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This boy is the son of the church worker who helped organize this distribution. The boy cannot vertically stabilize to hold his body upright, but the ROC Wheelchair for kids is equipped to keep him in proper posture, so it will give him the support he needs to live a more normal life!
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Rarely does it ever occur in a person's life that they are presented with an opportunity to come to the rescue of a large population of people in need. Never would I have guessed that upon my arrival in Iraq in November 2004, a movement would be set in motion soon thereafter to help improve (and in some cases save) the lives of hundreds of children with walking disabilities through the Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids project. I'm grateful for all those who have partnered with me over the last five years to help bring adjustable pediatric wheelchairs to a country full of families who had no access to them. I'm grateful to those who created and manufactured the pediatric wheelchairs, to those who donated and sponsored them, to those who brought them to Iraq free of charge, to those who risked their lives to organize and carry out missions so children in many parts of Iraq could receive them. In my biased opinion, this is one of the best stories of suffering and tragedy turned to relief and joy coming out of Iraq over the past five years.
So many children from various backgrounds and faiths have received the pediatric wheelchairs from Reach Out and Care Wheels. Shiites, Sunnis, Kurdish, Christian, Yazidis , Assyrians, Chaldeans, Armenian Orthodox - all children are precious in God's sight. And in my view, children with special needs living in war zones are truly the ‘least of these' who are the most desperate in need of assistance. They are the most vulnerable segment of Iraqi society in need of help.
With this distribution of kids' wheelchairs, the outreach was through one of the last surviving Christian churches in Baghdad. This church provides all types of assistance to those in need in their local community regardless of religious affiliation or societal status. Their congregation consists of over 3700 worshippers of various faiths who actively attend services. They have endured many trials throughout this war. In October 2005, insurgents invaded the church during services, kidnapping men and boys only to execute them. In October 2009, a car bomb exploded outside the church causing great damage to the structure itself. Just this past April 2010, the church was attacked with bombs again, further straining its limited resources. Yet, they continue to persevere through even the darkest of tragedies, serving Baghdad with a free medical clinic staffed by volunteer doctors. Advancing reconciliation across all barriers in the name of peace, these courageous people hold fast to their faith and calling to demonstrate God's love to everyone just the same.
The night before the wheelchair distribution, a willing group of troops gathered to assemble the wheelchairs for the children who would receive them the next day. The church provided pictures of the children before-hand so I knew how many of each size should be brought along for each child.
Children with disabilities grow up watching brothers, sisters and friends learn how to ride tricycles, skateboards and bicycles, all the while they've watched despondently, grounded because of their disabilities. It's like they've been left out as they've been condemned to a cruel fate of life alone on the ground, simply because their legs won't work. They don't get to participate in normal childhood activities; typically they're ostracized from peer groups by default due to their disabilities. Imagine growing up, not learning the rules of football because you've never had the opportunity to play the game with the other kids. Imagine growing up not receiving an education, because your parents can't be there every day to carry you around the school grounds. Many times these children are mentally aware and very bright, but aren't afforded the opportunity to develop physically and socially because of their limited mobility. As sad as their situation appears, I often see faces of children glow with wide smiles and big eyes as they enter the wheelchair distribution area and see their first set of wheels waiting for them. One boy told me in English as he sat in his wheelchair for the first time that it was his first bicycle. He was smiling from ear to ear - there was no way I could take away his joy at that moment. He may never ride a bike with two wheels, but a "bike" with four wheels is good enough for him!
Going out on kids wheelchair missions always give a sense of excitement knowing there are families also on their way to meet us; the children enamored with anticipation of receiving their first pediatric wheelchairs. To be honest, I'm not sure who is more excited - the children or me! As much as I look forward to the distribution events, in all reality we face the full range of dangers associated with missions "outside the wire" in the cities. On this mission, Captain Gabriela Niess and the 4/2 Stryker Brigade, 1st Armored Division did a great job of getting us out and back safely for a very successful distribution event. I was somewhat apprehensive on the way out to the church, as I helped identify the location through sources but had never been there before. Once we arrived, I was very relieved to know I didn't help direct us to the wrong place! Earlier I met with US Division-Center Surgeon's team to discuss paths forward for the Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids project. USD-C Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel Barnhart helped re-connect me with CPT Niess who agreed to help make this mission to the church possible.
