Youssif (burn victim)

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Youssif (last name unknown)
Born	Baghdad, Iraq
Nationality	Iraqi

Youssif is a 5-year-old Iraqi boy who was burned by unknown masked men outside of his central Baghdad home on January 15, 2007. The masked men poured gasoline on him, set him on fire, and ran.^[1] His father spent 9 months trying to obtain medical care in Iraq to treat his son's scarring, without success. In August 2007, after CNN's Arwa Damon reported on Youssif's story on CNN and CNN.com, there came an international outpouring of support for the boy and thousands were more than happy to donate to help him and his family. The story became one of the most-read, non-breaking news stories in CNN.com's 12-year history.

The California-based Children's Burn Foundation arranged for and agreed to pay for transportation, medical, and housing costs for Youssif and his family. Dr. Peter Grossman, of the Sherman Oaks Grossman Burn Center, volunteered to perform the necessary surgeries for free. Since a fund was established by CNN and the Children's Burn Foundation, over $300,000 has been donated.

Youssif, his father, mother, and baby sister arrived in the U.S. on September 11, 2007. Youssif's first surgery was performed on Thursday, September 20, 2007.

Youssif began attending an American school January 2008. He happily pulls off his plastic face mask and pats his cheeks, which were once covered by horrific burns. "No hurt," the 5-year-old Iraqi boy says in English on February 26, 2008.^[2]

Youssif's stay in California and his progress throughout his surgeries is being chronicled on a regular basis by CNN.com.