Halima

Here is some followup on the girl in Afganistan
Subject: Halima
We just got back from picking up the Girl from our adopted village. Her
name is Halima. We also sent out 4 palets of goods we scraped together from
all the soldiers.
The first picture is unloading one of two CH47 Chinooks at the LZ (Landing
Zone) the second picture is one we took after showing the picture to the
village elders trying to locate her. We were afraid that her father and her
would be too scared to take a ride back with us on the Chinooks. Her father
(Sharagha) quickly accepted our offer and off they went to their home to
change into better cloathing. If you look at Picture #3 it is after she was
cleaned up and put in her best dress. We never did see her mother or any
mother.
After the villagers learned what we were up to, I received a steady stream
of requests to talk to me in person. The translator took me aside and alone
with each requestor. Every request was about the same. They each described
a wife or child with a medical problem that they desperately needed our help
with. It was a little overwhelming for me to have to tell them I cold not
promise any help. I finaly had to pull the translator aside and told him to
explain to the people that we were Attack Helicopter, Chinook and Blackhawk
Pilots and Mechanics. After many long months of planning we received
permission to bring out Humanitarian Aid for them. It was not our mission
to supply or support Medical assistance. We were afraid that if this got
out of hand, we would not be allowed to come out any more. We said we would
do what we could when we were allowed. It was not an easy message to
deliver.
Many village elders still persisted in trying to talk us into sending one
more boy. His name is Baborzee. He was also about 8 years old and walked
very unstable. A quick exam found that his entire right side of his body
was weak or partialy paralized. He was bright and responded quickly to
questions asked of him. His father was also trying to teach him english and
made him say thankyou to every question we asked. We finaly agreed to take
him and his father (Faizmohamad). We had not arranged any quarters or
treatment with the Egyptians, but were confident they would do what they
could for us and the chilid. We were then presented with another 8 year
old boy whose entire right left leg was useless. He was on crutches and
could not put any weight on his leg. I looked at it and it was in almost
total atrophy. It was twisted to the outside and very little muscle mass.
We took pictures for the Egyptian Drs to look at and told his father we
could not take him.
We had brought two hearing protection headsets and played games (practicing
putting them on) with the two 8 year olds we were going to take. We told
the father what to expect with one little white lie. We are very concerned
about security and never tell them when we will be back. In keeping with
this, we told them we would bring them back in two weeks. We plan on
bringing them back next Monday. Our next mission request has already been
submitted and aproved.
When the two Chinooks landed, the boy and girl marched right up the ramp
like they were going on a Disney Land ride. The girl would not stay seated
and looked out the window during most of the flight, especially at the other
Chinook in tight formation and the Apache escort. After we landed at Bagram,
we had a van waiting to take us to the Egyptian Hospital.
The Egyptians were waiting for us and surprised to see the boy. They were a
little concerned because they did not have beds for the boy or Father. The
Egyptian Commander made some arrangements and returned and said it was ok to
leave them. The DR. looking at the boy was concerned because he said he
needs a Neursosurgeon and CT Scan for which they had neither. They then
told us that he could not be helped. We asked that a Dr. talk to the Father
and explain this to him. We were sad.
The Eye surgeon then came in to see us and told us he just finished
examining Halima and that he was happy to report that he can correct her eye
and restore her vision. We had some concerns that even though the eye would
be restored to the correct position that vision would be lost. So this was
good news after learning about the boy.
Surgery is scheduled for Wed morning for Halima.
Many of the soldiers are planning on many visits to entertain the two kids.
Thanks to all who have sent items for the Girl, we will do what we can for
Baborzee.
I will send more pictures later.