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The Adoption of Ala'a Eddeen is an adoption of a then 9-years old Iraqi boy, who could not walk because he suffered from cerebral palsy, by American Capt. Scott Southworth while he deployed during the Iraq War.

This case became a beginning of the growing campaign for bringing more special needs and orphaned Iraqi children to United States.

In 2007, CNN profiled Scott and Ala’a’s story in its "Heroes: An All-Star Tribute". The story got to the final round.

Scott Southworth

Before his deployment to Iraq Scott Southworth did not own a home, was unmarried, worked long hours, and "squeezed in his service as a national guardsman" in a small city of New Lisbon he lived. Scott's family considered it to be an honor to serve in the military. He continued the tradition set up by the three generations of his predecessors: his great-great-great grandfather, his grandfather and his father. An evangelical Christian Scott finished law school, and was going to run for district attorney's office after coming home from Iraq.

Meeting and adoption

Scott Southworth was deployed to Iraq in 2003. His deployment was to last 13 months. On September 6, 2003, half-way into his deployment Capt. Southworth with his unit visited an orphanage named for Mother Teresa. There were 20 kids in the orphanage, all with disabilities,and some mentally challenged. A few nuns, who were taking care of the children, created a small "oasis" of warmth and love in a middle of the violence. The sisters also taught children to speak English, a foreign language.

During their visit to the orphanage the soldiers played with kids. They wanted to make the kids feel better, but it was also their way to forget the horror they faced every day on the streets of Baghdad: twenty soldiers of this unit were wounded, and one was killed. It was then that Scott first saw Ala'a. The boy, who lived in the orphanage since he was 4 years old, could not walk, but he dragged himself to Scott's side. The boy's English was limited, but he kept saying the word "bomb". Scott assured the boy that the kids could feel safe now, with Scott and his unit on their side.

After the first visit to the orphanage soldiers kept coming back. The attachment between Scott and Ala'a was growing. 31-year old Scott looked at Ala'a as a younger brother, but for the boy Scott was "Baba," that is "Daddy" in Arabic.

Scott was informed by staff of the orphanage that within a year Ala would be transferred to a less hospitable institution prompting Scott to begin adoption proceedings.

Iraqi law prohibits the adoption of Iraqi children by foreigners, but after returning home Scott, was able to secure a humanitarian visa for the boy. By that time Scott won district attorney office, and his income became steady. Scott is grateful for the help from different individuals and organizations that help him to bring Ala'a to United States: "We crossed political boundaries. We crossed religious boundaries. There was just a massive effort — all on behalf of this little boy who desperately needed people to actually take some action and not just feel sorry for him." Since Jan. 20, 2005 Ala'a and Scott have been living together. The boy's health has improved significantly, he's attending a school, enjoys math, likes reading, but he's weeping during thunderstorms that remind him of bombs.

When Scott is asked while he chose Ala’a, Scott explains that it was Ala’a who chose him. "Ala'a really adopted me." - Scott says.

CNN recently profiled Scott and Ala’a’s story in its “Heroes: An All-Star Tribute”. The story got to the final round. The money collected from the show was used to pay medical and legal bills for Ala'a. The pair have been the focus of a variety of media, including an article in the VFW Magazine, a full episode on PBS, and a presentation at St. Norbert College.

He asked Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton for help in bringing other disabled and orphaned children to US.

By 2009, 16-year old Ala'a had become a United States citizen.

Scott, who believes bringing special need kids to the US could mean for them the difference between living in US versus existing in Iraq says:

Being upset just isn't enough. Sympathy just isn't enough. These kids need action, and we're in a position where we know these children, we know what can happen here in the United States if they're brought here, and we're going to do something about it.

External links

• Operation Rescue Ala'a
• The Orphan He Couldn’t Leave Behind
• Iraqi Orphan Adoption

References

1. ^ "GI Saves Iraqi Boy in Long-Shot Adoption". Fox News. December 25, 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
2. ^ Christine Lagorio (July 9, 2007). "The Orphan He Couldn't Leave Behind.Soldier Helped One Of The Baghdad Orphans Years Ago — Can He Do It Again?". CBS News. Retrieved 11 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
3. ^ Gary Bauer (11/22/2007). "A Soldier's Thanksgiving". Human Events. Retrieved 11 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
4. "CNN Heroes gallery final round 2007". CNN. November 26, 2007. Retrieved 11 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
5. ^ "U.S. Soldier Adopts Disabled Iraqi Boy National Guardsman Bonded With Abandoned Boy While On Duty in Baghdad". ABC News. March 24, 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
6. "U.S. Marines clamp down on Ramadi". The Seattle Times. February 21, 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
7. Blankenship, Janie (February 1, 2010). "Wisconsin Guardsman Adopts Iraqi Child". Veterans of Foreign Wars Magazine. Retrieved 11 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
8. "Iraqi Orphan Adoption". PBS. February 1, 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
9. Guy Allen (November 9, 2009). "A Talk on the 'Culture of Death'". St. Norbert times. Retrieved 11 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)

• Adoption