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May 3, 2008 8:34 am US/Central
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MN Guard Troops Help Iraqi Girl Get Burn Treatment
(WCCO)
A promise to help a little girl live a better life is becoming reality. When a cooking accident in Iraq left Esmma badly burned, a group of Minnesota soldiers who helped her in Iraq, knew she'd get better care in Minnesota.
The soldiers were determined to get Esmma to the Mayo Clinic. Two months ago, she and her father Hader arrived in Rochester.
Hader explained through a translator that he sold his house and cars to afford the trip to Minnesota.
"Even what I did, I don't think I did a lot for her. She deserves more then that, even if I lost my house and cars, everything I had I can get it back. Just her health is the most important to me now," said Hader, through a translator.
Hader explained that a fire that killed his youngest son also left Esmma with life-threatening injuries. A cooking accident sparked the flames that burned most of her body.
After the burns healed over, Esmma literally struggled to smile. Scars pulled her jaw downward in a permanent frown.
The family brought Esmma to a burn clinic operated by U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Various national guard units rotate responsibility for the clinic. At the time when Esmma arrive, the volunteers who staffed the tiny facility were members of the Minnesota National Guard.
Soldiers were heartbroken to see the little girl in pain. Doctors also determined that her long-term survival was not promising unless she received advanced medical care.
It took a year for guard members to arrange for Esmma and her father to receive treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Once they arrived, Esmma was amazed to see tall buildings and to see snow for the first time.
She explained her thoughts through a translator.
"Even the weather, I like it," said Esmma.
Esmma shows a metal device that is attached to her arm. It is being used to straighten her arm that is bowed because of the injuries.
"Her chin pushed in against her neck," said Dr. Steven Moran, Associate Professor of Orthopedics and Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Moran is using techniques on Esmma ... that are only available at a handful of U.S. hospitals. The treatments will allow her jaw to grow as she ages.
"By releasing the skin, you can almost see her smile," he said.
Esmma is thrilled she can speak and close her mouth. In two months, she has had eight surgeries and learned a little English.
"Hi," said Esmma in English as she passed a nurse.
"How are you?" asked the nurse.
"Good," said Esmma.
A year ago, her injuries threatened her life. Now, Esmma can smile again, just ask her what she likes about America.
"The chicken here is good," she said through a translator. As she laughed, she smiled despite bandages and wounds that are healing on her face.
"I feel a lot of her personality back now, not just the smile," said Hader. "She's so happy about what happened and how she got some improvement."
Esmma has six additional surgeries ahead. Some of the procedures will relieve the extreme pain she suffers from scarring on her torso. She'll return to Iraq at the end of the year.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)