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Alawi is a skinny 13-year-old Shiite boy who lives near our bureau. He has weak eyes and wears thick spectacles, and often shouts a greeting in English when he catches us going through the compound gates.
He lives with his parents and five younger siblings. His father is out of work so Alawi feeds the family by selling black market gasoline and delivering cooking gas cannisters. He makes a few dollars a day, and sometimes a little extra by holding a place for a neighbor in a long line of people waiting at the local gas station.
He was there last week waiting to refill a gas cannister. Iraqi guards were on duty to protect the crowd from bombers who frequently target gas stations, bus terminals and gatherings of day laborers looking for work. Sometimes they'll even attack funerals to inflict as many casualties as possible.
VIDEO: Watch NBC News footage of Alawi before the bombing and after (1:00 of video).
One of the guards asked Alawi to hop across the street and fetch him a sandwich. He left his empty gas cannister in the care of a friend, took the guard's money and ducked through a police convoy passing by.
That's when the bomb exploded.
There was a deafening roar and a column of black smoke shot into the air. The blast wave pushed Alawi forward and he felt a hot blow to his shoulder. Blood spurted into his face. He fainted.
The blast was heard all over the neighborhood. We could see the smoke and knew immediately the gas station had been targeted. Ambulance sirens and the frantic honking from private vehicles carrying the wounded to hospitals filled the air.
Alawi's father ran from his house to the gas station. A neighbor told him his son had been badly hurt. He rushed to the local hospital. A medical worker told him Alawi had been taken into an operating room covered in blood. He'd probably lose an arm, the worker said.
But Alawi got lucky. A surgeon at the hospital was just about to go off duty when the casualties from the gas station began flooding in. He looked at Alawi's wound and made a snap decision to try and save the arm rather than amputate. He cut through the shoulder and down towards the chest cavity and eased out a sliver of metal that had sliced through some nerves. A few stitches and a few bandages later Alawi was wheeled out into a recovery ward.
Alawi's father saw him there... still unconscious from the anesthetic, wrapped in bandages and covered in blood but breathing and with his arm still attached. He wept and offered prayers in thanks.
Five days later Alawi's father brought his son home. I went to say hello.
Alawi's mother had made him up a single bed with fresh sheets in the family living room. He was weak and he had a headache. His father rubbed his head to try and make it go away. His mother made him a sandwich and a glass of fruit juice. Alawi was tired. He kissed his younger sister and lay back on the pillow.
His mother says she won't let him go near the gas station again. If someone else brings gasoline or cooking gas to the house she may let him distribute it locally, but she'll never ever let him stand in line again. He's the sole provider for the family, she says, and he's as brave as a lion. But she won't let him risk his life again.
Alawi's father says it was God's will that his son wasn't killed. It'll take at least a month for his arm to heal, he says, and probably another month of physical therapy before Alawi can use it to lift anything.
The sad thing is Alawi was saving a few coins every day to get an eye operation in neighboring Iran where they have affordable laser surgery. Alawi hated wearing glasses, and his sight gets weaker by the month. Now, says his father, the operation will have to be postponed indefinitely.
One more thing: Alawi's friend, the one who saved his place in line at the gas station when he ran to get the guard a sandwich, lost a leg in the blast.
God's will, says Alawi. Behind his thick glasses I can see a tear.
Read more from Brian Williams in Iraq, Tom Aspell
Early Nightly -- Baghdad edition
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Alawi's close call in Baghdad By Tom Aspell, NBC News correspondent in Baghdad Alawi is a skinny 13-year-old Shiite boy who lives...
Posted on Mar 7, 2007 10:13:06 AM at: WorldBlog
Excuse me Mr. Bixby, the people over in Iraq are suffering because it is the TERRORISTS who are killing and maming them, NOT our government. Just because it may have been a huge mistake for us to go into Iraq doesn't mean that you give the Iraqis and al-qaeda (the other occupation) a free pass for committing murder and mutilation which you and other left-wing nutcases seem to be doing. The same goes for that other nut who replied to Stephen in Tampa. If all this unnecessary killing stops, we will leave Iraq, plane and simple.
John Blaesel, Huntsville, Alabama (Sent Mar 20, 2007 1:16:25 PM)
The insurgency struggle to fight a fight that is only right in their minds. They are very sick people. Even their Koran does not preach the death and destruction they serve to mankind. They blame the american's and the English. But if these nations did not exist they would blame someone else for there is no love in their hearts for anyone - including themselves.
Someone should get the man a job and young Alawi his surgery. I am on a fixed income but I could spare something. Please let us all know how we can donate directly to him.
My prayers go to the child and his family and the rest of the good and general population of Iraq who have suffered through wars with other country's, through a brutal dictaor and now through sensless brutuality of stupid people.
Katherine Likely, Yelm, Washington (Sent Mar 17, 2007 7:20:32 PM)
How do we help these children like Alawi? The American people do care! Like many others who have commented I too would like to help. Where do we send our donations?
