Iraqi Boy Thanks U.S. Doctors Who Saved Him

He is, said one observer, the "poster child" for the innocent victims of the Iraq war.

And like so many others, Waad Burkan, 9, still wears the scars from that war.

Waad and two friends were walking home from school near Baghdad in May, 2008. Along the way, they found a bottle and began kicking it. First, one kid; then another. Finally, Waad drew his foot back and swatted the bottle. That's when it exploded.

It was a device designed to kill U.S. troops. Instead, it destroyed the right side of the boy's face and ultimately cost him an eye, a leg and an arm.

"After the accident, I felt his life was destroyed," said Waad's mother, Wafaa Ali, through a translator.

Two ;years later however, Ali cried tears of joy for her son. He was smiling and running again, thanks to a dedicated team of volunteers and doctors.

"It never gets old," said Elissa Montanti of the Global Medical Relief Fund, a non-profit group that helps children in need from Iraq and around the globe.

The U.S. troops who first saved Waad's life after the explosion later asked Montanti to do more.  Four months ago, Montanti brought Waad to the U-S.

At Shriner's Hospital in Philadelphia, the boy received prosthetic limbs. In NY City, an ocular prosthetics group, Kirszrot Prosthetic, provided a new eye. And at North Shore-LIJ Hospital in Manhasset, a plastic surgeon rebuilt Waad's face. All, at no cost to his family.

"We're intimately involved with this war so it is our duty to help not only our own soldiers but also the victims of the war," said Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, of the Long Island Plastic Surgical group.

"I like them," was Waad's response when asked what he thought of the people who had helped him.

The smiling boy had hugs and thanks for all at a farewell ceremony in Manhasset. Waad and his mom are returning to Iraq on Tuesday, with a new lease on life.

"God bless America," Wafaa Ali said, as photographers snapped pictures of her son.

But Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-Nassau/Queens), who provided an American flag as a going away present, called the whole incident, "bittersweet."

"At first, you look at him and say, My God, what have we done. Then you see how it turned out and say, My God, look what we CAN do," said Ackerman.

For his part, Waad's smile was ever-present. He even challenged reporters to arm wrestle, taking us down with the exuberance unique to nine year olds.

"He is a charming, wonderful soul," said Dr. Alizadeh. "We can all learn from him."