Global Medical Relief Fund: One child at a time

(CBS News) 

Of all the tragedies of war, none are greater than those that involve children. Caught in the crossfire or hit by a roadside bomb, children are often wounded but rarely receive the heroic, high tech medical care that our troops depend on.

Recently, we heard about a woman in Staten Island, New York, who has devoted herself to wounded children. Elissa Montanti has little money and no training in humanitarian relief, but against the odds she has changed the fortunes of more than 100 crippled children, one child at a time.

Kenan: The boy behind Global Medical Relief
Playing soccer at 11, he stepped on a landmine. At 28, he leads by example, showing maimed children how good life can be.

"60 Minutes" and correspondent Scott Pelley wanted to see how she does it, so, for four months we followed Montanti on a journey with one child, a nine year old boy from Iraq named Wa'ad.

Wa'ad arrived in America last April with his mother Waffa. Montanti brought them to the U.S. after an American soldier told her Wa'ad's story.

"He was walking with his friends and they were kicking a bottle. I think the first child kicked a bottle. And then maybe the second. And then he kicked it and it exploded," she explained.

What Wa'ad had kicked was a bomb.

The blast shattered his face, tore out his eye, and took away his right arm and left leg. Wa'ad would receive treatment for all those wounds from a network of volunteers and charities that Montanti has recruited one by one over the last 15 years.

How to help: Global Medical Relief Fund
Photos: Rebuilding Wa'ad's Face and Spirit

Wa'ad first stop was at the Shriners Hospital in Philadelphia; Shriners has 22 hospitals that provide free care to burned and crippled children.

Wa'ad pushed through physical therapy to strengthen his muscles, but slowed down long enough to get fitted for a new arm and leg that the Shriners made for him. Then it was a trip to see an ocular specialist, Annette Kirzrot, who also volunteers for Montanti. A prosthetic eye was the first step in improving Wa'ad's appearance.

But the tougher part would be reconstructing his face. That was the challenge for plastic surgeon Kaveh Alizadeh. He's with Long Island Plastic Surgical Group and was recruited by Montanti.

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"So, there's this increasing pool of people that get drawn into her world. And if you have, if you're lucky or unlucky enough to be excited about this stuff, you get pulled in," Alizadeh explained.

"When you first approach a hospital or a doctor to ask them for potentially, hundreds of thousands of dollars in free medical care, what's your pitch? What do you tell 'em?" Pelley asked Montanti.

"I tell 'em this true story. Here's a child that's battered. I just tell them the reality. I expect them to help. I'm grateful 'cause they don't have to help. But I expect that they would, because how could you not?" she asked.

After the earthquake hit in Haiti, she went to the island and brought back three girls who lost limbs. Montanti's work with crippled children began back in 1996 when a friend asked her to raise money to buy school supplies for kids in war-torn Bosnia. That led to a meeting with the Bosnian ambassador to the U.N.

"And he said to me, 'You know, quite frankly, we have much stronger needs right now than pencil cases.' He reached in his drawer. And he handed me this letter that this boy had written to him asking for help, two new arms and a leg. And I saw his picture. And that's really when my whole life started to change," she remembered.

Produced by Tanya Simon and Catherine Herrick

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[taoc79]

It's a familiar pattern. The U.S. invades another country, kills and maims hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, then produces maudlin news segments that enable Americans to pat each other on the back about how kind and generous we are. All without the slightest hint of irony...unbelievable.

[vonkie1]

What a wonderful, compelling story. My family was very moved. Children are children all over the world, it is just great to see that there are people on both sides of these stories that want to do something for these innocent victims - soldiers in Iraq, doctors and civilians in the United States. A lot of the comments on this article are very distatesful and are more telling of the people who submit them than the compassionate people who have made it their life's mission to help out.

[JBattiloro]

Thank you 60 Minutes Crew for bringing attention to Elissa Montanti. She is someone we should model our lives on. Not baseball players, Rappers, Television Stars ( sorry guys). Let's remember each of us has a higher purpose and well, some of us achieve it and others don't. Not only was your piece on GMRF inspiring but the majority of the comments here are expressions of thanks and love. Well done 60 Minutes, you got it right!

[Regular-Viewer]

Another worthwhile report from Leslie.

I noticed she mentioned Canada. For decades, U.S. tv seldom, if ever, mentioned Canada, but recently we've been mentioned more. For some reason, it was much more comfortable when the U.S. seemed unaware that we shared the continent. It feels like nothing good can come from U.S. acknowledgement of our existance - it remains to be seen.

