LANSING, MICH.-Following the excitement of a national basketball championship game, the Michigan National Guard will add to Michigan's morale-boost Thursday April 9 at 10:30 a.m. during a welcome ceremony for Mohammed, a very special Iraqi boy who will receive medical care as a result of joint efforts between the Michigan National Guard, Sparrow Hospital and Michigan State University.

As an infant Mohammed was trapped in a house fire and suffered debilitating burns on his scalp, face, left arm and hand, abdomen, and his left leg and foot. He met Maj. David Howell, a Michigan Army National Guard physician's assistant deployed to Iraq, in November 2008 at an entry control point in the Al Anbar Province.

Howell, a Grand Ledge resident, deployed with the 125th Infantry headquartered in Wyoming, Mich. The 125th Infantry is comprised of units from Big Rapids, Flint, Saginaw and Detroit and included medics from the Bay City based Forward Support Company.

"From the first moment I laid eyes on Mohammed I wanted to help him," Howell said. "After I realized he could speak English I began talking to him and at one point he looked up to me and asked, 'Can you save me?' There was no doubt in my mind I needed to help this boy."

Mohammed will receive skin grafts and plastic and reconstructive surgery at Sparrow Hospital by Dr. Edward Lanigan of the Michigan State University Department of Surgery. He will require several surgeries over the next year.

An East Lansing, Arab-American family will sponsor Mohammed while he is in the U.S. To help cover costs, Howell set up a non-profit organization called Martyr Medical Fund for Children. A website at, www.martyrmedicalfund.com describes the organization and allows viewers to make donations. In addition, several Michigan businesses are contributing supplies for Mohammed's use.

Culturally, Mohammed will be assisted by the East Lansing Islamic Center and he will continue his education at the Greater Lansing Islamic School.

Howell added, "Mohammed is a truly remarkable child who deserves a chance to thrive; and in the process of healing him we are healing ourselves, as individuals, communities and as a state."

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MEDIA ADVISORY:
Media is invited to attend the ceremony; this may be the only opportunity to interview Mohammed as camera lights will not be allowed on his skin for several months following surgery. It is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Michigan National Guard Headquarters located at 3411 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The headquarters building is the last building in the complex. For the best coverage location please RSVP your attendance to Capt. Corissa Barton at 517-481-8137.