PALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND

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>>>