News - Hope For Youssif

A hopeful update on Youssif, the little boy who was disfigured but miraculously survived when masked men in his home city of Baghdad grabbed him doused him with gasoline and set him on fire.

We are extremely happy to report that he is in the US and has had his first meeting with Dr. Peter Grossman, the plastic surgeon who specializes in treating child burn victims and who will work to reconstruct the burned areas of Youssif's face and body throughout each of the 8 to 10 operations he will undergo.

The operations may begin as soon as next week.

Grossman will cut away scar tissue around his nose and put temporary skin from a cadaver over it. "We're also going to stick a balloon underneath the good skin under his neck and on his face," the doctor said. "The purpose of that is over time we will stretch the good skin, so that in about three months he will be able to go back to surgery, remove the scar tissue and pull up the stretched out good tissues."

"I'm emotionally exhausted," Youssif's dad said. "We went from death to a new life."

We are very proud of and cheering for Youssif, his doctors and his whole family right now as they go forward in this amazing endeavor. In the face of great danger, this family has shown tremendous courage stemming from the one thing that outshines war and violence - love. We support them and will continue to update on Youssif's progress.

PS. To contribute to Youssif's fund, click here.

News - Child Burn Victim To Recieve Treatment Internationally

This story is the most of the most horrifying and tragic variety, our heart goes out to this family and to all those who have suffered the atrocities of war.

Iraq, five-year-old Youssif was grabbed by masked men on January 15th of this year, doused with gasoline and set on fire. Despite this appalling act and through an absolute miracle he survived but he needed help he was not getting in Baghdad. His family finally risked their safety and told their story to CNN and the Children's Burn Foundation in California agreed to pay for Youssif and his family to come receive treatment at their clinic. The family is still waiting in immense danger for visas to clear so that they can travel.

We wish them the very best and pray for the health of their child and for the safety of their family.

If you would like to contribute to the fund set up to help Youssif's family toward his recovery please click here and under the drop-down menu click Youssif's Fund.