The Hindu : New Delhi News : Tracing Youssif’s battle for life

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Saturday, Jan 05, 2008
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Tracing Youssif’s battle for life

Madhur Tankha

CNN’s documentary on the Iraqi boy today

RELIVING A JOURNEY: “Impact Your World: Rescuing Youssif” will document the family’s experience of starting a new life in the U.S.

NEW DELHI: Telling the story of an Iraqi boy’s journey to recovery from a horrific attack is a special documentary titled “Impact Your World: Rescuing Youssif” on CNN on Saturday.

The documentary has been made possible by the compassion shown by television viewers for five-year-old Youssif, who was tragically grabbed outside his central Baghdad home by masked assailants. Youssif was later doused in gasoline and set on fire, resulting in terrible burns to his face and hands.

Contributions

CNN’s Baghdad-based correspondent Arwa Damon called on Youssif’s father, heard the story and reported it on the channel.

Through CNN’s online “Impact Your World” initiative, viewers from around the world made contributions to the Children’s Burn Foundation, allowing Youssif and his family to fly to the United States for treatment.

In fact, Youssif’s story drew the biggest response in the history of CNN.com. Plastic surgeon Peter Grossman offered to donate his services for the half dozen or more surgeries Youssif will need.

Medical progress

In the documentary, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Damon will be shown monitoring Youssif’s medical progress at the Grossman Burn Center.

“Impact Your World: Rescuing Youssif” documents and watches the family as it experiences a series of firsts during their new life in the United States — from learning how to use a toaster to seeing the ocean for the first time.

To reach across to as many viewers as possible, the documentary will also be aired this Sunday.

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