Dr. James Leonard who
fit him with a new leg, and Dr. Monte Del Monte who treated
him for his eyesight. Dr. John Park treated Amir for his bladder
extrophy. All of the doctors volunteered their services. Read
news story
Palestinian
Boy has Spine Surgery in Los Angeles
On April 25, 2006, 15-year-old Hani Hawari from the West Bank
town of Nablus was brought to Los Angeles for spine surgery
at the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. Hani was accompanied
by his mother Itaf. The boy was born with severe scoliosis
and was seen in Palestine by Prof. Hugh Watts last year, who
helped to arrange his care locally in LA. He was taken care
of by the local Palestinian community in LA, specifically
the PCRF LA Chapter.
Iraqi
Boy Has Treatment in Cincinnati
On February 25, 2006, 3-year-old Ali
Kassim from Iraq traveled to Cincinnati with his father for
pediatric surgery at Children's Hospital. This boy suffered
from an imperforated anus and was treated by Dr. Marc Levitt
as a charity case. The PCRF cooperated with another American
charity, Shevet Achim, to provide his care.
Girl
Has Heart Surgery
On February 3rd, 2006, three-year-old
Tanseem Al Azza from the West Bank village of Yatta traveled
to New Jersey for heart surgery. Her treatment was arranged
in coordination with Rotary International "Gift of Life"
program. She underwent invasive catheterization by Dr. Frank
Gaffney at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in
New Brunswick, New Jersey. Tanseem was born with a hole in
her heart.

Injured
Iraqi Girl has Reconstructive Surgery
On February 2nd, 2006, 11-year-old
Marwa Naim traveled to Los Angeles for free plastic and reconstructive
surgery at UCLA Medical Center. This girl was injured by a
Coalition bomb in March, 2003 during the invasion of Baghdad.
She lost part of her nose and her thumb on her right hand.
She was found by an American NGO called CIVIC
and was housed in LA by a host family from Iraq.
Injured Gaza Boy Has Surgery in Philly
On February 6, 2006, 11-year-old
Emad Abu Anza went to Philadelphia for orthopedic surgery
at the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. Emad is from
the Rafah Refugee Camp and was shot in the leg by Israeli
soldiers. He had orthopedic surgery and stayed with a host
family in Philadelphia.
Injured Boy Treated in Chicago
In early January, 2006, the PCRF sent 12-year-old
Mo'ath Daoud (right) from a village near Ramallah, the West
Bank to the Shriners Hospital for a free prosthetic. The Palestinian
boy lost his arm from an Israeli bomb in 2003. He was treated
for free and stayed with relatives during the duration of
his treatment.
Two
Iraqi Kids Receive Free Medical care
On December 30th, 2005, two Iraqi
girls and their mothers traveled to the US for free medical
care through the sponsorship of the Palestine Children's Relief
Fund. Zaynab Watbah, 4 y, from Babil, Iraq and Hajir Sallem,
3, from Baghdad were both sent by the PCRF for free surgery
that is not
available to them locally. Zaynab was treated at Children's
Hosptial in Columbus, Ohio for bladder extrophy. The PCRF
cooperated with the Iraqi Children's Relief Fund, a new NGO
founded by American soliders, in arranging her care, while
Hajir's case came to the PCRF's attention
through Tennessee National Guard. Hajir had surgery for an
imperforated anus by the East Tennessee Pediatric Surgery
Group. Both girls were treated on a charitable basis and were
cared for by kind hosts from the local community.
Read news stories 1|
2
Injured
Gaza Girl Has Surgery in California for Gunshot Wound to the
Head
On December 19, 2005, 11-year-old Sameh Oudeh had free neurosurgery
at Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California by Dr. Bala S.
Chandrasekhar. The girl arrived with her mother after being
denied permission by the Israeli military for over a month
to travel for a visa from the American embassy, and another
month waiting for the border between Gaza and Egypt to open.
