AL ASAD, Iraq -- The medical staff, casualty evacuation and medical evacuation service members here are constantly prepared to save the lives of their comrades, but recently they helped ensure that a young child would live to see another day.
Neba Eyad Ibrahim, a six-year-old local citizen of Ramadi, Iraq, was recently transported to the 399th Combat Support Hospital here to treat a gun shot wound she received outside her home.
“I think that it is great that we got to help her,” said Army Maj. Frank Cannizzo, a general surgeon for the 399th Combat Support Hospital. “That is the reason that we are here, to patch up (service members) and civilians.”
Neba was shot by a sniper upon opening the door to her home after hearing an explosion nearby, according to her father Husain Eyad Ibrahim.
“I didn’t know what to do,” said Ibrahim through a translator. “I knew that there was an American base near my area, so I took her there.”
Ibrahim rushed his daughter to a local medical facility located nearby, but because of the extent of her injuries she had to be medically evacuated in a military helicopter to Al Asad.
Upon arrival, Neba was put into surgery which lasted about three to four hours, according to Cannizzo.
“When she got here we had to perform exploratory surgery to see where the bullet was,” said Cannizzo. “The bullet was in her abdomen, it caused damage to her liver, gall bladder and small intestine.”
Although Neba had a serious injury, the medical staff believes that they helped her recover to full health, according to Army Spc. Jamila Lewis, a licensed practical nurse for the 399th Combat Support Hospital.
“She recovered very well,” said Lewis. “At first she did not want to move, now she is up and moving around. It’s a pleasure to see her like that.”
Neba and her father were recently transported back to their home.
“It is a terrible thing that happened to her,” said Lewis. “It is outstanding that we were able to help her. I am happy to see her go home.”