Iraqi boy given ‘Gift of Life’

An 11-year-old Iraqi boy recently received life-saving surgery in Queens thanks to the dedication of several people, beginning with U.S. Army Reservist Captain Brian Freeman.
Freeman first learned about Ali, who was born with two holes in his heart, through the boy’s father Abdul, who approached Freeman while he was stationed in Iraq. Freeman and his wife, Charlotte, did research and eventually found the Gift of Life Program, which is based in Manhasset and chaired by Robert Donno.
After Freeman obtained visas for Ali and Abdul, who requested his last name be withheld, they came to the United States to have surgery at Schneider Children’s Hospital, followed by a stay at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. Gift of Life, along with the Manhasset organization Father and Sons Group, which is led by Jim and Chris McCann of 1-800-Flowers, sponsored the surgery. McCann said that 1-800-Flowers also provided assistance.
Tragically, Freeman was not able to see his goal accomplished. On January 20, the day after getting the visas, he was killed in Iraq.
Charlotte said that helping others was just part of her husband’s personality and that helping Ali and Abdul was only the beginning of what he had hoped to accomplish. Last week, Charlotte, along with her mother-in-law, Kathleen Snyder, and children Gunnar and Ingrid, came from California in order to meet the people who Freeman had worked so hard to help.
“It was very important for me to meet this family,” said Charlotte, adding that she feels as though Freeman is living on through Ali’s life being saved. “It’s been a very healing experience. It’s great to see Brian’s wish to help Ali completed and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
While also staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, Charlotte and her family bonded a great deal with Ali and Abdul. Shortly after his surgery, Ali was already running around and playing with Gunnar. Abdul said that, since the operation, his son is more active, can go up and down stairs without breathing problems, and looks better.
Through an interpreter, Abdul also said that the two best gifts he has been given in life are the recovery of his son and meeting the Freeman family. Ali added that he loves the Freeman family very much and also wanted to thank them for all they did for him.
Charlotte said that, regardless of language barriers, she will be keeping in touch with Ali and Abdul. She also said that her late husband would be very happy to see how the two families have come together.
“He’d be completely overjoyed and [would have] just a sense of great accomplishment,” she said. “He’d be so happy to see the two boys playing.”