Lend a hand so Ikhlas can stand and teach

Al-Salam Alaikum! My name is Salam Murtada and I am a volunteer for the Iraqi & American Reconciliation Project (IARP).

I am writing to you about Ikhlas Muhassan Abbas, a young Iraqi teacher who was hit by an errant missile in August of 2004 (see her statement below). In order to save her life, the doctor had no choice but to amputate her left leg and right foot. As a result, she became disabled and confined to a wheel chair at a very young age. She lost her teaching job, a profession she loves, and became dependent on her family. The unexpected incident shattered her dreams of taking part in teaching today’s Iraqi generation and contributing to its better future.

Ikhlas Muhassan Abbas lost her left leg and right foot to an errant missile in 2004

The IARP is sponsoring a trip to bring her to Minneapolis some time in late September or early October to support her stay while the doctors can attach an artificial leg so that she can resume her teaching career and become an active member of her society once again. The procedure of designing, building and adjusting the bi-lateral prosthesis is being donated by Greg Gruman of Winkley Laboratories. The physical therapy is also being provided free of charge through Winkley.

However, IARP has committed to the following expenses:
(1) Airfare for Ikhlas and her mother who will be accompanying her.
(2) Visa expenses.
(3) Health insurance for Ikhlas and her mother while in the U.S.
(4) Transportation, food and incidentals while in the U.S.

Total costs are estimated at $7000, which IARP does not have. IARP is also looking for a host family or living space where Ikhlas and her mother can have some independence of living while also experiencing the support of locals. Her treatment will be in Golden Valley, but any place that works for independence and support would be ok.

If you could share this information with anyone you know, we would greatly appreciate it. IARP urgently needs the funds to cover her costs and we have not matched them yet. Last I heard we have not yet reached $1000 because so few people know about this young woman’s plight.

If you know of any interested donors, checks can be made out to IARP with Ikhlas in the memo line and mailed to 1346 Westwood Hills Road, St. Louis Park, MN 55426, or you can donate online here. By helping Ikhlas stand on her feet again, we would also be helping every one of her students receive their education in a war-torn Iraq.

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Statement from Ikhlas

??? ???????? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ???????? ????????? ???? ??????? / ????? ?????? .My name is Ikhlas Muhassan Abbas, I am an Iraqi woman and I graduated from the University of Kufa with a bachelor’s degree in education.

????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ????????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? 5/ 8/ 2004 ?????? ??? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ?? ????? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???????? ??? ????? ??????? . I  experienced a traumatic event during a conflict between U.S. forces and the Mehdi Army in Najaf on August 5, 2004, where a shell tore into my home and did not explode. At the time, I was sleeping in my bed. It took me from one world to another, altering the course of my life and my future. I awoke in the hospital, unable to move or walk. I opened my eyes and I did not know what happened, or if I was alive or dead…!

???? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ???????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???????? ??????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ???? . I suffered from pain and long periods of time in the operating room. I had 12 surgeries in which finally my left leg had to be amputated, as well as my right foot. After all the suffering and pain, I received prosthetic limbs but it is not convenient and I am unable to move or live with them.

. ????? ??? ???? ????? , ?????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ! ?? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ???????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???????? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ????? ,I got a wheelchair, but sitting in it makes me feel disabled. I hate it. It makes me feel like I can’t achieve any of my dreams, particularly becoming a teacher in one of the public schools. I waited eagerly after years of exhausting work to graduate and live my life, and reap the fruits of my hard work.

??? ?? ???? ????? ????????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ???????? ????????? ?????? But the treacherous arrow of time has struck the fruit of the tree of life at the height of its ripening… scattering it amongst the conflicts of which we gained nothing but pain which can not be compensated with a price for  those, injured and disabled, like myself.

???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ,???? ????? ??? ????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???????? ??? , ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???????? ?? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ????????? .I appeal to the capable to extend me a helping hand and change my course of life, God willing. What I ask is not impossible to achieve, don’t forget me. I am in the peak of my life yet I have tasted the bitterness of life too much. I need good artificial limbs to live as a good citizen. I still have so much internal potential which has not been invested yet, despite the dreadful incident. I request that you not allow this to pass unnoticed. My sincere thanks and gratitude.

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Medical facility providing services

The Winkley Company has been in business providing orthotics and prosthetics since 1888.  They have six locations in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin. (see www.Winkley.com) They  employ 20 therapists. Their President and CEO is Gregory S. Gruman, a certified prosthetist, has generously offered to fit Ikhlas with bilateral prostheses so that she can once again become ambulatory. Her injury resulted from a missile which destroyed part of her home. Previously the substandard devices she was given were too painful for her to use so that she has been primarily wheelchair-bound for 6 years.

With great effort she has accomplished a bachelors degree and dreams of becoming a public school teacher and would like to resume a more normal life. Since April 2010 Greg has reviewed x-rays sent by email and the patient’s medical history recorded in Iraq. He is confident that his modern methods and materials will achieve better results and will warrant the effort for her to receive treatment in the US.

Greg is offering his expert services to fit and design new limbs as well as initiate her training and strengthening so that she can walk once more. The design, production and practice will require between 4-6 weeks. Upon return to her home in Iraq she will continue strengthening until she is fully mobile. Ikhlas will be treated at the Golden Valley clinic and reside with a local IARP volunteer during her stay. She and her mother, FadHeelah Ali-Ali, who will accompany her, will not incur any fees. Therapy, meals, transportation and housing will be provided by volunteers of the Iraqi American Reconciliation Project.