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His plight touched American Army officers, who tried to arrange
medical care in Iraq. Major Brian Stevens of the Texas Army
National Guard said: "We normally would try to use the
Iraqi health care system first if we can. "But in Kadhem's
case we had to take him to the US for care because the cardiac
hospital in Baghdad does not have the capability to do the
surgery he needed."
With no direct flights out of Iraq, he needed to be flown
to a neighbouring country. But US forces had no aircraft available,
so the job of flying Kadhem and his father out of Iraq fell
to Flt Lt Al Tano, Flt Lt Andy Graham, Master Aircrew Gerry
Maher and Sgt Paul Parrott of 24 Squadron at RAF Lyneham.
When the day came he boarded the aircraft with his father,
along with a British and American nurse, and as soon as the
giant transport plane took off, Kadhem fell asleep in his
dad's arms. Just over an hour later the crew arrived in Kuwait,
where Kadhem spent several days being looked after by American
medics. He was then taken by German Lufthansa aircraft from
Kuwait to Texas. Flt Lt Tano said: "The Americans had
no aircraft available, so we flew him it was a routine
flight, but he and his father seemed a little concerned. I
think it was the first time they had ever flown.
"We do occasionally fly missions like this and it's
great to know we have helped this lad." Flt Lt Andy Graham,
co-pilot on the mission said: "It made a change from
the daily task of ferrying around soldiers and equipment.
We are always keen to do our bit for humanitarian missions,
but its pleasing to know we have made a big difference to
this little boy's life."
Little is known about Kadhem's treatment, but the crew say
they have heard through the grapevine that the treatment was
successful. In January 2004, a Lyneham aircrew flew a 350-mile
mission from Swansea to Glasgow to save the life of critically
ill newborn baby after stormy weather grounded all other aircraft
and helicopters. |
