Lend a Hand By Helping Fahim to Get One

He came to America at the age of 4, the victim of a bombing fire in Afghanistan when he was just 6 months old. He was accepted for treatment at the Shriners Burn Hospital in Galveston, Texas. He came to stay with my husband and me for 6 months. That was nearly twenty years ago.

He had 42 surgeries to repair the damage done to him as an infant. He lost his nose, his eyelids, part of his scalp, and his left hand. When he was little, I told him about how brave and smart he was. I might not have been with him when he got hurt, but the solid scar on the back of his left forearm told me he instinctively covered his eyes—saving them but losing his hand as a result.

He amazed me as a small boy with his determination. With each surgery, there were no tears, no "why me?" Whatever the doctors needed to do—burn his skin with lasers, take off pieces of his ears or skin off his arms—he never complained. Back then, as today, he did what had to be done. He put his faith in God and grew his patience.

This little boy who did not know how to hold a pencil when he came here graduated high school with honors. With his one hand, he taught himself how to weld, fish, and bake. He types, drives, and changes the oil in my car.

In raising him, my husband and I never asked for help from anyone. We were grateful to Shriners for all they did. So, why am I asking for your help now? The other night, he cut off the tip of his index finger while slicing a cucumber on a mandoline. His wound bled like crazy, but gauze and pressure helped us stop it. A subsequent doctor visit and a tetanus shot later had us leaving the clinic with his finger swathed in gauze as thick as a sausage. Once again, an injury. Once again, no complaint.

The sight of him limited by this injury to his poor only hand made me realize how badly he needs a functional robotic hand. I did some research, and the cost is beyond what I can do for him at this time in my life.

When he was small, a friend of mine wanted to buy his school clothes. I thanked her sincerely but told her it was okay. We were good. My friend looked me right in the eye and said, "Caring for Fahim is a blessing. Why are you keeping all the blessing for yourself? Let us share in it." We need to raise at least $30,000 in order to get his hand.

I am inviting you to share in the blessing of giving Fahim the opportunity to be all he can be. I am inviting you to do something extraordinary for an extraordinary young man.

Thank you