News, Surgery over; Youssif's biggest scar removed. (parents, boy, kids)

[John1960]

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Five-year-old Youssif underwent his most important surgery Thursday as his doctor removed the most extensive scar tissue on his face -- putting him on the path of being a normal boy again.

Youssif entered the operating room around 6:30 a.m. PT for the three-and-a-half hour surgery.

Just before the surgery began, Youssif began crying.

"I can't do this. I can't do this," he said.

Sedation then set in, he relaxed and Dr. Peter Grossman, the plastic surgeon with the Grossman Burn Center who is donating his services, began to operate.



Surgery over; Youssif's biggest scar removed - CNN.com

[Rita Mordio]

That's so sad that someone his age had to go through this... It warms my heart knowing that there are good people in the world, like this doctor, willing to put in the extra effort for the pure satisfaction of making somebody happy.

There's no words to really describe the joy his parents must be feeling at this time...

[charolastra00]

Poor kid I've been following this story, and what happened to him was absolutely heartbreaking. In the article, it said that he was going down a slide with the two saline skin expanders on his neck and cheek and all the scarring and other kids who saw him were scared and started to cry. I can't even imagine what that would be like.

I only hope that there is some help for him and his family when they go back to Iraq. Youssif wants to be a doctor and I hope his dreams can be made possible.