Iraqi boy in Charleston for lifesaving surgery
Ammar Muhammed, 5, aided by Marines, local Rotary Club to correct heart defect
By Jill Coley
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Iraqi Boy
Ammar Muhammed, 5, traveled with his father, Ammad, from Haditha, Iraq, for lifesaving heart surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dental surgery was performed Thursday to prevent an infection after Ammar's heart surgery scheduled for Monday. Ammar has a congenital heart condition known as Tetralogy of Fallot, a complex condition consisting of four heart abnormalities.
Five-year-old Ammar Muhammed fell asleep, curled on his father's lap. The blue tint of his skin matched his tiny patient gown.
His father, Ammad Muhammed, carried his son all the way from Haditha, Iraq, for a lifesaving heart surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Ammar has Tetralogy of Fallot, a complex of four heart abnormalities that starves blood of oxygen, turning the boy's skin blue. One of the most common congenital heart defects, the syndrome is treated surgically in U.S. children before their first birthday.
But health care is not the same in Iraq. To pay for the surgery, the East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club secured a Gift of Life grant from Rotary International. The cost of the surgery varies widely
depending on subsequent intensive care, an MUSC spokeswoman said.
Getting father and son to Charleston for the upcoming surgery Monday was the work of the Marines, who raised money in Iraq to pay for the airfare.
A lieutenant in the Iraqi police force, Muhammed worked side by side with the Marines and found a friend in Maj. Kevin Jarrard. Jarrard, a 1995 Citadel graduate, reached out to the East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club for help after he learned of Muhammed's son.
In January, Jarrard helped another Iraqi child, a 2-year-old girl, travel to the U.S. for heart surgery in Nashville, Tenn.
With the help of translators from The Citadel, Muhammed said, "My job is to fight off people who try to kill Iraqi citizens."
He has known 150 people who have been killed in the conflict. "The situation in Baghdad is harsh for everybody, especially the citizens of Iraq, Muhammed said. "On a daily basis there are three or four explosions in Baghdad."
By contrast, he's found the U.S. peaceful and quiet since their arrival Saturday in Charleston. Rotary member Steve Peper and his wife, Cindy, have welcomed the pair into their Mount Pleasant home.
The men use a computer to type and translate questions to each other. "There is no language barrier when it's a father who would travel so far to save his child's life," said Peper, also a Citadel graduate.
Gift of Life is a Rotary-sponsored program that is dedicated to helping children with heart defects. The East Cooper Breakfast Rotary Club helps three to four children a year, Peper said.
Muhammed and his wife, who have six children, first noticed symptoms in Ammar when he was about a year old. Bluish skin, shortness of breath and fainting are typical in children with blue-baby syndrome, often a symptom of Tetralogy of Fallot in young children.
Untreated, children with the syndrome rarely live long into their teenage years, said Dr. Andy Atz, director of MUSC's Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
In the 1950s, before pediatric cardiac surgery was well-established, children were treated at age 4 or 5, Atz said. Doctors noticed that their young patients would squat frequently, a primal mechanism to force blood back to the heart for oxygen.
Ammar squatted on his father's lap Thursday before undergoing a minor dental procedure. Removing a few baby teeth with cavities reduced the risk of infection after the heart surgery.
Atz expects the boy's color to return quickly after surgery. "We can make a dramatic difference with a single surgery," he said. "We will make the oxygen level normal."
Citadel cadets Mohamed Nass and Bader Alduaini, members of the Middle Eastern Studies Student Association, translated for The Post and Courier and hospital staff.Reach Jill Coley at 937-5719 or jcoley@post
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Comments
Hey_U_Guys (anonymous) says...
I'm surprised, with all of the prejudice against Iraqi nationals, you'd think people would have a problem with this. I'm glad this innocent little boy is finally getting the help that he needs. Hopefully everything will go well, and he leads a happy, healthy life.
April 11, 2008 at 7:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Stand828, good always eventually follows Americans wherever we go.
April 11, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
He's a cute little booger.
April 11, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weeeee (anonymous) says...
This will sound ignorant, and I'm kinda indifferent as to how I should feel. I looked at the pic first, immediately thought "terrorist", and then read the article. I'm not sure why though because surely the kid isn't wearing a c4 vest.
April 11, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mominthesouth (anonymous) says...
A child's life will be saved because of America. This child will be grateful for the rest of his life. Maybe he will one day make a difference in his country. It starts with a helping hand and America has lots of hands. I am proud of our men and women in Iraq.
April 11, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PJM (anonymous) says...
With all the trash news around us these days, this story is a breath of fresh air!! I know there's a whole lot more around than what the media will let through....especially in regards to Iraq! I hope father and son can return to Iraq and tell their story to many...
April 11, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
A breath of fresh air.
April 11, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weeeee (anonymous) says...