Sameh was shot in the back of the head by an Israeli sniper
as she stood in the second floor window of her home in Beit
Hanoun, Gaza in December, 2004. She suffered paralysis to
her right arm and leg, as well as speech problems. The surgery
was to repair a defect that the girl had in her forehead as
a result to the bullet's exit. Local volunteers in the LA
area cared for the girl and her mother during their stay.
See
News story
Burned
Boy Treated Again in Boston
In early December, 2005, Osama Zaid, 5, from Jenin was brought
by the PCRF to the Shriners Hospital in Boston for continued
plastic and reconstructive surgery. The boy was burned in
an accident as a baby and was brought in 2004 to the Shriners
through the PCRF. He came with his mother.
Injured
Iraqi Boy has surgery in Arizona
In late November, 2005, Hossein Yaser was brought to Phoenix
for a new prosthesis, ophthalmic and plastic surgery. The
10-year-old boy is from the city of Najaf and was injured
in fighting in Iraq in 2004. The PCRF was approached about
his case by US Military personnel in an effort to get him
treatment. The PCRF contacted the local chapter of Healing
the Children in Arizona, who has worked with the PCRF in the
past to provide care for injured Palestinian children. Healing
the Children arranged for him to see many different specialists,
who all donated services for him.
Two
Injured Boys Have Successful Surgery in California
On October 30th, 2005, two injured boys from Gaza traveled
to the US for free medical care in California. Amir Anbar,
14, from the Jebaliya refugee camp was injured in 2004 in
an Israeli attack on his camp which left hundreds of civilians
dead and injured. Amir was hit by tank shrapnel and had orthopedic
surgery at the Shriners Hospital in LA. 12 people were killed
in the incident in which he was injured. Hamza Jneidy (photo),
13, from the Shujiya area of Gaza City was shot in both arms
and had hand surgery at the Pacific Medical Center in San
Francisco. Both boys were housed by local host families from
their respective communities. See
news story
Iraqi
Children Brought to USA for Open-heart Surgery
In late September, 2005, two Iraqi children and their mothers
were brought to the US for free open-heart surgery. 3-year-old
Rhma Ahmed and her mother Gania Hussien (photo) were sent
by the PCRF to Albuquerque, New Mexico for cardiac surgery.
Her treatment was arranged by the local chapter of Healing
the Children. The PCRF is the Middle East contact for Healing
the Children.
Also arriving in Cleveland, Ohio was 2-year-old Ahmed Ibrahim
and his mother Dhuha Lateef Kamil. This child was accepted
at Rainbow Babies
Hospital in Cleveland through the support of Rotary International.
See News
Story

Burned Boy Travels to Boston for Surgery
On Sept. 5th, 2005, 13-year-old Mohammed Zaygar from the West
Bank town of Hebron traveled to Boston for extensive plastic
and reconstructive surgery following his injury from an Israeli
rocket fired at a car he was next to in March, 2003. The boy
was treated at the Boston Shriners Hospital, which has taken
PCRF cases in the past. He is being housed and supported by
volunteers in the Boston community. Read
news story
Gaza
Boy Goes to Buffalo for Medical care
On August 2nd, 2005, 2-year-old Ibrahim Al Nahhal from the
Rafah Refugee Camp in Gaza traveled to Buffalo, NY for treatment
to correct his hearing loss. Ibrahim was born deaf and was
provided Cochlear Implants by Dr. Ernesto Diaz-Ordaz at the
Sisters of Charity Hospital in Buffalo. The PCRF sponsored
this boy and his father's trip to the US, with help from the
Buffalo Islamic community.
Injured
boy Comes to Washington for Neurosurgery
On August 1, 2005, 12-year-old Mohammed Al-Sholi from the
West Bank town of Nablus arrived with his mother Sana for
neurosurgery at the Providence
Hospital in Washington, DC. Mohammed was injured in an
accident and lost part of the bone covering the front part
of his skull. Surgeons donated their time to do the surgery
to cover his defect. His stay in Washington, DC was sponsored
by the PCRF-DC committee.
