About Noora
Noora Afif Abdulhameed was injured Oct. 23, 2006, in Heet, Iraq, when a U.S. sniper fired from a rooftop toward the family's car. The bullet destroyed tissue on the left side of Noora's head and her forehead, ruptured her cerebral membrane, and shattered part of her skull.
No More Victims, a nonprofit organization that brings war-injured Iraqi children to the United States for medical treatment brought the six-year-old and her father, Afif Abdulhameed Otaiwi to Portland in July.
For updates or to donate money for her care, or the care of other wounded Iraqi children go to No More Victims.
Timeline
OCT. 23, 2006: Noora Afif Abdulhameed is hit by a sniper's bullet in Iraq on her way home from a family celebration. The bullet makes a large hole in her skull and destroys her cerebral
membrane, the protective covering that surrounds the brain. Noora lies in a coma for 10 days.
JUNE 6, 2008: Noora and her father, Afif Abdulhameed Otaiwi, leave their hometown of Heet and travel to Amman, Jordan, the first leg of their journey to America.
JULY 10, 2008: Noora and her father arrive at the Portland Jetport, where they are greeted by a crowd of well-wishers.
JULY 15, 2008: Noora goes to Maine Medical Center for the first time for a CT scan to assess the extent of her head injury. Doctors are unable to find a usable vein because of the scar
tissue she's developed getting numerous IVs in Iraq, and the procedure is delayed for a few days.
AUG. 22, 2008: Noora receives a balloon implant to stretch her scalp so there will be enough skin to cover her artificial skull after it is attached.
DEC. 12, 2008: In a six-hour operation at Maine Med, the thigh graft that was placed over Noora's wound by Iraqi doctors to protect her brain is removed. A prosthetic piece of skull
custom-made for her head is then placed over her injury.
JAN. 19, 2009: The skin stretched over Noora's new skull does not heal properly, so Noora's plastic surgeon applies a product to encourage the growth of new skin.
FEB. 23, 2009: The product applied Jan. 19 doesn't work, so doctors remove Noora's prosthetic skull piece so that it can be sterilized. Three expandable balloons are placed under her
scalp to make more skin over the next few weeks. The new skin will eventually be pulled over the wound.
MAY 4, 2009: In a three-hour operation, Noora's prosthetic skull piece is successfully reinserted and her new skin is stretched over the plate, eliminating a large portion of the scar
tissue on her head.
MAY 20, 2009: Noora gets approval from her doctors to go home to Iraq.
MAY 30, 2009: Friends throw a going-away party for Noora and her father at Fort Williams Park, one of their favorite places in Maine.
JUNE 4, 2009: Noora participates in a fashion-show fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House.
JUNE 6, 2009: Noora and her father fly to New York to begin their long journey home to Iraq.
Noora's last week
Snow Fun
Birthday Party
Dancing
Casco Bay
Arrival
A look back
Noora's scrapbook
The journey continues
Noora's birthday
The journey begins
