A 12-year-old Iraqi boy is looking forward to taking off the hats he always wears after a series of reconstructive surgeries provided free of charge by an MSU surgeon, which are progressing on schedule and slated for completion by the end of January.
Known only as Mohammed, the boy was brought to East Lansing by a Michigan Army National Guard physician’s assistant, Maj. David Howell, who was inspired by his story. Mohammed has been pleased by his surgeries, which are aimed at repairing disfiguring burn scars he received as a baby, said Edward Lanigan, the boy’s surgeon.
“There’s just been so much improvement,” he said. “And God, he’s just such a wonderful kid. He’s fun and he’s funny and he’s got such a great personality.”
Since arriving in East Lansing in April, Mohammed has undergone four surgeries, Lanigan said. About two-thirds of his scalp now is covered and his left ear, which was stuck in a forward position, has been pulled back into place.
His next surgery, which will touch up his left ear, finish removing scars from his scalp and cover it with hair and restore movement to his damaged left index finger, is slated for mid-to-late January, Lanigan said.
The surgeries will allow Mohammed to lead a normal life when he returns to Iraq, where he previously would not have been able to marry or have children, Howell said. The surgeries have lifted Mohammed’s spirits in the face of the many challenges he has endured.
Mohammed’s father, who was a translator for American troops, was killed by insurgents and his family lived in poverty.
“(The surgeries) are going to make all the difference in the world,” Howell said. “He’s been through an awful lot and I think this time here in the U.S. has really rejuvenated
him.”
Mohammed quickly has adapted to life in the U.S., where he attends an Islamic school and has discovered a love for baseball, football and Xbox, said his host mother, Ziena Saeed. He celebrated Halloween for the first time and went trick or treating dressed as Batman, she said.
“He kept asking, ‘Why do we have to go out at night, why can’t we go during the day?’ ‘How come they’re only giving me one candy bar?’” she said.
Mohammed called Halloween “great” and America “cool” and said he has learned a new favorite sport: baseball.
“I’m happy to be here,” he said.
Saeed said she has been amazed to see how well Mohammed handles the surgeries and is happy to see his excitement as they proceed.
“He tells us, ‘How different am I going to look?’ and ‘How’s my hair going to look? or ‘Who am I going to look like?’” Saeed said. “He’s
excited about that and I tell him, ‘You know, when we’re done, we’re going to buy you some gel or something to style
your hair.’”
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