Rob, Starbuck, Minnesota. (Sent Mar 17, 2007 5:34:38 PM)
Truly sad story. Of course the Arabs will get the lion's share of the blame, but that's what happens when you step forward and try to make a difference instead of sit by and watch. Very evil men are behind this invation with the average Iraqi citizen bearing the brunt of their terror attacks. Yes everything is God's will, but God isn't telling those behind the suffering of the Iraqis to listen to the voice of the serpent and trade blood for oil.
Life is a precious gift from God, is it not stated differently in the Holy Quran than it is in the Christian Holy Bible? I suspect that God will not be pleased with those murderers for taking their brothers & sisters in humanity lives as well as their own.
How has it gotten so twisted around that in our country (U.S.) if a man kills people and then himself it is a murder-suicide and society looks at that person for the evil he is, yet when it is carried against the middle east, Societies glorify a man for killing innocent people including women & children and calls it spreading democracy? I do not think that is what Islam teaches.
reply to Stephen, Tampa, FL (Sent Mar 15, 2007 9:22:54 AM)
(Sent Mar 17, 2007 4:38:57 PM)
Such a sad story. And to think that kids in the U.S. think they have it bad when they dont get their way. I am getting ready to be deployed to iraq around the baghdad area. One of the first things i would like to do is set up a system where donations can be dispersed by the soldiers that are there. We did this with a national guard unit when i was with KBR in southern Iraq. Anyone interested in helping please send me an email
Spc. Craig, Savannah GA (Sent Mar 17, 2007 2:59:06 PM)
Thank you, Mohamed Ali in Minnesota, for an insightful answer to my question.
Zoey, Stillwater, OK (Sent Mar 16, 2007 1:45:01 PM)
Truly sad story. Of course the Americans will get the lion's share of the blame, but that's what happens when you step forward and try to make a difference instead of sit by and watch. Very evil men are behind this insurgency with the average Iraqi citizen bearing the brunt of their terror attacks. Yes everything is God's will, but God isn't telling those behind the suffering of the Iraqis to listen to the voice of the serpent.
Life is a precious gift from God, is it stated differently in the Quran than it is in the Christian Holy Bible? I suspect that God will not be pleased with these suicide murderers for taking their brothers' & sisters' lives as well as their own.
How has it gotten so twisted around that in our country (U.S.) if a man kills people and then himself it is a murder-suicide and society looks at that person for the evil he is, yet in the middle east society glorifies a man for killing innocent people including women & children and calls it martyrdom? I do not think that is what Islam teaches.
Stephen, Tampa, FL (Sent Mar 15, 2007 9:22:54 AM)
I will also donate to this young man's eye surgery!
Steven A. Mcknight (Sent Mar 15, 2007 5:13:24 AM)
Yes it is unfortunate that this happened ....BUT How many countries came to the aid of the USA after 9-11..This boy as with many was a...cost of War it is not his fault nor his Nationality .... Look back to the Bible or the Koran... that part of the World has only known 1 thing FIGHTING AND WAR... since the begining of recorded time ...I DARE 1 PERSON to say anything different ... I have but 1 thing and 1 thing only too say to that person .....LEARN YOUR HISTORY!!!
Paul F Schoener (Sent Mar 15, 2007 4:08:43 AM)
hi tom thanks for reporting this story, this is the more reason that America should stay the course and not give in to left wing drive by media whose only agenda is to see America be shamed and defeated, this is a defining moment for us whether or not we'll be able to stand for righteousness and defend the right of peoples around the world yearning to be free
massimo baiardi (Sent Mar 14, 2007 5:53:33 PM)
It is common in the Middle East that once a bread earner looses his job, they "command" other family members or children most of the time to go out and hussle. I have 18 yr old son, and I wouldn't let him go out and husstle for the welfare being of the family while I sit home and sip coffee (that is not my norm here in Minneapolis, though orginaly I am from Somalia). I felt sadened and angred by what the poor kid, Alawi, has to go through. It is norm to see kids on the street hustling in the Middle east and Africa while the parents are just playing chess or cards all day long. Shame on those, the only thing that can change that is EDUCATION and EXCELLENT MORAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE and also mothers staepping up to the plate and demanding fromt hier husbands that .....They are responsible to feed them. Is there anyway we can assist this kid. Please post donation information ony our blogsite.
Peace and prosperity tot he human kind.
Mohamed Ali, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Sent Mar 14, 2007 2:59:39 PM)
I also want to donate. Please let us know how to do so.
Donna (Sent Mar 14, 2007 2:46:17 PM)
God bless this brave young man.It pains me every day when I hear of another US service man dying but what would happen if we weren't there with freedom comes a price for all as sad as it is we must carry on so we can remain free and the Iraqis can get the taste of what its like to be free
Chris Sagliano Suffern NY (Sent Mar 14, 2007 2:17:57 PM)
People are suffering. No doubt about it but, some of the comments I read seem to place blame on America. They forget Saddam was a monster who caused untold heart ache for Iraqis. At least now they have a fighting chance to gain their independence. If only they will stand up to the terrorists this war could be over.
