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DEL.ICIO.USBaby Noor’s foot surgery successful
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Baby Noor was outfitted with a bright pink cast shortly after 11 a.m. Friday following surgery to repair congenitally shortened tendons and overly tight ligaments in her left foot.
The surgery was performed at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta by Dr. Michael T. Busch, hospital officials said. She was returned to the host family’s home following the surgery.
The operation was needed because she suffers from spina bifida and has spinal cord abnormalities.
“The soft tissue release completely corrected the deformity in her left foot,” Busch, who was the first to sign Baby Noor’s cast following surgery, said in a prepared statement.
Noor al-Zahra was brought to the United States in December for treatment of her spina bifida after she was discovered by Gainesville-based soldiers of the Georgia National Guard’s 48th Brigade Combat Team.
Baby Noor, as she is known, will wear a cast for three weeks before being fitted with a lightweight splint that she have to wear for several months to keep the foot in the proper position and prevent a recurrence of the problem, hospital officials said.
Although the spina bifida has left Noor paralyzed below the waist, the surgery will enable her to wear shoes and prevent injuries, according to the doctors.
Comments
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By dee
February 24, 2006 12:04 PM | Link to this
May God bless her and the soldiers who sent her here! She is such a little angel. I know she has a special purpose on this earth!
By Suwanee Mom
February 24, 2006 12:08 PM | Link to this
While I feel sympathy for this child, I find it appalling at all the free services she is entitled to that we Americans are paying for. It’s not really free. Someone has to pay for all this care little Noor is receiving and it comes in the form of American’s having to pay higher deductions and copays on their insurance! There are thousands of children in our own country with life threatening illnesses, yet the families are expected to pay, pay, pay. And mortgage their home if they have to. I am outraged at the patronizing to this Iraqi child when our own citizens are not given the same privileges in our own country!
By Valerie Bennett
February 24, 2006 01:25 PM | Link to this
I’m so happy that Baby Noor had Dr. Busch as her othapedic surgeon. He was my son’s surgeon in 04 and I can’t tell you what a fine physician he is. Not only is he the best in his profession he cares for his patients and has a great repor with them as well. This goes for Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta too. It’s really good to know that we have fine physicans and vacilities so close to us in Gainesville.
By Clarence
February 24, 2006 02:41 PM | Link to this
Suwanee mom, I don’t guess you realize that this Iraqi baby is being treated at a non-profit hospital that will treat any child regardless if they have insurance or not. One’s ability to pay isn’t an issue with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. That baby is getting the best care in the world. This child and family will go back to Iraq and remind their friends what the Americans did for them and we’re not the villians the Arab world thinks we are.
By Rafael
February 24, 2006 02:55 PM | Link to this
Suwanee Mom, I’m sure that her bills are taken care of by private donations. You should be appaled at all the Americans that get free care here in the states.
By Lisa
February 24, 2006 03:01 PM | Link to this
To all the people who have donated their services and to all the people who have donated funds to care for baby Noor — You are awesome!
By jennifer
February 24, 2006 03:09 PM | Link to this
I cannot knock paying for her surgury. She is only a child.
Sure, there are lots of children here who are suffering as well and we could pay for them, too, if our money wasn’t being spent so poorly. It’s costly to invade sovereign nations while trying to line the pockets of your buddies in your Administration and still have enough left over to line the pockets of the Arabs and Asians who control our country.
By come on lady
February 24, 2006 03:22 PM | Link to this
Suwanee Mom, where is your heart? We are all part of one human race, Iraqi or American. The help we are giving to Noor is what makes this country great. your attitude is what makes this country bad.
Do you even know for sure that a charity is not footing the bill for her procedures, in which case this isn’t affecting your “deductions and copays” at all?
The ironic thing is that you would be the first person to whine that another country is helping YOU out if your country became ravaged by war and terrorists! From your point of view the world will always owe you something.
Some people will just find something negative about everything.
By David
February 24, 2006 03:25 PM | Link to this
Suwanee Mom - that isn’t a very charitable or Christian attitude. We in the US have every opportunity made available to us, and sometimes that makes people like you spoiled. Besides, CHOA has donated their services (including the individual doctors), so you and I are not paying a cent for it.