Palestinian
Has Follow-up Surgery in Kansas City
On April 29th, 2005, 3-year-old Doaa Imad Abdulraheem
Al Dalou from Gaza City traveled with her mother to Kansas
City for follow-up orthopedic surgery. This girl was originally
treated there for club foot and congential malformation of
her hip. Her care was arranged by Elizabeth Alex, an anchor
of the local NBC Action news in Kansas City.
Injured Girl Has Surgery in Orlando
On April 4th, 2005, 13-year-old Eslam El Kahlout traveled
to Orlando, Florida. This girl is from the Jebaliya refugee
camp in Gaza and was shot in the abdomen in September, 2004
by IDF soldiers during their incursion into the Northern Gaza
Strip. She was suffering from nerve injuries and had a colostomy
as a result of her injuries. She recieved free surgery at
Florida Hospital in Orlando, by Dr. Jogi Pattispau, a pediatric
neurosurgeon. The PCRF brought this girl with her mother and
they stayed in a local Ronald
McDonald House.
Injured
Girl Has Surgery in Ohio to Repair Gunshot Wound
On April 4th, 2005, 14-year-old Ansam Abu Shamileh
was brought to Ohio for orthopedic surgery following a gunshot
injury that she sustained to her upper right arm in September,
2004. Ansam was shot by Israeli soldiers at 3 AM in the her
home in the Khan Younis refugee camp. She stood up from a
deep sleep after hearing gunfire coming from the Gush Katif
settlement, which is near her home in the refugee camp. She
was then shot in the arm and taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan
Younis. On April 22nd, she had orthopedic surgery at Mercy
Hospital in Canton, OH by Dr. Paul Welch of Spectrum Orthopedics.
Both Dr. Welch and Mercy Hospital were kind enough to treat
this girl on a charitable basis. She was in need of a bone
graft as well.
Palestinian
Refugee Has Surgery in LA
12-year-old Mahmoud Al-Kleib was brought to Los Angeles for
free neurosurgery at Children's Hospital on March 23, 2005.
He was injured after falling in his home in the Bourj Shamali
refugee camp in South Lebanon and has a craneodefect, which
cannot be repaired in Lebanon. His treatment was arranged
through the LA chapter of Healing the Children. The PCRF served
as the Middle East representative for HTC and has brought
several children for treatment through their efforts. The
boy stayed with the family of Nidal & Fatin Barakat, who
were most kind in hosting other injured youths brought to
the area through the PCRF. Mahmoud returned home to his family.
West
Bank Girl Recovers from Plastic Surgery
On
January 24th, 2005, 15-year-old Ayat Houtari from the West
Bank town of Qalqilya arrived for plastic surgery at Yale
Medical Center in New Haven, CT. This girl was born with a
facial deformity and was in need of specialized care that
she could not get locally. Her care was also arranged through
the kind help of Children's Choice, a charity out of Westbury,
CT. She stayed with Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh, who generously
agreed to host this girl.
Iraqi
Boy Walks Again with Help From New Legs
In the beginning of the New Year,
2005, the PCRF brought 11 year-old Majid Sabor to Ohio to
be fitted for new legs. Majid is from the town of Mosul in
Iraq, where he was walking with his cousin at the time a roadside
bomb exploded, killing his cousin and taking both of his legs.
Yanke Bionics in Akron agreed to donate new prosthetic legs
for Majid in order to help him walk again thoughout his life.
Majid was fitted with his new legs and completed his rehabilitation,
which taught him how to walk again in June. >>see
news stories
Iraqi
Boy Has Life-Saving Surgery in Virginia
On January 16, 2005, Yousif Yousif, a 9-year-old boy from
the Iraqi town of Kirkuk, was brought to Charlottesville for
open-heart surgery, which was not available to him locally.
He is the only child of Nourhan, whose husband was killed
several years ago in Iraq. The boy suffered from congenital
heart disease and had surgery and treatment by Dr. Irving
Kron, a pediatric cardiac surgeon, and Dr. Scott Lim, a pediatric
cardiologist. The boy was brought to the US by the PCRF and
will returned back to Iraq after his surgery and recovery
were complete.
