Troops fly Iraqi boy, 8, to receive heart surgery

�It was a great feeling being able to do this together with so many Iraqi crewmembers on board,�

Although 8-year-old Baher looks happy and healthy, Iraqi and U.S. Air Force C-130 crewmembers knew his true condition when they gave him the ride of his life Aug. 22.

Baher and his mother, Afaf, were headed to New Orleans to repair a hole in his heart via a new program called Operation Mend a Heart. Airmen and Soldiers were glad to get the healing process underway.

�I was very happy to (be a part of the aircrew to) help him,� said Iraqi air force navigator Atiya from Squadron 23 (Transport). His full name is not used because of personal security. Atiya was one of the C-130 crewmembers who flew Baher from Baghdad International Airport to Basra Air Station on the first leg of his journey.

Atiya has reason to sympathize.

�I have three boys myself,� said Atiya, who held Baher on his lap to show him the airplane�s control panel.

From Basra, Soldiers from Humanitarian Operation Center Army Civil Affairs were waiting to whisk the family to Kuwait to obtain the proper visas and paperwork they would need for their ultimate destination -- Tulane University and Hospital Clinic in New Orleans where Baher will receive surgery to correct his congenital heart defect.

The $100,000 surgery, which is donated by Tulane, was facilitated through Operation Mend a Heart -- a joint effort among Tulane, the U.S. military and coalition forces. More than 10 different U.S. and coalition military and civilian agencies are involved in the effort.

�Let�s just say it�s a network of inspired people,� said Army Lt. Col. Mark Matthews Sr., who helped coordinate intra-theater airlift. While deployed to Southwest Asia in January from the 90th Regional Readiness Command at Camp Pike in Little Rock, Ark., he began dreaming of ways to help Iraqi children with heart problems.