The child lost his friends and his leg in an attack in Syria. After being pulled out of a war zone, he is the first Syrian war victim to come to the Texas Medical Center for medical help and he will get it at Texas Orthopedic Hospital.
Mohammed Jamous, 15, traveled 7,000 miles by himself to Houston from Syria for help.
"He's a happy boy despite everything that's happened to him," said Bassam Barazi, host father for Jamous.
Last August, as Jamous and friends walked to the store for bread, they were hit by artillery shells. Two of his friends died. Jamous lost his left leg.
"The first moment I saw him, I hugged him and kissed him because I feel so bad for what's happening there," said Barazi.
Until two days ago, Jamous didn't know Barazi. Now he is living with Barazi's family, who will care for him while doctors prepare him for a prosthetic leg.
"I am happy to be here with you and start my medical treatment. I feel lucky for that and wish the same for my friends," Jamous said through a translator.
He met his host family and doctors through the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, dedicated to healing children wounded in war. Sadly with ongoing strife the waiting list is growing.
"The PCRF in the last year or so has been getting a lot more referrals from Syria of course; a lot of injuries, a lot of amputations," said Rania Awwad with the PCRF.
Jamous could be here for four to eight weeks, depending on whether he needs surgery, before he's fit for the prosthetic. He will find out about that on Thursday.
In the meantime, he talks with his family on Skype. They fled Syria and live outside a refugee camp in Jordan.
___________________________________________________________
Take ABC13 with you!
Download our free apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry devices