Injured
Boy Returns Home After Medical Care
On October 16, 2004, 13-year-old Shadi El Zyod went to Phoenix,
Arizona for free medical following his injury in 2002 by the
IDF. Shadi is from a village near Jenin and had his right
leg blown off by an IDF shell. He was in the US through cooperation
with Healing the Children, an American charity dedicated to
helping children in need. The PCRF is the Middle East contact
for HTC. Shadiwas housed and cared for by members of the community
in Phoenix.
See before and after photo
Injured
Boy Has Sucessful Surgery in Philadelphia
On September 24, 2004 13-year-old Mohammed El Body from Beit
Hanoun in Gaza Strip traveled to the US for surgery at the
Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia. Mohammed was shot in the
shoulder by Israeli soldiers as he watched them destroy homes
in his village in April 2004. He suffered severe nerve damage
and underwent successful surgery in October 2004.
The
PCRF Brings Amputee to Nation's Capital for Treatment
In the middle of August, 2004, the PCRF brought 11-year-old
Hamad El-Neirab from the southern Gaza Strip refugee camp
of Gaza to Washington DC for cost-free medical care. Hamad
was severely injured when a tank shell exploded into a crowd
of peaceful demonstrators on May 19 and killed 9 people and
caused him to loose his leg. Nascott Rehabilitation Services
agreed to help Hamad and fit him in a prosthetic leg for free.
The PCRF's DC Chapter cared for Hamad during the duration
of his treatment. >>>Read
More
Gaza
Refugee Girl Receives Prosthesis in Dearborn
Tagreed Abu Holo is a 12-year-old girl from Nusierat refugee
camp in the Gaza Strip. She lost her right leg above the knee
in a road traffic accident in Gaza in 1998, and was brought
on August 19th, 2004 from Palestine to Dearborn, Michigan
for free medical care through the kind help of Dr. Najib Suleiman.
She was treated by Wright & Philipps prosthetics in Dearborn
and stayed with a local host family of volunteers. See
before and after photo
Injured
Gaza Boy Has Surgery to Repair Injured Eye
11-year-old Mohammed Selmi traveled to Atlanta, Georgia on
August 19th, 2004, for eye surgery. This boy was injured in
the eye by a rock and underwent eye surgery by Dr. W. Barry
Lee in Atlanta, who was most generous in agreeing to treat
the boy as a charity case. Mohammed was later housed by a
local host family.
Burned
Boy from West Bank Receives for Plastic Surgery in Dallas
Yazen Mansour was an 8-year-old boy from Al-Nozah village
in the Tulkarem district that burned in an incident with the
Israeli army in 2002 and was brought to the Medical City in
Dallas, Texas for plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr.
Frederick Duffy agreed to treat this boy as a charity case.
Yazen had successful surgery in early September, 2004.
Life-saving
Surgery Gives Baby New Life
On May 8th, 2004, 14-month-old Ansam Abdulnassar from Tulkarem
traveled to Orange County, California for open-heart surgery
at Loma Linda University Hosptial. This baby was accepted
as a charity case by the hospital and stayed with local volunteers
in the Southern California area. The surgery was successful
and Ansam was sent back to his family with a repaired heart.

Gaza Boy Injured by Apache Rocket Has Treatment
in San Jose
13-year-old Mohammed Shbeir traveled to San Jose on May 9th,
2004, for treatment following his injury from an Israeli Apache
helicopter last May in Gaza. Mohammed was going to the barber
in the Sabra area of Gaza following school when an Apache
helicopter fired rockets at the car of a wanted militant named
Osama Al Arabi, killing him. The shrapnel also injured many
bystanders, including Mohammed, who lost his leg and suffered
severe head wounds. He was treated in San Jose by Mike Dodd
of Applied Orthotics as a charity case. Mohammed stayed in
the US with his mother, Umm Adnan. They were hosted by local
volunteers in the San Jose area.
