Iraqi girl goes home from the hospital

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A 2-year-old girl Iraqi girl, who received a potentially life-saving operation after being befriended by a Gainesville Marine, has left the hospital.

Amenah Al-Bayati was discharged about 1:00 Friday, according to the Web site for Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn.

She and her mother are staying with a family in the Nashville area until she is well enough to return to their homeland. Her father, two brothers and sister are still in Iraq.

Maj. Kevin Jarrard spearheaded the effort to bring Amenah - who had a serious heart conditions - to the U.S. after discovering her while on patrol in Iraq.

The three-hour surgery involved redirecting blood from Amenah's heart to her lungs in order to supply the toddler with better oxygen to the rest of her body.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/2/207034