Noora Afif Abdulhameed sits quietly next to her papa in a waiting room at Maine Medical Center, waiting to be called in for her first pre-operative test.

She’d slept in until 7 on this Tuesday morning in July, so breakfast was just a little milk from the hospital cafeteria. Now she’s waiting for some cream applied to the backs of her hands to numb her skin so that a routine IV may be inserted.

The 6-year-old was scheduled for a CT scan at 8:30 a.m. to give doctors a better picture of damage to her skull, which was partially shattered by an American sniper’s bullet on Oct. 23, 2006, in her hometown of Heet, Iraq.

Noora seems cheerful – she had spoken to other members of her family in Iraq on the phone the night before – but a bit nervous.

“It’s stirring up old memories for her, I think, but Afif convinced her it’s not an operation,” says Susi Eggenberger. The Arundel resident and her husband helped bring Noora and her father, Afif Abdulhameed Otaiwi, to Portland for surgery to repair Noora’s head, and are guiding them through their stay.

(more…)

A six-year-old Iraqi girl is recovering from surgery in Maine hospital. We first introduced Noora Abdulhameed six weeks ago when she arrived in Portland, Maine. A group called “No More Victims” arranged for Noora to come for free medical care.

Noora was shot two years ago during the war and suffered serious head injuries. Friday, doctors began their work to help her recover.

(more…)

PORTLAND, MAINE — Afif Abdulhameed Otaiwi sat down to lunch Friday at the StarEast Cafe on Forest Avenue with a big smile on his face, his eyes beaming.

“I am very happy now,” he said as he and daughter Noora dug into a plate of chicken and lamb kabobs served with basmati rice and vegetables.

Otaiwi had just received a phone call from his family in Iraq, the first communication they’ve had since he and Noora landed in Portland on Thursday afternoon.

With the help of a nonprofit group called No More Victims, Otaiwi brought 6-year-old Noora to Portland so she can receive treatment at Maine Medical Center. Noora was shot by a U.S. sniper on Oct. 23, 2006, as she was riding in the family car, and lost part of her skull.

(more…)

About 3,500 miles from her mother and home, Noora Afif Abdulhameed stepped off an AngelFlight plane Thursday afternoon at Portland International Jetport while clasping her father’s hand.

The 6-year-old Iraqi girl, who lost part of her skull to a sniper’s bullet, had arrived in Portland to receive the medical treatment that she was unable to find in her war-torn country.

Across the tarmac, a small group was waiting to greet the girl and her dad. Among them were Claire Phillips and Meghan Cantlin, two 8-year-olds from Falmouth Brownie Troop No. 1955 who presented Noora with a basket filled with a stuffed bear, a pink Barbie baseball cap and lots of toys.

In another basket was a handknit robe, slippers and a handmade quilt that had been signed by all of the troop members.

Madison Hurley, 5, of Portland gave Noora a bouquet of balloons — one of which looked like a U.S. flag — tied with colorful ribbons. She paid for the balloons with her allowance money, and hopes to have Noora over for a play date before her surgery.

(more…)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A six-year-old Iraqi girl injured by an American sniper more than a year ago in Iraq is in Maine for surgery to repair some of the damage.

Nora Abdulhameed has had multiple surgeries since she was hit in the skull by a bullet in October 2006, but she still needs a prosthetic placed in her skull to protect her brain. She’ll also be getting some plastic surgery.

A doctor at Maine Medical Center will deliver those services free of charge and Ronald McDonald house will provide free room and board.

Six-year-old Iraqi girl Nora arrived in Portland, Maine on Thursday to undergo surgery her family hopes will give her a long, happy life.

WISCASSET — Ten students at Chewonki’s Maine Coast Semester have collaborated to create a fundraising project to help bring a young Iraqi girl to Maine Medical Center for treatment.  The students have designed and are selling canvas grocery bags, sending all the proceeds to No More Victims, the nonprofit organization that will bring Nora, a 6-year-old girl, to Maine in June.

Nora was riding in her family car when a bullet shot by U.S. forces shattered the front portion of her skull.  She has had several surgeries in Iraq, but now needs a prosthetic skull replacement along with plastic surgery not currently available there. Dr. James Wilson of Maine Medical Center and the Ronald McDonald House in Portland are donating their services, but there are many other costs not covered for the Iraqi family’s 3-6 month stay.

The Chewonki students are part of a growing number of people in southern Maine who are learning about Nora’s upcoming visit, offering support, and looking forward to welcoming her here.  “It seems important to raise awareness that there are always civilians who get hurt in war” said Audrey Boochever, one of the Chewonki students who has helped to organize the project.

Four Chewonki students working on the project are from Maine, including Chelsie Glover from Kennebunk, Katlyn Keane from Bethel, Zoë Mason from Damariscotta, and Samantha Hersom from Edgecomb. They are joined by a number of groups in southern Maine are who working on similar fundraising efforts to support Nora’s visit.

The canvas bags, which read “Seed of Hope, Seed of Trust, Seed of Life, Seed of Unity, Seed of Love — Plant a Seed” can be purchased for $12 each and are found locally at Wilson’s Pharmacy in Bath, Now You’re Cooking in Bath, at Eveningstar Cinema and Frontier Café + Cinema + Gallery in Brunswick.  They are also being sold in Portland at Communiqués in the Old Port and at the Meg Perry Center on Congress Street.  Proceeds from the student project go directly to help Nora.

“It seems like a very meaningful way for Maine Coast Semester students to harness their creativity and take part in projects benefiting the larger community,” said Chewonki English Teacher Amy Rogers. “Hopefully this project will inspire the community to raise awareness for the civilians hurt in Iraq by our own troops.”

Sue West, the Chewonki faculty coordinator noted, “I am so impressed by the compassion and energy these students have shown throughout this project.  They all wanted to help this little girl get the medical care she needed.”

No More Victims does more than evacuate children for medical help.  They also send funds to medical centers in Iraq to take care of many more civilians than could be evacuated.  Bringing Nora and others like her who need special care to our shores is important too, not only because certain procedures can’t be done there, but because it creates a way for communities of Americans to offer some help to the people of Iraq via a very personal connection.

To learn more about No More Victims, go to www.nomorevictims.org

Those interested in hosting a fundraising event for Nora, email: Susi Eggenberger seggenberger@verizon.net or Sue West  swest@chewonki.org

Arundel, Maine - A community in Maine is working to raise money to bring an injured Iraqi girl to the United States for surgery. The 6-year-old was shot when a bullet fired by a U.S. soldier hit the car she was riding in.NECN’s Marnie MacLean has the story. [Click for video]
(more…)

A 5-year-old Iraqi girl was riding with her father through the city of Heet in the fall of 2006 when an explosive bullet fired by a U.S. soldier penetrated the roof of their car and struck her head.

The bullet shattered bones and ruptured her cerebral membrane. After four surgeries in Iraq, Noora Afif Abdulhameed needs a prosthetic replacement for skull bone, as well as plastic surgery.

She’ll be getting both in Portland this spring, thanks to the efforts of a group of southern Maine residents who have obtained commitments of free treatment and surgery at Maine Medical Center.

(more…)