Airmen Help Bring Iraqi Infant To America

Medical teams from the 791st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron assisted with the medical evacuation of a critically ill 8-month-old Iraqi girl May 18 and 19.

Fatemah Kalil Hassan was transferred to the Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, to undergo specialized treatment for an abnormal growth of a blood vessel on the right side of her face and neck. The life-threatening growth was obstructing her airway, officials said.

Medics configured the oxygen, monitors and equipment for the plane and provided other assistance as needed, said Lt. Col. James Bruhl, director of operations for the 791st EAES.

“It’s nice to do something like this and provide humanitarian aid to this baby,” Colonel Bruhl said.

The process started when Fatemah’s 21-year-old mother, Beyda’a Amir Abduk Jabar, contacted an Army doctor at a U.S. medical clinic in Iraq.

Officials at Theater Patient Movement Requirement Center-Europe here quickly coordinated the movement because of the baby’s urgent need for care, said Capt. Chris Grippo, the center’s operations officer.

An aircrew from the 89th Airlift Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, flew the mission on a C-141 Starlifter aircraft.

Fatemah and her mother were accompanied by an Arabic translator and a physician’s assistant from the Army National Guard’s 230th Support Battalion in Iraq.

The first leg of the journey flew here from Iraq on May 18. After an overnight stay at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the baby and her mother continued to Ohio on May 19.

Ms. Jabar expressed her appreciation for all the efforts and speed in which everyone responded to get her baby the care she needed.

“I’m a bit nervous, but I am very grateful to everyone for helping us out,” Ms. Jabar said. “Thank you very much for all that you are doing.” [ANN Thanks 1st Lt. Tracy Giles, 435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs]

FMI: www.usaf.mil