The Enquirer

Heart surgery began at about 9 a.m. today for an 8-year-old girl from Iraq who received help from several people and organizations to travel to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

The procedure, to repair a hole in the girl's heart and to treat an infection in her heart tissue, was expected to take about five hours. The surgery is being performed by Dr. Peter Manning, director of cardiothoracic surgery at Cincinnati Children's.

The girl, Fatima Saad Abdul-Aziz, was brought in early May to a U.S. military base outside Baghdad by her father seeking medical help. Her situation captured the attention of 2nd Lt. Todd Wilson, a physician's assistant in the Army's 1st Infantry Division, who worked for months to arrange for her treatment.

Fatima is the first child from Iraq to be treated at Cincinnati Children's since the war began. The hospital typically takes on one to five international charity cases a year, said spokesman Jim Feuer.

Fatima, an aunt and a cardiologist from Iraq, are staying with Marian and Dick Tarvin of Anderson Township.

Previous stories:
• 8-year-old Iraqi girl comes to town for heart surgery
• Email correspondence leading up to Fatima's surgery