Boy
Returns Home following Life-Saving Surgery in Ohio
On March 15, 2004, 5-year-old Ibrahim Mahboub
returned home to Palestine with his mother Fatima after successful
open-heart surgery at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital
in Cleveland, OH. Ibrahim was brought to Ohio in cooperation
with Gift of Life and the Rotary Club International District
6630. He was treated as a charity case by Dr. Hani Heneine,
chief of pediatric cardiac surgery. The boy was initially
treated by the PCRF when he was 7-months-old back in 1999,
through a visiting surgical mission. His sister Salsabel Mahboub
was sent by the PCRF to Belgium for open heart surgery two
years ago.
Lebanese
Girl Brought for Orthopedic Surgery in Houston
In late-February, 2004, the PCRF brought 15-year-old Tahani
Shahrour, a girl from south Lebanon, for free orthopedic surgery
in Houston, Texas. She was brought in cooperation with Operation
Rainbow, a charity that has been helping children all over
the world get medical care abroad. Tahani is being cared for
by the local Palestinian community.
Burned
Boy
Returns to Jenin after Surgery in Boston
In mid-March, 2004, Usama Zayid, 4-years-old, returned home
to the West Bank town of Jenin with his mother after several
months of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Boston
Shriners Hospital. Usama was taken care of by the local Arab
community in Boston and will need further plastic surgery
in the future.
Burned
Boy Returns Home After Treatment in Ohio
On August 15th, 2004, 15-year-old
Mohammed Abu Kwaik from the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in
Gaza City returned home following his plastic and reconstructive
surgery at the Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mohammed
was brought to Ohio by the PCRF in January and was in the
in US undergoing extensive surgical proceedures. He was badly
burned on his face and body in a home accident 10 years ago,
and was first brought to the US for treatment in 1995. This
was his second stage of operations at the Shriners Hospital,
where he was treated as a charity case, and he was hosted
by members of the Arab community.
Triple-Amputee
Returned to US for Third Treatment
In
January, 2004, the PCRF arranged for Triple-Amputee, Bara
Ghanem to return to the US for follow-up treatment at the
Shriners Hospital in Chicago. This was the third time that
the PCRF has brought Bara to the US for treatment for the
limbs that he lost in an electrical accident. Bara was first
brought to the US in 2000, where he was also treated by the
Shriners Hospital and was fitted for prosthetic limbs.
Burned
Refugee Girl Has Surgery in San Diego
In December, 2003, the PCRF sent Lama Warieh from the Bourj
Al Barajnah Refugee Camp in Lebanon to San Diego for plastic
and reconstructive surgery. This girl was burned in an accident
had is to have tissue expanders and other medical care through
Dr. Michael Peters, who has led several humanitarian surgical
teams to Palestine in the past few years for the PCRF. He
is treating Lama on a charitable level, and she will return
home to her family once her treatment there is competed.
Burned
Boy has treatment in Boston
On December 22nd, 2003, Usama Zayid had plastic surgery at
the Shriners Hospital for Burned Children in Boston. This
4-year-old boy from the West Bank town of Jenin was sent by
the PCRF to Boston with his mother Hala', He suffered severe
burns on his face, hands and legs in an accident two years
ago, and was in need of specialized surgery that otherwise
was not available to him in Palestine. The PCRF appreciates
very much the hard work of the Arab community in the Boston
area for housing and caring for this boy, in particular the
efforts of the Palestine American Congress. The Shriners also
have been most kind in helping this boy on a charitable basis.
6-year-old
Boy from Hebron Gets Life-Saving Surgery in South Carolina
In late November, 2003, 6-year-old Mohammed Obeid and his
mother from the West Bank town of Hebron traveled to Charleston,
South Carolina for life-saving open-heart surgery that was
not available to him in Palestine. This surgery was arranged
by the local Gift of Life Chapter and performed on December
1st at the Children's Hospital as a charity case. Mohammed's
case was brought to the attention of local doctors and the
Gift of Life group there by Geraldine Pearce, the Clinical
Coordinator for Cardiothoracic Surgery Dept. there following
a surgical mission to East Jerusalem through the PCRF last
August. The PCRF would like to thank Gerry, the Gift of Life
and the many doctors and nurses who have helped to treat this
boy and save his life.