Todd Messer, Detroit, Michigan (Sent Mar 14, 2007 1:34:46 PM)
Another example of the severe consequences to the Iraq people IF we pull our troops prematurely. Regardless of the disputed nature of the rationale for attacking Iraq, the sad fact is we did so. As a moral and ethical country we cannot leave them in such a horrible & vulnerable state we haplessly created at the expense of our brave soldiers.
MaineMan (Sent Mar 14, 2007 1:09:21 PM)
To Eric-"The suffering in Iraq has been constant for the last 25 years and like it or not, this is the most peaceful time they have enjoyed in the past 25 years".
Peace indeed! To people like you peace is the equivalent of the daily death toll from bombs and the destruction of the lives of an entire generation of children we see on our TVs.
It is sad to have people like you walk the face of this planet. Just read what your fellow citizens are saying and wise up! Open up your heart and wallet like the rest of us and stop apportioning blame, this is not the time for that!
-----------------------------------------------
People in Iraq are not suffering because of our government. They are suffering because of other Iragis who are trying to wrestle power away from the legitimate govenment. The only thing protecting Iraq from tremendous suffering is the thin green line of American Heros that are trying to restore order. All other nations are abandoning the Iraqi people with the exception of America. The Iraqis know this to be true and they are pleading for us to stay. The suffering in Iraq has been constant for the last 25 years and like it or not, this is the most peacful time they have enjoyed in the past 25 years. You need to put your emotions in check and start gathering facts and stop listening to the media.
Henry, Calgary, Canada (Sent Mar 14, 2007 11:57:37 AM)
PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW I CAN DONATE TO HELP THIS LITTLE BOY GET HIS EYE SURGERY.
Karen Friend, Acton, MA (Sent Mar 14, 2007 11:40:27 AM)
2 thoughts -
1) How wonderful we Americans are - when we hear of a need we fill it - look at how many people want to send money to alleviate this pbys plight -
2) How sad that millionaires live in many Arab countries - Dubai, UAE - etc- and =, well, where are they? Clearly there is a moral ethic they lack - call me a racist - but what will you call them?
Simon, Cleveland,Ohio (Sent Mar 14, 2007 11:02:36 AM)
I would love to donate to this brave lad's Healthcare Fund.
Clarence Smith, Elberton GA (Sent Mar 14, 2007 11:01:12 AM)
Bryan in Cleveland asked the same question that was bothering me from the beginning of this story. Brian Williams says that the father is out of work, and that the 13 year old son is the sole provider for the family. Mr. Williams does not say that the father is incapacitated in any way, so why isn't the father standing in the gas line, or doing whatever it takes to suport his family? Is this type of work beneath him? Does he think his time is better spent sitting at home and praying? Who is supporting the family now? I would appreciate it if one of the Middle Eastern readers of this column would shed some light on the father's mindset.
Zoey, Stillwater, OK (Sent Mar 14, 2007 10:47:13 AM)
Until our government understands education is more powerful than weapons many more children,and their famllies will be butchered. This is the message we need to send to congress. These people will listen to you if you speak up.If you really do care let them hear you. They do not want to be on the hot seat,so put them there and make them do what they are getting paid to do and that is making America stand tall.Demand answers and hold them accountable,don`t wait for someone to start ,you start it and when they hear all these angry voices you will see the changes we all need. The govenment wants you quite it makes their jobs so much easier. as a viet nam vet Iv`e seen this all before they will not do anything until you threaten their job.
Charlestowm Indiana (Sent Mar 14, 2007 8:08:26 AM)
I would also donate $100 US to help Alawi get his eye operation. I like the suggestion of using PayPal. Please post a site so I can send a donation. Thanks, Kathy
Kathy Miller, Forest Hills, NY (Sent Mar 14, 2007 7:35:54 AM)
What is the latest status on the Iraqi oil law? The Iraqi cabinet passed it, but the Parliament has not acted. I read that the law is still not complete and there has been no reporting whether the law is complete and when the parliament might vote on it.
Kinny, Great Falls, VA (Sent Mar 11, 2007 9:24:56 PM)
A heart crushing story for sure, than you for the report.I'm sure after reading posts here young Alawi will be taken care of. However I am also interested in the bomber himself also. Alawi was not the victim of accidental bombing by coalition forces. Someone purposely packed their car with explosives, purposely drove to the gas station and being in a crowd of innocent civillians purposely set off a detonator to kill themself and as many innocents as possible. Why does there seem to be no shortage of suicide bombers who target people like young Alawi? Where do they come from? Where do they get the explosives? What are they thinking targeting their islamic "brothers", a little kid trying to help out his family survive? Makes me sick to my stomach.
Jody , Santa Monica (Sent Mar 8, 2007 8:03:23 PM)
A site that excepts Paypal donations would be the simple way. Who do I send funds?
Hofer Cartwright Manitoba (Sent Mar 8, 2007 7:26:28 PM)
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