As part of a humanitarian effort, Anwar Barash, an 18-year-old Palestinian, is being treated in Atlanta for extensive burns she suffered when she was just 3 years old.
The Palestine Children's Relief Fund connected Barash with Doctors Kimberly Singh and Nour Abboushi of Panacea Plastic Surgery in Atlanta.
Barash is one of six children that have been treated in the metro Atlanta area for severe medical problems, according to Widad Saad, president of the fund’s Atlanta chapter, which started six years ago.
“We’re thankful to the good doctors at Panacea Plastic Surgery for their efforts to help Anwar, who has been suffering with these ghastly burns for the last 15 years,” Saad said. “It is through the generous efforts of care providers such as Panacea Plastic Surgery that we can help children in need of medical services not always readily available in the West Bank and other impoverished areas.”
Saad said the Ohio-based organization, established in 1991 by concerned Americans, aims to provide free medical treatment for children in the Middle East and arrange care for specialized cases abroad.
This is how it works: PCRF medical coordinators reach out to physicians willing to provide free care and then patient affairs coordinators match a child in need with the specialized treatment a participating physician can provide.
Barash, who has painful, embarrassing burns from a childhood accident, was on the list for quite some time without a match until PCRF reached out to Singh and Abboushi for their expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
After applying for her visa, Barash arrived in Atlanta Oct. 3 and will be undergoing a total of 10 microneedling treatments for the next three to four months as she stays with a host family.
Barash also was honored at PCRF Atlanta’s fourth annual Lending Little Hearts a Hand fundraising gala Nov. 5, an effort by PCRF to raise money for Gaza’s first and only public pediatric facility for children diagnosed with cancer who lack access to adequate treatment.
Though PCRF started out working with just Palestinians, the organization since has expanded to several parts of the Arab world, including Syria.
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