Three
More Youths Get Help From PCRF
On August 15th, 2003, the PCRF brought
three injured youths to the US for free medical care. The
first was Abdullah Abu Saleh, 12 years old, from Rafah RC.
He was shot in both legs last February by Israeli soldiers
and had sciatic nerve surgery in Orange County, California.
Saleh AL Hajeen, 15 years, from Jebalia also arrived at the
same time. He was injured by Shrapnel in an IDF attack that
killed his mother, two brothers and cousin. (see
news stories). He had surgery at George Washington Medical
Center in DC. Maher Albaw
(photo left), 17, from Abu Dees near Jerusalem had cancer
in his jaw and traveled with the other two boys for maxillofacial
surgery at the University of Miami in Florida. See
Maher's Before and after photos
Refugee
Twins Come to Arizona for Surgery
In June 2003, the PCRF brought 6-year-old twins Asmaa and
Hiba Abu-Shaar from Gaza to Phoenix for orthopedic surgery
to fix their club feet. The PCRF worked in association with
Healing the Children in order to bring the girls to Phoenix
Children's Hospital for treatment. Both girls were treated
on a charitible basis by Dr. Greg White. The twins completed
their surgery in August and will remain in the US until their
rehabilitation is complete. Read
News Story
Burned
Boy Gets Help in New Jersey
In late July, 2003, 4-year-old Palestinian refugee Khalil
Abdullah traveled from Jordan to New Jersey for plastic and
reconstructive surgery. His treatment was arranged in coordination
with "Healing the Children" and was provided on
a charitable basis by Dr. Sharma. He underwent plastic and
reconstructive surgery in the following weeks in order to
treat third degree burns to his face and shoulders.
Sick
Baby Gets Life-Saving Surgery in Texas
The PCRF worked with HeartGift of Austin, Texas to bring 1-year-old
Zahia Zakout and her her mother from the Northern part of
the Gaza Strip for open-heart surgery that is not available
to her there. This was the second child brought by the PCRF
with HeartGift for life-saving surgery that is not available
to them in Palestine. They mother and child were hosted by
the family of Nasser and Elma Mahmoud, who were kind enough
to house other children in the past for treatment.
Injured
Boy Completes Treatment in LA
In June, 2003, 12-year-old Tarek Abu El Fahem from
the Jebalia refugee camp in Gaza had surgery on his injured
right wrist at the Shriners Hospital in Los Angeles, Tarek
suffered a gunshot wound at the Erez crossing in Gaza in 2001
and was brought to the US for free surgery that he could not
get in Gaza. The PCRF would like to thank Assem Abu Srae and
the community in Los Angeles for taking care of this boy during
his stay there for treatment. Tarek traveled to the US without
his parents and was well treated by the local
medical and Palestinian community in LA.
12-year-old
Intifada Victim Finally Permitted to Travel for Medical Care
On June 13th, 2003, Mahmoud Sajady, a 12-year-old boy from
the Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem, was sent back home
from the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv by Israeli authorities,
despite having an American visa, a plane ticket, and permission
to cross the checkpoint from Bethlehem. The boy was injured
last year in Bethlehem by an IDF tank shell and lost his hand
and was terribly injured in the leg and body. The PCRF arranged
for him treatment at the Shriners Hospital in Los Angeles
for free, where he has an appointment on June 16th. On June
15th Mahmoud was finally permitted to travel after exhaustive
efforts by the PCRF staff and will begin his long awaited
medical care.