[borney1959]

OHHH MY GOD, I cant believe this.... thank you trustbutverify!!!
You know I went to their website, and I clicked on the about us link and at the middle left I didnt see a link to GuideStar where their financials are available. You know it makes me mad, how dare she take a $47.000 salary???? Who does she think she is, a fast food restaurant manager????? Any one can do what she does.... And DONT EVEN get me started on $17000 in car expenses, doesnt their car run on rainbows and unicorns like my does???? I even bet that the car is insured and gets regular checkups.... PHONE $13.000 wowwwww what does she dooo call international, she probably lets the kids she brings call their families. $18000 in rent ohhhh I cant, did she pay rent where she housed her kids, $14,700 for improvements for what let the families stay in a tent. Call me old fashioned but $8,900 for computers, whats wrong with a typewriter??? Thats how I do all my work, best part I never have to worry about what font to use, best thing ever... Now you blew my mind, you mean to tell me that the Dr. is on her board, I didnt see his name 3rd in line under the board members page. Ho can 60 miss this???? If you ask me I think this is a conspiracy.... I think 60 should have first named the board members then stated the financials then did the story, because how would we know???? Its not like the information is on their website.... One more thing, this is not from the NYS Attorney General but I heard that with all the money she is stuffing in her mattress went and bought a villa in Iraq and people say it has golden toilettes. Dont go by me, there is no way a person would do good for the sake of doing good...

[JBattiloro]

Bravo, I just stooped down low and called him an as*****e. But YOU, YOU went the extra mile and I applaud you for that. How can anyone with heart criticize Elissa's work. It's a bargain at any price because she is acting as an Ambassador of the USA. We need hundreds more like her and not like "trustbutverify" who obviously has had a pathetic life and has nothing else to do with his/her time.

[nunovyerbeezwax]

Good lord. How can someone, after seeing this story, question a $47000 salary for a woman who LIVES IN NEW YORK CITY? Get a life, trusty. You obviously don't have one now.

[pjm1947]

How can I help???????

[stevador39]

This hag lines her own pockets first. That's how these charities work. Charities are set up to rob the poor. They pay no U.S. taxes. Charities have been scandal ridden for 50 years.

[trustbutverify]

The story about Ms. Montanti and Global Medical Relief was very moving, but it is only half the story. A review of Global Medical's most recent filing with the NYS Attorney General's Office shows that for the year 2010, only 1/3 of the cash contributions were distributed for patient services. The charity paid Ms. Montanti a salary of $47,000. In addition the charity paid her rent of $18,000 for what she said was previously her walk-in closet. There are also disbursements of $17,000 for automobile expenses, $8,900 for computers, $14,700 for leasehold improvements, and #13,000 for telephone expenses. It appears that Ms. Montanti while doing good works is getting paid reasonably well to do so. The majority of the services that the patients receive are donated by providers.
It is also troubling, that CBS did not disclose that Dr. Alizedeh, the Plastic Surgeon featured on the show, who I commend for the donation of his services, is on the Board of Directors of the Fund. This is all information that CBS could have gotten from the organization's web site, and the web site of the NYS Attorney General. It doesn't make for as good a story, but it paints a more balanced view of the foundation and how it operates.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8601-504803_162-20047257.html?assetTypeId=41&blogId=&tag=contentBody;commentWrapper#ixzz1HuxFXL4s

[nunovyerbeezwax]

You're an idiot. I have an idea: why don't YOU do what this woman is doing and take not a single dime to cover YOUR rent, YOUR living expenses, YOUR phone bill, or anything else, you moron?

[vonkie1]

Wow, this New Yorker can live on $47K annually, amazing. Clearly you have no idea of the standard of living in New York and you are making a major fool of yourself. And a Board member isnt allowed to participate in an active role in thier own organization?! Its something we would want each board member to do in my organization. We could only wish!

In addition, you seem like a person who lack empathy and compassion! Shame on you!

[gibsonjo]

this woman is truly doing a wonderful thing i hope the hate mail stops
maybe if she could help a youngster born in USA one for maybe every
10th forgein child she helps we have victims here of circumstances
not of their making also (hiv/aids and crack cocaine babies)
god bless you Elissa you are a grand person

[soniasdickson]

I loved this story.
How can I helo this organization?
Regard,
Sonia