A young boy from Gaza who was injured in an Israeli airstrike has received medical treatment in the U.S. through surgery.
Last month, Elissa Montanti, the founder and director of the Global Medical Relief Fund, awaited the arrival of 5-year-old Omar Abukwaik from Cairo at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Despite facing bureaucratic obstacles, she was determined to bring the scared and sick young boy to the United States for much-needed medical treatment.
Abukwaik’s family members, including his parents, brother, sister, and grandparents, were killed in a December Israeli airstrike on their Gaza home. According to his aunt, who was with him on the trip, Abukwaik sustained severe injuries, including leg wounds and the loss of his left arm.
CBS News spoke with Montanti who said she contacted the Gaza Health Ministry, who then directed her to the organization Rahma Worldwide. They identified a boy in need of assistance named Abukwaik.
During the Israel-Hamas conflict, Abukwaik took a break and went to the Staten Island Children’s Museum, where he could briefly enjoy being a child again.
According to Montanti, these are defenseless kids who lack adequate resources, or have very limited access to them. The 60 countries we have aided include children affected by both war and natural disasters.
The Global Medical Relief Fund has collaborated with Shriners Children’s Philadelphia, where Dr. Scott Kozin, the hospital’s chief of staff, assessed Abukwaik’s injuries.
Kozin expressed that Omar’s arrival here is beneficial for both Omar and his perspective. If he had remained in Gaza or Egypt, the outcome could have been uncertain.
On January 31st, Kozin conducted a surgical procedure to fix a wound on Abukwaik’s leg.
During the procedure, Kozin stated that our goal is to remove the scar and replace it with a healthy skin graft.
The doctors have started the process of preparing Abukwaik for a prosthetic arm. It is estimated that his healing will require a few weeks. Once he is healed, he will go back to living in a tent camp in Gaza with his aunt.
As Omar ages, the Global Medical Relief Fund will support his return to the United States for ongoing medical care.
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Source: cbsnews.com