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May 15, 2008 7:06 pm US/Eastern
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Iraqi Baby's Broken Heart Fixed In Newark
Born With A Rare Condition, Little Karrar Traveled Thousands Of Miles To Get His Miracle From Local Doctor
Reporting
Jay Dow
NEWARK (CBS) ―
The mother of an Iraqi baby is crediting American medicine with saving her son's life. She made a risky journey half-way around the world for her son's heart operation.
On Thursday she shared her story with CBS 2 HD.
His name is Karrar.
He's an 11-month-old who left his native Iraq a few months ago with a weak heart, and ultimately found new life thousands of miles away in Newark. His mother, Hanan, doesn't speak English, but her translator, Alia Suqi, explained the ordeal mother and son have lived through.
"She is saying he was having a hard time breathing, and also his face was turning blue," Suqi said.
That's when Hanan, who doesn't want her identity revealed for fear of her safety back in Iraq, courageously took Karrar to a nearby U.S. air base.
"She was concerned because she felt like she was helpless," the translator said. "There was nothing she could do to help him."
Karrar was a missing a pulmonary artery that takes the blood from his heart to his lungs. The surgery would be dangerous and complicated.
"I don't think he would have survived infancy," said Dr. Joel Hardin, Director of Cardiology at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
So military doctors decided to call Hardin, who had served with the Marines in Iraq several years ago. His team of surgeons in Newark rebuilt Karrar's artery in two separate and successful operations.
"This is a fantastic experience for everybody, that's touched this family, and we look forward to being able to see him again in different circumstances," Dr. Hardin said.
While doctors expect Karrar to make a full recovery, he'll need extensive follow-up care when he returns home to Iraq next week.
It should come as no surprise that Karrar is doing well. His name, loosely translated from Arabic, means someone who doesn't give up.
The good news for Karrar keeps coming. Hardin tells CBS 2 HD he's already made more arrangements for the baby's follow-up care at an Iraqi hospital.
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