A second chance for al Amreeki

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Vine | Maj. Joseph Torok, USF-I officer-in-charge of civil information management, helps burned Iraqi boy Al Amreeki  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.16.2010

Story by Spc. Joseph Vine 

305th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

BAGHDAD - Two years ago a propane tank exploded in Baghdad leaving a 3-year-old Iraqi boy with burns covering more than 50 percent of his body.

He was transported to an American surgical hospital in Iraq, where doctors determined he needed more medical attention than they could provide.

Although the boy was not expected to live, Maj. Joseph M. Torok Jr., from Bethel, Ohio, who was serving in Iraq as a nurse at the time of the accident, was responsible for his care.

While caring for him, Torok worked with service members and non-profit organizations to get the boy, known as al Amreeki, to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati, where he could receive the surgeries and skin grafts he desperately needed to survive.

Amreeki’s burns healed, leaving behind a memory of that fateful day in the form of scars that cover most of his body, but because the skin grafts he received do not grow, he now needs additional surgeries as he grows into a young man.

Now, Torok and the non-governmental organizations who helped Amreeki in 2008, are stepping up to help him once again.

“I was informed that he was having issues with his surgical scars,” said Torok, who recently returned to the U.S. after a tour serving as the United States Forces-Iraq officer-in-charge of the civil information management cell.

“He was having contractures that were affecting his daily activities, and causing him pain,” he said.

Amreeki will have plastic surgery to release the contractures, permanent tightening of scars and muscles, on his lips, face, hands and groin area, he said.

As a result, he will have greater dexterity with his hands, and will finally be able to stand straight up.

“He’ll be able to interact like a normal child does,” said Torok.

While in the U.S., Amreeki will receive the best medical treatment possible from Shiners’ Hospital, said Hussein Mansoor, the USF-I senior agricultural advisor, who worked with Torok.

“There is no special system in place to take care of people with these types of injuries. There are thousands of children with similar cases in Iraq,” said Mansoor. Although Torok played “point man” to help Amreeki, he could not have done it alone.

“It’s coming out of people’s hearts, and of people’s pocket books,” said Torok. “He’s also receiving help from American companies to help fund the mission to bring this little boy to the U.S. for surgery.”

“Everyone who hears this story asks the same question –‘How can I help?’” said Mansoor.

“The people of Iraq have heard this story, and it has touched many hearts,” he said.

Torok said that when Amreeki comes back to Iraq, neighbors and friends will see him and know that the Americans helped this boy. His story will spread through the village, bringing a better understanding that American Soldiers are here to help.

Al Amreeki left for the U.S. on Oct. 14, and is scheduled to return to Iraq in two months.

Torok who has also returned to the U.S., said he hopes to keep tabs on Amreeki. “I grew to really respect Amreeki for all the struggles that he went through. He has a strong will to survive,” said Torok. “I see a child and a family who don’t have the resources to help themselves. I couldn’t live with myself if I let this go.”

• Date Taken: 10.16.2010
• Date Posted: 10.16.2010 09:30
• Story ID: 58238
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