Faizul is doing much better, considering the circumstances, but his journey is just beginning.  We are gong to do everything possible to get him out of this war zone and get him to America.

Already the fund raising has started.  We have put notices and cans for donations throughout the area, letting people know that this precious little boy is in dire need of further medical help and assistance.  Hopefully these people will have a heart and realize that not all Americans are "bad" or "evil".

Faizul is just about healed in the physical sense: he no longer wears the cervical traction halo around his head, nor casts on his arms; his arms are nearly as good as new.  His legs, however, are a different story, as is his spine: he remains partially paralyzed and his legs will never grow back: they have been blown off.  He will probably be fitted with prosthetic legs before too long.  If he can't wear prosthetics, he will probably spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Faizul has not smiled or spoken a word ever since we first met him.  One wonders if he is mute or if he's been so traumatized he refuses to communicate.  All he does is lie there, staring at us with those incredibly inense, dark eyes with the long lashes.  He is one of the prettiest little babies we have ever seen.  

This child reminds us that even in war, there is beauty.

We do not know what the future holds for Baby Faizul (as we have christened him), but one thing IS certain: he would certainly be a lot better off in America, where he can get the continued medical care he needs and he would most certainly be safer.  A lot safer.  A war zone is not fit for a child, let alone, anybody.

Even though the war is officially over here in Iraq, insurgents still crawl all over and continue to attack their own people.  There are still some American military personnel present, but not nearly as many, so these people are often at the mercy of the insurgents.  It is not safe.

All we can do is pray to God to keep us from harm and pray for a miracle for Baby Faizul.  We must do all we can to get this precious little peanut to America and pray that this comes to light.

~To be continued.~