I know I'll get flamed for this, but I don't care. Whereas this may be a "breath of fresh air", I guess no one is bothered by the fact that money was raised to help out an Iraqi child (who will probably go back to Iraq and learn to create IEDs or run into a market with a c4 vest) when there are plenty of people here AT HOME WHO NEED HELP and aren't getting it from our "fearless leaders".
I'm glad we can provide free HEART SURGERY for an IRAQI child and not for US citizens who may need the same surgery. Sorry, but this is the most backwards-sounding trash ever.
April 11, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WinthropEagleFan (anonymous) says...
This is a friend helping raise money for his friend's son's surgery. That doesn't sound backwards-sounding to me. If you know of US citizens that need the same surgery, then there's nothing stopping you from trying to raise money to do the same thing. This was private citizens spending their own money for what they feel is a worth-while cause.
And believe or not, not every Iraqi is a suicide bomber.
April 11, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weeeee (anonymous) says...
Hypothetically speaking....
Let's say this kid gets better, goes back home, trains with terrorists and eventually DOES kill people. Where do your loyalties lie then?
Was this worthwhile cause still worthwhile?
"And believe or not, not every Iraqi is a suicide bomber." We shouldn't be there to find this out to begin with.
April 11, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WinthropEagleFan (anonymous) says...
Hypothetically speaking, what happens if we raise funds for a US child who then grows up, joins a gang, and eventually does kill people. Nobody has a crystal ball, so I'm not sure why we're playing the hypothetical game and demonizing 5-year olds.
So you are saying that Maj. Kevin Jarrard shouldn't have tried to help his friend's son purely because that kid is Iraqi? I don't know about you, but when it comes to helping my friends, I don't consider their nationality, birthplace, or anything like that before I decide to help them.
April 11, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weeeee (anonymous) says...
I think I'm having an off day or something because I'm certainly showing some ignorance right now. Trying to make a point when there isn't one to make. I do applaud this good deed though.
April 11, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MMitchum (anonymous) says...
I am glad for this child, yes maybe this will give us a little peace. 1 is worth saving anywhere.
But the negative part on this is we don't do the same for our own in this state. The system in the state of SC is bad.
Does anyone want to donate the money for my daughter to have an MRI. She has had seizures since 21 after her son was born and she is 28 years old now. She falls through the cracks and is disable and can't work. So good old SSI/Disability has put her off for years and so we can't afford an MRI because she can't get the medicaid.
Also she was charged years ago for distribution for a 1/2 oz. of marijuana....so guess what yes she was wrong and paid her time in probation and some jail time, but when she finished all that ..she can't get food stamps to help either because it was a federal offense for distribution but hey the soldier that did the cocaine that set her up got off and disappeared to save her own skin.
But she paid her time and probation. But go to prison and stay awhile and you can get out and get what you need.
My daughters doctor is trying his best at MUSC, and would like to see what is wrong since she has only gotten worse with seizures and other problems. Her medication is appx. $800.00 per month....yea, no income, no food, no medical benefits nowhere. A bright and beautiful woman and tries to live normal as everyone else.
So I am so glad we can do for other countries but not our own.
Don't get me wrong I want this child saved because he is one of God's children also...but we have no compassion for our own here in this state or the elderly either.
We need change but where and when do we begin?
April 11, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Doing the right thing is always worthwhile, even if you are punished for it.
April 11, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weeeee (anonymous) says...
I'm glad other posters have opinions similar to mine. Yeah. So we're happy for you kid. Too bad the family living next to you were killed by airstrike.
April 11, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
5thGenerationLocal (anonymous) says...
Moose, that is an unAmerican comment if I have ever read one. You make it sound like we are there killing innocents on purpose. You need to remember that fighting an enemy that you cannot distinguish from the general population is a difficult task. You may not support the war, and that is fine, but you should support your service men and women. They do what they do so you can speak your mind. No matter how bad your belief may be.
April 11, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Weee you are one sad probably angry individual and sound like a disgruntled left winger. Hows that for general assumptions? Yes Weeeee all muslims are terrorists. Just another on the ball paint those you don't understand or like with a wide brush. Yes the US military kills indiscriminately, such sweeping generalizations are what the channel 5 news is for. I think you need a few more days off. You need a boogie man or a hero to suave that angst filled hole. Yes you are a true patriot sir degrading the gift some choose to give by calling the kid a terrorist of the future. Your bravery is duly noted. At least we know where you stand. Your later approval of the operation was a shallow attempt at some kind of glimpse humanity and common sense.
Than the rest of the thread just about degenerates into Bush derangement syndrome(BDS)/Anybody but Bush(ABB) rant.
If some could read, it was a private donation or a private fund that helped take care of this kid Are any of you Rotarians? Probably not. So why gripe? They made a humanitarian gesture and some here must thrive on misery with that great victim mentality by trying to drag the deed down. There is help out there if people look for it.
I don't believe you will always get the help you are looking for. Though I see that some will take their anger out on a kid instead of thinking. Then again what can one expect when the country is well on the road to the "what about me?" entitlement mentality? Not much apparently.
April 11, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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