Youssif (burned Iraqi boy) Update
Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 08:39:26 PM PDT
Some of you may remember this series of diaries from a few months back. Some of you may also remember that several Kossacks were instrumental in getting this wonderful child help. I've been communicating with a Kossack working at the Grossman Burn clinic, where Youssif is being treated, but I haven't posted updates because, well, the surgeries thus far have been pretty minor and preparatory, and I didn't know how much I could get away with revealing.
more on the flip
But the biggest surgery is done now, and there is a piece at CNN.com about it. It was, by any measure, a grueling surgery, but hopefully this boy is on his way to a much improved life.
Take it away, Arwa Damon:
Five-year-old Youssif underwent his most important surgery Thursday as his doctor removed the most extensive scar tissue on his face -- putting him on the path of being a normal boy again.
art.youssif.surgery.jpg
The balloons placed under Youssif's skin stretched his good skin enough to cover his scars.
Youssif entered the operating room around 6:30 a.m. PT for the three-and-a-half hour surgery.
Just before the surgery began, Youssif began crying.
"I can't do this. I can't do this," he said.
Sedation then set in, he relaxed and Dr. Peter Grossman, the plastic surgeon with the Grossman Burn Center who is donating his services, began to operate.
He removed two saline-filled balloons placed in Youssif's neck and face that provided more good skin by stretching it. The largest balloon was about the size of a soda can. See Grossman's plan to remove the scars »
Grossman then cut out the scar tissue and pulled up Youssif's healthy skin.
The doctor was amazed at how thick the scar tissue was -- about half an inch thick -- and "hard as wood."
When the tissue was removed, Youssif's jaw immediately relaxed, raising hopes that he will soon be able to eat normally again.
"The bottom part of his face looks like the old Youssif. He has a jaw line again. It's unbelievable," CNN's Arwa Damon said after coming out of the operating room.
There is much more work to be done, and I'm sure the emotional scars will be with this boy forever. But I thank, I dunno, god, fate or time or something that he will always know that some people loved him enough to move the world for him.
And thank all of you who helped raise holy hell with CNN and raise money for Youssif. There is a heaven folks, even if it only exists in the smile of a little boy.
Permalink | 10 comments