Each wheelchair given away is sponsored by donors either private or corporate. Children see other children on the opposite side of the globe in urgent need and open wide their hearts, freely giving their sometimes meager allowance saved in piggy banks stored on top of bedside tables. Other kids have no money of their own to give, but use their talents to bring awareness to the plight of children living with disabilities without a kids wheelchair. For example - one young man named Ben started playing his guitar on the sidewalks in the San Francisco Bay area in 2008 and since has become my second highest giving individual donor at $17,575.38 - sponsoring over fifty pediatric wheelchairs. Some parents world-over sponsor wheelchairs for the same number of Iraqi children as they have in their own families. Once in a great while, a generous person with the financial means sponsors fifty or seventy-five wheelchairs with one donation. Most others give what they can - usually smaller amounts all adding up to full wheelchair sponsorships but make up the bulk of donations to sponsor wheelchairs, and are appreciated just as much as the larger donations.
Whether donations are big or small, I am always completely humbled and encouraged by people who are so moved by the pictures that they want to become personally involved, sacrificing hard-earned money to help children surviving in war zones who can't walk. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been given over the past five years to procure non-profit kids wheelchairs, helping 749 Iraqi children (as of 10 Jun 2010) become mobile, including children you see in the pictures which follow. With all the money spent on the war in Iraq over the last seven years, no government or military funds have been used to purchase these wheelchairs. All 749 wheelchairs have been sponsored by the private sector, so the Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids project up to this point remains truly a grass-roots non-profit effort.
Families from around the world are reaching directly into the lives of Iraqi families struggling daily with childhood disability, providing them with top-quality adjustable pediatric wheelchairs they would have otherwise never received.
Thank you to all who have helped in this mission over the years in various ways. Your involvement means children with disabilities have been saved from lives lived on the floor in the back rooms of houses. Saved from living lives of shame as they drag themselves through the streets. Now, they are up off the ground living healthier, more socially interactive lives - many are now able to attend schools because of their new-found mobility.
More missions are planned for the future, and I promise to send out more mission updates as I complete them and process the pictures. Enjoy the faces of kids and parents below, as they receive their pediatric wheelchairs for the first time! Be sure to read the captions with the pictures to get more of the story as the distribution event unfolded.
One of my goals has been to help children at Iraqi orphanages who need wheelchairs. I'm told orphanages around the country are full of children coping with disabilities because so many families either don't know how to care for them, or don't have the resources to properly meet their needs. The orphanages don't have the means to care for them either - but they do their best. Farrah is probably the happiest girl we've helped into a kid's wheelchair-you can judge from her beautiful smiles! Two Nuns from the Mother Teresa Orphanage in Baghdad carried Farrah and two other children a very long walking distance to the church so they could get wheelchairs for them. They described how a large number of the children at their orphanage need these chairs, but three children were all they could carry. Lieutenant Colonel Barnhart and Chief Petty Officer Plasencia adjusted Farrah's wheelchair from Reach Out and Care Wheels so it supported her needs properly. I'm hopeful we can get more wheelchairs to children from the Mother Teresa Orphanage - Baghdad very soon.
Jamail is also an orphan from Mother Teresa Orphanage - Baghdad. In the pictures above, Jamail is fitted for his first pediatric wheelchair by Chief Petty Officer Arturo Plasencia, US Navy. Jamail has Cerebral Palsy, which he was born with. Even though he has a disability, Jamail was very aware and responsive, but due to his condition he has little to no motor control of his body. Yet the Sisters at the orphanage care for his constant every need on a daily basis.
This beautiful girl's home is the Mother Teresa Orphanage in Baghdad. She was carried to the distribution, but decided at the last minute she didn't want a wheelchair - she can't move it by herself, and she loves being held by the Nuns. She was born without arms, but has fingers on her shoulders. Her left foot is mostly immobile; however she uses her right foot much like a hand, grasping, lifting, etc. She's very smart, speaks fluent English and is extremely shy! She is a very cute girl indeed.