Injured
Child Treated in Dallas
4-year-old
Ahmed Zanoun was shot in the face by Israeli soldiers in 2002
and was brought by the PCRF to Baylor Hospital in Dallas,
Texas. He arrived with his mother in June, 2003 and had surgery
on his face there in July. He was well taken care of by the
local Arab and Palestinian community in Dallas during his
stay.
Palestinian
Girl has Spine Surgery in Loma Linda, California
12-year-old Hanan Sukar returned home after recovering from
spine surgery at the Loma Linda University Medical Center
following an operation May 22, 2003 to correct her scoliosis,
which she was born with and with which there was no treatment
locally. The PCRF arranged for her surgery through Dr.
Shook, an orthopedic surgeon, and other specialists, who treated
this child as a charity case. Loma Linda also donated
the OR and ICU for her care. She was cared for by a
local host family and was supported by many volunteers.
12-year-old
Boy from Rafah Refugee Camp in New York for Surgery after
BeingInjured by IDF Tank
Abdulhadi Al Haj was playing near his home in the Rafah refugee
camp last September when an Israeli tank shell hit near him
and his friends, injuring the boy in the leg. He suffered
a severe sciatic nerve injury to his left thigh, which could
not be treated in Palestine. The PCRF arranged with
"Healing the Children" to bring him for free nerve
surgery by Dr. Rick Abbott at Beth Israeli Medical Center
in New York. Abdulhadi is being taken care of by several
local volunteers and host families in the NY area, and will
have surgery on May 7th.
The
PCRF Sends Another Child To Nation's Capital for Life-saving
Treatment
12-month-old Ahmed Hamami traveled with his mother Randa and
aunt Kholoud from Nablus on Monday, February 4th for life-saving
open-heart surgery at Children's National Medical Center in
Washington, DC. This boy's treatment was arranged by
the PCRF through Save a Child's Heart, Gift of Life and the
Larry King Cardiac Foundation. These same four organizations
worked together in the summer of 2002 to provide cardiac surgery
for Falastin Ali. The child was cared for locally by
active volunteers from the PCRF DC committee. Ahmed
had surgery on the 12th of February, 2003.
Two
Injured Boys Have Treatment through PCRF
In January, 2003, two injured Palestinian youths were in the
US for free medical care after being injured by Israeli settlers
and soldiers in the West Bank. Deia
Ali, 15, from Nablus, was shot in the abdomen in January,
2002 by Israeli settlers. He suffered from severed internal
injuries and was sent from Jordan, where he had unsuccessful
treatment for several months, to Jersey Shore Medical Center,
where Dr. Saad A. Saad, the head of the pediatric surgery
department operated on him for free. After several hours
of surgery on January 17th, Deia remained in the hospital.
On February 3rd, he was transferred by his guardian,
Aref Assef, to the Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside,
NJ.
In December, 2002, 15-year-old Nour Ismail from Irtas village
near Bethlehem arrived in Philadelphia for artificial limbs,
which were being built for free by the Shriners Hospital for
Crippled Children. Nour lost both legs from an IDF tank
shell in May, 2002. During this incident, two of his
brothers were also killed. A variety of local volunteers
in the Philadelphia area have been housing and taking care
of Nour during his treatment. Both boys will return
home once their treatment is completed.

Girl Returns Home After Treatment in Philadelphia
18-year-old Mira Masrieh returned home to the Meih Meih refugee
camp near Sidon, Lebanon after nearly 8 months of orthopedic
surgery at the Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia. Mira was
brought to the US by the PCRF for the second time for complex
surgery on both feet after she was born with congenital deformities
that could not be treated in Lebanon. Mira was well taken
care of by the local Palestinian and Arab community in Allentown
and Philadelphia, PA. We would like to thank the many people
who housed her and took her to appointments during her long
treatment there.
