A Chance for Life Out of Abu Ghraib

A couple of weeks ago I shared a story about the heroic efforts of an Indiana National Guard unit working to save the life of a sick little girl from Afghan.

Now comes the equally impressive and touching story of little Noor al-Zahra, whose family says will soon be called "Georgia" after the Georgia Army National Guard unit that is working to save her life. The Iraqi infant, whose family lives in Abu Ghraib, was "born three months ago with a severe spinal cord defect that was untreatable in Iraq."

Noor, nicknamed "Baby Nora" by the soldiers, was born with spina bifida. Her spinal cord had not fully closed during her mother, Iman’s, pregnancy, leaving a tumorlike growth on her tiny back.

Iraqi doctors told the family that they lacked the facilities to treat the baby and that she would not survive long.

Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment's Charlie Company discovered the little girl during a search of the family's house. They were determined to save her.

To this end, the guardsmen have worked with the Iraqi and American governments to expedite arrangements for sending little Noor halfway across the world, to a place where here chances for life will increase dramatically. She and her father and grandmother are now en route to Atlanta, Georgia, for corrective spinal surgery that will hopefully save the infant's life.

After all the horror stories associated with the name Abu Ghraib over the past year, it is refreshing to hear this tale of American compassion, of a new life that might otherwise be forfeit without the love and care of our brave soldiers.

You can read daily updates of Baby Noor's journey here.


A tip of the hat to The Anchoress for highlighting this story.