Ali's skin graft a success

2003-04-28 10:41

Kuwait City - A 12-year-old Iraqi boy who lost both arms and was orphaned in a US missile strike successfully underwent his first skin grafting operation with another to follow in two weeks time, a health ministry spokesperson said on Monday.

Ali Ismail Abbas was in surgery on Sunday for three and a half hours with skin grafting to 75% of the burns to his body, Ahmad al-Shatti said.

"Ali was smiling and talking by yesterday (Sunday) evening...It is quite a painful operation," said Shatti.

On his arrival at the al-Babtain burns centre on April 16, Ali was diagnosed with burns to more than 20% of his body, primarily the interior trunk and part of the scrotum.

"He was thanking the doctors after the surgery, but was really listening more than talking since he was still sedated. All in all the surgeons are very pleased," Shatti added.

He said the next step involves Ali's recovery from the first skin graft operation, with the new surgery scheduled to take place in 10 days to a fortnight in order to cover the rest of the burnt area.

Ali was the sole survivor among 20 killed, including his parents, brothers and sisters, in a March 30 coalition missile strike on his family home.

His arms were amputated above the elbow in Baghdad and his suffering sparked a high-profile campaign to save his life, winning sympathy from around the globe.

Medical staff in Baghdad had warned they lacked the equipment to treat Ali and that he would die of blood poisoning if not taken abroad for specialised care.

Kuwait volunteered to take the boy in and the emirate's health ministry has since been inundated with calls offering help.

Ali has been seen by an occupational therapist towards possibly fitting him with artificial limbs, and a consultant psychologist to help deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

There are also plans for a teacher to see Ali while hospitalised through what is expected to be an extensive rehabilitation period.

Doctors here have said that there will be no need for Ali to be treated elsewhere and that Kuwait has ample medical expertise and facilities to cope.

Ali's plight, captured in news broadcasts and headlines around the world, has turned him into a symbol of the civilian suffering in the conflict.

Charities and British media raised funds to airlift Ali out of Iraq and helped publicise his story.

- AFX