Since the Iraq war began, Herald-Leader journalists have tried to bring the story home to Kentucky readers. They have covered deployments and reunions and chronicled the anxious months in between. They have written about the sacrifices of brave Kentucky soldiers and Marines killed in action and those who returned home with deep physical and emotional scars.
Recently, reporter Barbara Isaacs and photographer Janet Worne have been telling a different kind of war story. They have been following Waghdan Aljayashee, a 12-year-old Iraqi girl who has come here for treatment of terrible burns she received nearly three years ago when she was caught in the crossfire of battle. Kentuckians have welcomed Waghdan into their homes and hearts — and shown her a thing or two about American culture.
On Sunday’s front page, the latest installment of this story reports on the painful and complicated surgery Waghdan received recently at Cincinnati Shriners Hospital — surgery that will give her the chance for a more normal life. Throughout this series, Barb and Janet have told a story of love and hope that transcends the barriers of culture, language and geography. We’d like to hear what you think about it.
Tom Eblen
Managing Editor
I thought the story was well-written and informative, but it seemed to transcend the boundaries of language, culture, etc., too well. I felt that the majority of the story was about a burn victim’s medical procedures rather than specifically about an Iraqi willing to travel to the U.S. for help.
Todd — You raise a good point. This is the fourth in a series of articles about Waghdan. The aspects you’re curious about were covered in earlier stories, but we sometimes forget that readers don’t see and remember every issue of the paper. Later today we’ll post the earlier stories in a package on http://www.kentucky.com to make it easier for readers to read the whole story. Thanks for making this point.