clipped from: www.thestate.com The 7-year-old Iraqi boy left the Hilton Head Island airport Thursday, headed for Atlanta, and ultimately his hometown of Karbala. His aunt, Batool Al-Hakeem, was with him.
The Haider who flew away from the island is a different boy from the one who arrived here nearly four months ago through the Gift of Life program. Gift of Life helps children and young adults with debilitating injuries or deformities who can’t get adequate treatment in their home countries.
Haider’s face, hands and legs were severely burned in a mortar attack when he was 2.
After two surgeries, his face is smoother, and the skin on his legs is not stretched as tightly, work that he says should make him a better soccer player. He also has recovered about 75 percent of the function in his damaged right hand.
When he arrived, he said he wanted to be a soldier.
Now, he hopes to be a doctor.