Youssif before the attack.

Youssif after the attack.

Do you remember Youssif? I do. He was a little Iraqi boy who was burned for no reason at all. Some agent of evil threw gasoline on this beautiful five year old boy and set him on fire. No reason has ever been given.

When I heard about his burns, and that he was coming to America, I donated to the Children’s Burn Foundation. Not saying that to brag, but to explain why I got this e-mail today:

February 5, 2008

Dear Friends,

You have given Youssif and my family many miracles.

When we first arrived in the United States, we didn’t know where we would live. We didn’t know anyone. But we knew that Youssif would be getting the help he needed.

In September when we landed in Los Angeles, it had been 9 months since Youssif was burned. His scars were big and tight. He could not smile. He could not open or close his mouth. He could only eat by pushing soft food into his mouth. My joyful Youssif was gone.

Now, Youssif eats anything he wants because he can open and close his mouth. I have begun to see my son’s lively spirit return. The surgeries have removed more than just external scars, they are also beginning to remove his internal scars. A few weeks ago we went to the park and Youssif rode on the merry-go-round. Every time he passed by, he shrieked and laughed and
waved wildly to me. I thought my heart would burst with happiness.

Tuesday, January 15, was a very hard day for my wife Zainab and me. Youssif’s attack was one year ago that same day. But this year, it was the day for another miracle, Youssif’s first day of kindergarten. It was a very happy day. Keely, our friend from the Children’s Burn Foundation talked with the teachers about Youssif’s injuries. The other children in his classroom had
already learned about his burns. When he arrived at school they welcomed him, hugged him and all wanted to stand next to him. One little girl helped him with the lesson - to write the letter M. Youssif was shy, but he wanted to meet the children. He came home from his second day of school and told me he needed a cell phone! (He is not getting one.)

We are sending you pictures. In the first one Youssif is wearing his backpack for school. In the second picture he practices the letter ‘M’ with Keely. We hope you enjoy them.

Being in a new country with a different language, far away from our family, watching Youssif go through many painful treatments has been very difficult. On Friday, January 25, Youssif had his second surgery in one week. The doctor tells us he will need maybe 12 more.

But my wife and I know we are so lucky. We know Youssif has the best doctors and nurses. And the Children’s Burn Foundation has helped us so much. They bring us Arabic food. They have found Arabic speaking people to translate for us. They even found a school for Zainab and me to learn English. They are tutoring Youssif and showing him how to do homework. They
have become our extended family.

Every day we think about you and the other people who have given us these miracles.

We thank you a million times and more.

Youssif’s Mom and Dad

Without a doubt, that was the best fifty dollars I ever spent. (Definitely better than the $50 I gave Fred Thompson.) It wasn’t much, but it was what I could afford at the time. How much can you afford? Being a burn victim myself, albeit no where near this bad, I don’t mind shilling for this charity.

But you could to a lot worse than spending a little green helping this kid, and other kids, get their lives back. If you want, donate here.