BN Posted July 17, 2003 Omar gets 'new tummy' and a fresh start in life Picture: CRAIG ABRAHAM Four-year-old Omar Muse Mohamed shows his "new tummy" July 17 2003 By Lucy Beaumont When four-year-old Omar arrived in Melbourne on Christmas Eve, he carried much of his bowel in a plastic bag. When he returns home to Somalia on Monday, able to run and play for the first time, he will take clothes and toys and his "new tummy". "He pulls up his jumper and says, 'Finished'," said Moira Kelly, of the Children First Foundation, as Omar Muse Mohamed wriggled happily in her arms yesterday. "His family would never have seen Omar with such a personality. He was so gaunt and malnourished," she said. Rushed to the Royal Children's Hospital, Omar was anaemic, had not eaten for weeks and his bowel was infected and bleeding. Photographs show that a failed colostomy operation - required because Omar was born without an anus-had left part of his digestive system dangling near his feet. For years, he has carried his growing intestines around in a plastic bag taped to his chest. The tape left cracks in his skin. Once he was well enough, surgeon Paddy Dewan re-connected Omar's bowel, unblocked his urethra and created an anus for him. Although Somali doctors had tried to correct the birth defect, which affects one in 5000 babies , Omar would not have survived much longer in his native country. "Instead of going home to Somalia now, they would have been burying him earlier than now," Professor Dewan said. The life-saving treatment was made possible by Ms Kelly, Victoria's Australian of the Year, with $15,000 in donations from Rotary, corporations and expatriate Somalis, as well as free medical aid. "Eight weeks ago we did our first poo in our bottom," Ms Kelly said. "We were all crying and celebrating like it was a birthday party." Ms Kelly has helped about 180 impoverished or war-affected children to receive urgent medical treatment in Australia, Britain and the United States. Omar is unlikely to need further surgery and will rejoin his nomadic family of 10 in rural Somalia. "The children may be very poor but they are also very loved," Ms Kelly said. "He's got a mum and dad who love him more than we can imagine. That's where he belongs." Saying goodbye to the boy with a new-found grin will be heart-wrenching for Ms Kelly. Issa Farah, "Dhoollawaa" "I usually drop them at the airport and cry all the way home," she said. But with 11 overseas children staying at her Kilmore farm and more on the way, Ms Kelly's focus will soon be diverted. Her Somalian liaison, Issa Farah, will escort Omar home before returning to Melbourne with four sick children at the end of the month. They include two requiring heart surgery and one young girl with kerosene burns to her face and body. A Children First Foundation fund-raiser will be held tonight at Preston's Hotel William. Call 9485 0050 for tickets. Source: The Age, July 17, 03 ________________________________________________________________________ If your not crying by now--reread the story Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoVa Posted July 17, 2003 Ohhhhh...i feel like crying now...the nightmare he has gone throught and how his smiling now. Alxamdulilaah, it's great that his doing great now'masha allah....dats such a great news 2 hear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PlayMaker Posted July 17, 2003 It is good news he is doing well, for some reason the somalis in australia they always do good job with those kids and don't forget about those docs! I am so proud of them! Ilaahey kheyr ha ka siiyo.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rahima Posted July 18, 2003 Mashallah, Omar is just so adorable! May Allah reward the people that make it possible. Unfortunately, the children are kept on an estate outside of Melbourne. However, many Somali sisters have gone up there for a few days at a time to keep the children company (I'm sure they all long to see Somali people) and all speak of how inspiring and full of life these children are. You would never think they are suffering from life threatening illnesses. For any body in Melbourne please contact Br. Ciisa or even shaykh Ciisa at the Islamic Council of Victoria for your assistance is much needed. Please make the effort especially if you are a brother, for as you can imagine it's a bit difficult for the same sisters to continuously keep going up to Kilmore considering school is on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lefty Posted July 18, 2003 WaaaaaW That's very touching thread! Congrat goes to those who helped that young boy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shyhem Posted July 18, 2003 I'm Glad he finally got the help he needs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abdinuur Posted July 19, 2003 I am glad that Omar is doing good and well! Allahu Akbar! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blessed Posted July 20, 2003 Oooh, he is soo cute Ilahay ha u barakeeyo. In Sha Allah Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Intuition Posted August 4, 2003 Asalaamu'alaykum, Alhamdulilah Omar's story was one with a happy ending. Masha'Allah if you guys had met him walahi you would have never thought he had a worry in the world. He was so active and masha'allah always running around like a headless chook. I miss him already. Alhamdulilah I got to meet and participate in helping the children 1st foundation and met the inspiration behind it all. a women by the name of Moira Kelly, who devoted "all" her time and energy to helping these young children, Alhamdulilah. However, what we do need is more volunteers. Walahi I'm ashamed to say that amongst the thousands of Somali people that live in Melbourne, we often find it hard to find volunteers to take shifts at either hospital, or the farm where the children are staying. There will be 4 more Somali children coming to Australia very soon and assistance from the Somali would be greatly appreciated insha'allah. Please private message me if you wish to help out insha'allah, and i'll let you know how. its not alot of work, but it is very rewarding. There is currently 1 somali boy By the name of Osman who is still here and has a very long road ahead of him, please make pleny of dua' for him. his condition is pretty serious and its gonna be awhile be4 he's going to have the all clear. Jazakumllahu khayrun Bari_Nomad for posting this up. And I hope to see more somali's helping out our people. We all need to get activily involved. wasalaam. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