By Syed
February 24, 2006 03:57 PM | Link to this
To Gwinnett Mom I surely understand your point. But, in this case, Doctors and and hospitals waived their fees. But I know, still there was some tax payer money involved. But the issue here is, if you are an american, no matter how expensive the health care is there are ways for you. Nowhere in the country an american ever died because of health care. I am a foregin worker here, pay as much tax as you do, if not more. Despite that, we don’t get those same treatment. I am not complaining, just informing you. Yes, it hurts when you see your tax payer money is wasted; but Baby noor is nothing when it comes to wasting Tax payer money. Those few soldiers proved to the world what Americans are about. They are in a land where death is second away, still they cared to save a little baby.
By Keith
February 24, 2006 04:22 PM | Link to this
To Suwanee Mom,
If you had been following this story closely, you would have known that medical expenses are either being donated or paid for by various charity groups. So, I don’t think your co-pay will be affected.
By Walt Morrissette
February 24, 2006 04:24 PM | Link to this
For “Suwanee Mom” to vent her venom of the failings of our health care system on a child with spina bifida facing life as a paraplegic, brought home by our heroes in the 48th, is just downright sad.
By m
February 24, 2006 04:46 PM | Link to this
suwanee mom: i hear ya!
By Jeanette
February 24, 2006 05:20 PM | Link to this
After reading “Suwanee Mom’s” comments, I wonder how she would feel if she was the one living in a poor country with no medical assistance for her child? I guarantee you that Noor’s mother would rather pay higher insurance premiums to have the opportunity Americans do!
By Bob in Decatur
February 24, 2006 05:32 PM | Link to this
To Suwanee Mom, Are you really upset that we saved an Iraqi infant that would have died in six months without surgery? It is compassionate acts such as this that makes friends instead of enemies around the world. Baby Noor is not entitled to medical care, it was donated by many individuals and the Doctors that performed the surgery. The funds did not come from anyone’s insurance premiums. What price is too high to save an infant? So, who are you angry at? And most importantly, why?
By Paula C
February 24, 2006 07:04 PM | Link to this
To the person who is “appalled” by the care Baby Noor is receiving, are you as as “appalled” by the conditions that this child faces on her return to Iraq. No child in this country faces the horror that this child and her family faces upon their return to Iraq - a country being torn apart by Civil War.
It is your attitude which gives rise to the “Ugly American” label.
By Jack
February 25, 2006 12:13 AM | Link to this
Hey mom! Are you familiar with the term DONATION????
They’re GIVING their time and material.
It’s NOT coming from the tax payers!
If you had read a little bit, you’d know that. But I guess you’re too busy with soccer or something to know about stuff like that.
Look it up some time, it’s spelled D-O-N-A-T-I-O-N.
Now the illegals from Mexico are a different story. I’m with ya there.
Baby Noor you’re dead wrong, illegals, you’re right.
By frank
February 25, 2006 06:04 AM | Link to this
Suwanee Mom, I kinda feel sorry for you. There are organizations that help people in situations like Baby Noor and others American citizens like them. Notably this website http://www.lifeover.org/ has been heavly involved with Noor and other children, along with The Methodist church. If you do a little research, there are plenty of organizations that help, but its not enough because we Americans are essentially selfish. We tend to want to have fancy cars, big houses, and not appreciate GOD’s greatest gift, our child. The whole medical situation is broken and has been for over 20years. I remember working at a hospital and the man went to find out his wife’s bill and had a heartattack and died in the business office because it was over 1 million dollars. This was 1981. I am happy for Noor and any child that can get the service they deserve, regardless of their situation, or country.
By Leslie
February 26, 2006 08:50 PM | Link to this
If you are so disgraced by the actions of America, leave. I’m pretty sure no one is holding you hostage in this great country. Just leave.
By Military Wife of 48th
February 26, 2006 09:15 PM | Link to this
I agree with Frank. If more people would donate to these children hospital and St. Jude. More children can be help. Noor is not just any case. None of the millions of children are just any case. They all have special needs. These hospital help each one of them without money from the families and most of the families. End up losing jobs and homes. Not because of money to been given to the hospital. But being there for there children. They get donation. Every one needs to look deep in there heart. Donate every month. No just at the holiday which I know everyone does. But all year round. Every day, another children is taken to St. Jude or Children Hospital of Atlanta.
By Claire
February 28, 2006 04:04 PM | Link to this
Suwanee Mom…where is your heart? I am a 42-yr-old woman who was also born with the most severe form of Spina Bifida. I also developed hydrocephalus (which ‘Baby Noor’ has been spared, apparently), and am a paraplegic. Until very recently, the state & federal govt’s of our GREAT nation have paid EVERY medical expense I have incurred, including the cost of a wheelchair. I work for myself now, have attended college, have my own apt., and am for the most part independent. Just remember: God SMILES on the compassionate. God bless our troops!