Palestinian
Girl Has Heart Fixed in Nation's Capital
In
August 2002, The PCRF brought 2-year-old Falastine Ali to
Washington, D.C. for lifesaving open-heart surgery at the
Children's National Medical Center. Falastin is from a small
village near Ramallah named Khirbat Musbah and was brought
to the US in order to repair a hole in her heart. Falastin
was in desperate need to fix a congenital defect that was
stunting her growth. Falastin's surgery was arranged by the
PCRF in association with the Larry King Foundation, Save A
Child's Heart Foundation, and Rotary Gift of Life. Falastin's
surgery was successful and she and her mother returned home
to join their family. See
Also PCRF in the News
PCRF
Sends Quadruple Amputee Back To US for Further Treatment
Bara' Ghanem was 12-years-old when he touched an electrical
wire near his home in a village outside of Ramallah. He lost
both arms and legs as a result and was not able to get the
medical care that he needed until the PCRF arranged his free
treatment at the Shriners Hospital for Sick Children in Chicago.
In 2001, the PCRF sent Bara' and his mother to Chicago
for treatment, where he got fitted with new quality prosthetics
that are not available in Palestine. In July, 2002,
the PCRF brought Bara' and his mother back from further treatment
and upgrading of his prosthetics.
Jewish Surgeon Saves The Life of Gaza Baby
In August. 2002, 14-month-old Hasan El Hawajry was brought
by the The PCRF to Madison, WI for open-heart surgery at University
Hospital. Hasan's lifesaving surgery was donated by by both
the hospital and Dr. Daniel Cohen, a Jewish professor at UW
Medical School and chief of congenital cardiothoracic surgery
at University Hospital. Read
News Story
Hebron
Girl Gets Lifesaving
Open-Heart Surgery at Cleveland Clinic
Sireen Jaradat is a 5-year-old Palestinian
girl from the West Bank town of Adesah near Hebron. She
was born with a hole in her heart (ASD) with a mitral valve
defect which could not be repaired locally in Palestine due
to a lack of pediatric cardiac surgeons and centers. The
Palestine Children's Relief Fund arranged for Sireen to have
free open-heart surgery in June at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation
in Ohio. Dr. Brian Duncan closed the hole in her heart
and repaired her valve in a four-hour operation on June 4th.
Sireen stayed in the ICU for one night, and in the hospital
for nearly a week total, all donated by the CCF to save this
poor girl's heart.
Sireen came to the US with the baby Fehad Sbeih and his grandmother
at the end of May, 2002. Fehad had open-heart surgery at the
end of June at NYU Medical Center. The PCRF does not
usually bring children for open-heart surgery without a parent
or grandparent, but the mother of Sireen was not able to leave
because of the travel restrictions in Palestine. The
PCRF would like to thank in particular three volunteers who
helped in taking care of Sireen in the hospital: Fida
Mansour, Tami Hamid and Janet Habashi.
Long-term Treatment Continues for Palestinian Children in
US
During
the first quarter of 2002, two children continued their long-term
free treatment in the US through the PCRF. 19-year-old Nizar
El Barky from Khan Younis in Gaza has been in the Shriners
Hospital in Los Angeles for over a year, having surgery on
his amputated legs, which were lost in 1991 when an explosive
devise was dropped from an IDF helicopter near his home in
Gaza. After his limbs are lengthened by orthopedic surgeons,
he will be fitted with artificial legs and start learning
to walk again.
11-year-old Batra Numait wil have her fourth open-heart operation
at the Mayo Clinic at the end of March. She was brought to
the US by the PCRF in cooperation with "Healing the Children"
in Minnesota, and has been in the US for over 19 months with
her mother Basma. We wish her a sucessful operation.
Gaza
Boy Gets Treated for Gunshot Wound in Mesa, AZ
In June, 2002, Ahmed El Bohisi was brought to Mesa, Arizona
to remove a bullet from his chest that he received from an
IDF soldier back in October 2000. More>>>
Main
Page | Who
We Are | Children
Treated
| Healing
Hearts Campaign
|
Child
Sponsorship Program
Women's Empowerment Project |
Emergency
Relief Projects
| PCRF
Chapters | PCRF
Summer Camps
PCRF Personnel | PCRF
in the News | Volunteer
| Donate
Now | Contact
us? | Links