During the waning days of the fight for Baghdad in April 2003, a coalition armament struck the Naeem home, located in the Mada'en district in northern Baghdad. The aerial shell exploded, razing the family's home and killing Marwa's mother.

Marwa, the eldest of three siblings, sustained significant injuries. She was admitted to the emergency room at a local hospital and was treated for severe wounds to her face and extremities. During her hospitalization, her thumb was amputated. A portion of her face above the lip, including her nose, was severely mangled. She was 11 years old at the time of the bombing.

The family was unable to afford the costs of sophisticated medical surgery to repair the noticeable damage to her face. Humanitarian organizations stepped in to help Marwa and her family. International Relief and Development (IRD) first found Marwa while working to provide her unemployed father with a grocery store, as part of their income generation program under the Marla Ruzicka Iraqi War Victims Fund. One of IRD's staff members contacted CIVIC (Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict) and asked for help in coordinating efforts to have her taken out of Iraq for medical attention.

The Department of Plastic Surgery at the UCLA Medical Center generously agreed to cover the costs of reconstructive surgery to restore Marwa's face. They will assume all fees associated with her care. The Palestinian Children's Relief Fund, along with its network of volunteers, and the International Office on Migration (IOM), stepped in to assist with Marwa's travel to and stay in the United States.

Marwa had the last of her surgeries in May 2006 it was a complete success.  Shortly after that in late June 2006 she returned to her family home in Baghdad to be with her father.

PHOTOS:  Top, Marwa before surgery.  Bottom:  Marla B (right) with Marwa shortly before she returned home.