Young Iraqi Woman Gets a Chance to Walk Again

Soham Hassan Ka-Naan, a 19-year-old double amputee, discusses a newspaper article written about her with her sister in their home in Al Arabia, Iraq, Oct. 30.

Story and photos by Sgt. Natalie Rostek, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – Every time she puts on her shoes, walks to the market, or chases her little cousins around the house, Soham Hassan Ka-Naan will remember her 19th birthday.

The young woman from Al Arabia underwent surgery to correct her two amputated legs on her birthday, Oct. 31, at the 28th Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad. The surgery will allow for a comfortable prosthetic fit, enabling her to walk on her own.

Soham was quiet the day before her surgery but not nervous.

“I’m excited,” she said through a translator. “My only dream is to walk on my own. No crutches, no wheelchair, just walk. I’ll be able to do that soon.”

Three years ago, an insurgent rocket attack hit her house. Soham was left with her left leg amputated below her knee and her right leg amputated near her hip.

Despite Iraqi doctors’ efforts to repair her wounds, Soham still needed medical attention. The remnants of the bones in her legs were left rigid causing pain when they rubbed against her skin.

Soldiers from Troop A, 3rd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, discovered Soham while conducting a raid in Al Arabia, and decided they had to go back and help.

At first, Soham was brought to the 28th CSH for a prosthetic fitting. She received her left leg prosthetic shortly after, but was still uncomfortable due to the rigidness of the bones in her legs.

Checking up on Soham, Capt. Troy Thomas from Litchfield, Minn., commander, 3-1 Cav. Regt., revisited the shy young woman, Oct. 30, and brought her to the Baghdad hospital once again. She visited with Lt. Col. John Tis, from Olney, Md., a surgeon at the 28th CSH.

After reassessing her amputations, Tis agreed to perform surgery to round out the bones and stretch the muscles in her legs.

“This surgery is the beginning of her entire future,” said Chris Cummings, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., prosthetic clinic advisor, 28th CHS. “With the surgery, her prosthetics will have a healthier fit.”

After a two-night hospital stay and a three-week recovery period, Soham will be fitted for prosthetics once again, Tis explained.

“Everyone is different, but in three to six months she will be able to walk on her new legs. In nine moths she should be completely recovered,” he said.

Capt. Thomas has high hopes for Soham.

“She’s a strong girl,” he said. “Her mother reassured me she does her exercises like she’s supposed to. I think she’s going to recover just fine.”

Soham’s brother, Khalid, accompanied his sister on her trip to the hospital. He said his sister is in for a huge welcome-home party.

“We are going to throw a party when my sister gets home,” he said through a translator. “Our whole family and our friends will be there to celebrate my sister and her new legs.”

The 3-1 Cav. Regt. is assigned to the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, from Fort Benning, Ga., and has been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom since March.