Ali Ismail Abbas
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Ali Ismail Abbas (born 1991) is an Iraqi boy who was severely injured in a nighttime rocket attack near Baghdad during the United States invasion of Iraq in 2003.
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[edit] Injury
During the attack, two errant American missiles landed on his family's home, killing his parents, his brother and 13 other members of his family. Both of Ali's arms had to be amputated and third-degree burns covered at least 35 percent of his body. He was 12 years old at the time. Ali underwent treatment in Kuwait and later in London, where he was fitted with robotic prosthetic arms, paid for by the Kuwaiti government. He no longer uses the arms, having found them too heavy and unwieldy, although he wears artificial arms while attending school so as not to draw attention to himself. In 2004, a book – The Ali Abbas Story – was written about Ali by Jane Warren and published by Harper Collins. He is currently attending the Hall School Wimbledon, an independent school in Wimbledon, London, England. He has learned to speak English, and to write and paint with his feet. He has written and published a children's book. He was featured on the 60 Minutes television news program on May 13, 2007.[1]
[edit] Limbless Association
The Limbless Association was driven by the substantial public response to the plight of the then 12-year-old Ali Ismail Abbas. LA set up a restricted fund to assist those rendered amputees by the Iraq conflict. It was during a visit to Iraq that LA Chairman Zafar Khan met Ahmad Hamza, a 14-year old boy who had also been injured in the Iraq conflict, resulting in his right leg and left hand being amputated. The Limbless Association pledged to use the Ali Fund to help both Ali and Ahmad. Limbless Association is the legal guardian for both Ali and Ahmad until they are 18 years of age.
[edit] The Baghdad Bikers
Ali and his friends go on a publicity bike ride every year and have named the event - The Baghdad Bikers. [2]
[edit] References
- Bob Meadows, Juliet Butler. "Ali gets better", People Magazine, November 10, 2003.
- Dovey, Charlotte. "We gave orphan Ali his arms back", Daily Mail, November 4, 2003.
- Warren, Jane. "The Ali Abbas Story: The Moving Story of One Boy's Struggle for Life", Harper Collins, 2004.
