Sunni Arab father reaches out to 116th BCT to find treatment for his little girl

Courtesy Photo | Col. Kevin Murphy, Task Force 1-163 Infantry surgeon, speaks with Yousif Ahbed Hussein Abdul Karim (seated) at Forward Operating Base McHenry September 4 about the prognosis for his four-year-old daughter, Islam Yousif Ahbed Hussein (held). Khalil (center), an interpreter, assists. (Photo submitted by 451st Civil Affairs)  

KIRKUK, IRAQ

09.19.2005

Courtesy Story

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FOB WARRIOR, Iraq -- A father from a Sunni Arab community in western Kirkuk Province, Iraq, brought his afflicted daughter to a nearby coalition base seeking medical treatment September 4.

Yousif Ahbed Hussein Abdul Karim brought his four-year-old daughter, Islam Yousif Ahbed Hussein to Forward Operating Base McHenry to meet with Col. Kevin Murphy, M.D., a Task Force 1-163 Infantry surgeon. The father explained to Col. Murphy that his daughter suffers from cerebral palsy and didn't have access to treatment. After the meeting, a team of 116th BCT soldiers immediately went to work to not let the call for help go unheard.

"Currently, there are no hospitals in Kirkuk Province capable of treating cerebral palsy," said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Jelinski, a 451st Civil Affairs team leader who attended the meeting. "Col. Murphy told Yousif that the chance of his daughter receiving treatment is at fifty percent. The father understood and was just grateful for the opportunity to be considered."

Based upon the initial medical appointment, Col. Murphy made inquiries to seek medical treatment for Islam in the United States.

"Since the September 4 meeting, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare in Duluth, Minnesota has agreed to sponsor Islam's treatment in the United States," said Jelinski.

Currently, the 116th BCT team is working with the U.S. Department of State in Kirkuk to facilitate documentation and travel of Yousif and Islam to the United States. Islam and her father live in Abassi, Iraq. Islam, 4, is the oldest of three siblings. The Karim's are of Sunni Arab decent and Yousif is currently a contracted employee of the city of Abassi, working for the Department of Municipalities.

Soldiers from the 116th Brigade Combat Team's Task Force 1-163 Infantry and 451st Civil Affairs Battalion make up the team spearheading this effort.

Providing humanitarian assistance when possible is part of the 116th Brigade Combat Team's mission while deployed in Kirkuk Province, Iraq. The unit's mission also includes developing and augmenting local Iraqi security forces, assisting Iraq's new government, supporting economic development and facilitating communications.

The 116th BCT is comprised of headquarters and staff sections, two armor battalions, a mechanized infantry battalion, a support battalion, a field artillery battalion, an engineer battalion, and various intelligence, signal, and specialized units. The 116th BCT is one of several Army National Guard units deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

• Date Taken: 09.19.2005
• Date Posted: 09.19.2005 14:15
• Story ID: 3061
• Location: KIRKUK, IQ