The children from Mother Teresa orphanage in Baghdad received free pediatric wheelchairs, sponsored by generous donors from around the world.
This boy's name is Hakim. He's a happy kid, and responds well to his parents. Unfortunately, he has a disability which leaves him unable to walk. As with a number of kids, he has multiple disabilities - he's also blind, just like his father (lower right picture). Lieutenant Colonel Barnhart helped him into his wheelchair. As Hakim doesn't have complete control over his movements, he kicked LTC Barnhart in the head - thus why LTC Barnhart is laughing in the picture to the right. LTC Barnhart is the US Division - Center Surgeon for the 1st Armored Division (Old Ironsides), and helped arrange this distribution so these children could receive these rare pediatric wheelchairs.
Leyla for all practical purposes is a normal ten-year old girl, except for the fact she has a muscular degenerative disease. Because of her disease, Leyla cannot walk. Her family had been using a small adult wheelchair to move her around, but it was very worn and breaking at critical support locations. Thankfully, a generous donor provided the funds for a new wheelchair made especially for children just like Leyla! After showing her how to use her wheelchair, she just didn't have the strength in her arms to move it by herself. But Leyla's mother was very grateful for the new wheelchair, and covered her heart with her hand to show her appreciation coming from her heart. Thanks to SGM Charpentier and SSG Ewing for making Leyla's chair fit just right!
Raheem was very happy with his new wheelchair, as his old one had broken long ago. He's mostly a normal child and wants to please his father; however his disabilities keep him distracted and unable to walk. SGM Charpentier and SSG Ewing helped Raheem into his chair so it's comfortable and supportive of his needs.
Upon arriving to the church, all the children and their famiies had been waiting patiently in a side building for us to arrive with their new wheelchairs. As we approached the side building, we were greeted by a small crowd of grateful community leaders who thanked us for coming to help their children who had not yet received pediatric wheelchairs. Walking into the small building where the families anxiously awaited were many children from the church, singing happy songs as a man led them on an electric keyboard - and they sounded GREAT! One face which immediately caught my eye was that of Sanaa. While most of the other children didn't seem to notice us enter the room, Sanaa immediately looked my way from her place on the floor, smiling widely as we made eye contact. Each time I looked her way, I noticed a new beautiful smile come across her face. Sanaa has spent her life in bed and on the floor. Unfortunately her body will not bend at her hips, thus her wheelchair will remain in the reclined position. A special handle will be provided for her father to be able to stand upright as he pushes her wheelchair. Sanaa was fortunate enough to have LTC Barnhart and MAJ Eric Aguila (both physicians) at her side to make sure the wheelchair fit her needs as best as possible. MAJ Aguila worked at Walter Reed Hospital / Rehabilitation division with military members who have lost legs from war injuries, so having him along to help the kids was very helpful for the children and their families.
Abrahim's father was very grateful to get this wheelchair for his son. He has carried Abrahim for all seven years of his life, but now has the wheelchair to help! Captain Gabriella Niess (above) was key in organizing this mission, and I believe she really enjoyed helping the children into their wheelchairs. Major Aguila also worked hard to make sure Abrahim's chair was adjusted to meet his needs.
Amira's father brought her to get her first specialized wheelchair. An adult wheelchair won't work - she's too small and can't hold herself upright. But now for the first time, she can sit upright unassisted in a very comfortable chair. By the way, Amira is 30 years old. Thanks to CPT Niess and MAJ Aguila for helping Amira fit properly into her new wheelchair!
When we first approached the church building, I noticed some European troops in uniform guarding the grounds. After talking with them, I learned they are Danish Soldiers who have guarded the church for a number of years. A number of them have paid the ultimate price, sacrificing their lives so the church can remain in service to the surrounding community. This memorial stands in a prominent place on the grounds of the church, listing the names of each of the Danish troops who have died on the grounds of the church defending it from insurgents who would bring harm to worshippers attending services.
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