Road to recovery

I was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time to help out an Iraqi boy injured in a horrific suicide bombing at a Baghdad market back in February. While shopping at the market, Mahmoud, the nephew of Ms. Shatha al-Obedie, the Press Secretary for the Governor of Baghdad, was severely injured in the blast of a suicide bomber belt worn by a mentally ill woman who was no doubt unaware that she was being used by al-Qaeda terrorists to carry out their attack.

Shatha is a very good friend of mine and truly an example of an Iraqi patriot, working against incredible challenges to serve the people of Baghdad and get its government back on its feet. Immediately after the blast she called me to see if there was any way to help Mahmoud.

I am very grateful to so many colleagues in the Embassy and the Army for the remarkable compassion and professionalism they displayed in helping Mahmoud. Through their efforts, Mahmoud was stabilized and is now on the road to recovery. It is an honor to serve here with such great people.

Mahmoud wanted to pay a visit to the IZ the other day to thank those who helped him survive his trauma.

The Daily Item of Sunbury, PA posted Mahmoud's story on May 9.

Iraqi teen saved
Selinsgrove man saves Iraqi teen left for dead

By Wayne Laepple
The Daily Item

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A Selinsgrove resident on Thursday said he acted after an Iraqi teen was told by doctors overwhelmed with suicide bombing casualties that his leg injury would probably cause his death.

Dan Bisbee, who grew up near Kratzerville and graduated from Selinsgrove Area High School in 1990, is a U.S. State Department employee working in the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Baghdad. Bisbee was able to arrange for Mahmoud Hassan al-Hadi, 18, to be treated in an Army combat support hospital after a February suicide bombing in Baghdad.

Al-Hadi, 18, was seriously injured Feb. 1 in an explosion at the Rusafa market. The attack, which killed 60 people and left more than 150 injured, became notorious when it was learned that a mentally ill woman had carried the explosives into the crowded market.

Al-Hadi was at the market that day with his aunt, Shatha al-Obedie, press secretary to the governor of Baghdad Province. Moments before the blast, he stopped to look at birds in the pet market while his aunt continued on.

Shrapnel from the explosion ripped his torso open, shattered his leg and resulted in internal injuries. His aunt was uninjured.

He was one of many victims rushed to the trauma center at Medical City in downtown Baghdad, where, according to Bisbee, doctors told his distraught aunt that the leg could not be saved and he would likely die from his wounds.

“They were just overwhelmed with casualties and could only do so much,” Bisbee said Thursday by telephone.

Al-Hadi’s aunt called Bisbee and asked for help.

Bisbee, who said he considers al-Obedie a friend and works with her daily, said her request was reasonable, both as a humanitarian issue and because of his high regard for her. “I had to do what I could to help out,” he said. “I spoke to the ambassador's office and he signed off, and then contacted the Combat Support Hospital in the Green Zone.”

Al-Hadi was brought by ambulance to the hospital and rushed into surgery, where Army doctors were able to save his leg and repair his internal injuries. After a few days of recovery, he was released to an Iraqi hospital to recuperate.

On Tuesday, al-Hadi and his aunt returned to the Combat Support Hospital to visit doctors, nurses and staff who had saved his life.

“I cannot find the words to express my gratitude for saving my life,” he told the group. “I will never forget you.”

Bisbee said everyone in the room was teary-eyed as the young man, who is still on crutches and has more months of recuperation ahead of him, entered the room.

“He was happy to still have his leg,” Bisbee said. “He’s starting to gain back the weight he lost after the injuries.”