STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Young Omar Abukwaik, the 4-year-old boy who was gravely injured in Gaza as a result of a disastrous bombing to his home amid a raging war, has bid Staten Island a fond farewell.
The young child, and his aunt, Maha Aburezeq, boarded a plane at John F. Kennedy International Airport en route to the Middle East on Thursday after more than a month of medical examinations, surgery and subsequent treatments at several hospitals and doctor’s offices.
The aunt and nephew will be residing with Aburezeq’s family in Egypt.
Omar lost his arm when debris flew through the air when his home was destroyed. Portions of his leg and his body were also severely burned and his face badly bruised by shrapnel.
His entire immediate family was killed in the bombing.
OMAR’S TREATMENTS
On Jan. 18, the day after Omar arrived in New York, Elissa Montanti, founder and director of the Global Medical Relief Fund, escorted the young child and his aunt to Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, where he was examined by Dr. Scott H. Kozin, chief of staff at the Philadelphia medical facility.
Global Medical Relief Fund’s mission is to help homeless children with no resources who are victims of war, natural disasters or other catastrophes locally and worldwide. It provides care, compassion and access to free medical treatments for those in need. Montanti was a 2011 Advance Woman of Achievement in honor of the life-changing work she does through the organization.
Omar Abukwaik adjusts to his new prosthetic arm. (Courtesy/Elissa Montanti)Staten Island Advance
Omar underwent surgery in Shriner’s Children’s Hospital several weeks ago where he was under the care of Kozin, who performed surgery to repair damage to Omar’s leg. He also received silicone treatments to his arm to prepare him for his prosthetic.
Omar Abukwaik is all smiles after receiving a prosthetic arm. (Courtesy/Elissa Montanti)Staten Island Advance
Luis Velasquez, a certified prosthetist and pedorthic at Shriner’s…
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