In 2003, when Teeba was 18 months old, she was in a taxi with her 3-year old brother Yousef, her parents and some other passengers when they were hit by an insurgent bomb. Several people were killed, including her brother. Her parents were only slightly injured. She sustained burns to her hands, head and face and was in critical condition in the hospital for 40 days. She has virtually no hair on the top and sides of her head, some on the lower back of the scalp and is severally scarred, especially around the lower half of her face.

Teeba is now 5 years old. Barbara Marlowe, co-chair of the 2008 Wigs for Kids Gala read about her in the Plain Dealer on July 16, 2006. Her father said he would sell everything he owned to make her whole. The kids made fun of her. Her story compelled Barbara and her husband Tim to reach out and make a difference in her life.

After a year of various attempts to get her here and many roadblocks, she arrived one year to the day, July 16, 2007 with the help of the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital will be facilitating the surgeries which will be a process that will take two years. Tissue expanders are already in place and she has already started growing her new skin. Wigs for Kids has provided her with the hair she has always longed for.

Thanks to the Mentor ATA Balck Belt Academy and Karate for Kids, Teeba has gained a sense of accomplishment and confidence that will certainly be an integral part of her many surgical procedures and recovery.

Donations can be made to The Teeba Furat Savings Fund at any National City Bank.



For more information about Teeba, click the following to links on the www.wkyc.com web site:
  Girl from Iraq injured by bomb blast, finds warm welcome in Cleveland (11/23/2007)
  Teeba's Journey (07/27/2007)

More news clips are available from other television stations if there is an interest. She was also featured on the front page of the News Herald twice and the cover of the Plain Dealer Arts & Living Section. Follow-up stories are already being documented. Her journey is currently being chronicled for People Magazine.