Army Major Glenn Battschinger Helps Afghan Boy, 6, Get Rare Surgery In NJ Hospital
LIVINGSTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A 6-year-old Afghan boy born with his bladder outside his body has been reunited with the U.S. soldier who arranged for his rare operation in a New Jersey hospital.
Army Maj. Glenn Battschinger of Mays Landing, N.J., was on foot patrol in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, in April 2010 when he came across Muslam Hagigshah, a frail child who had to constantly hold his leaking bladder in his hand.
WCBS 880's Alex Silverman With More On The Heartwarming Story
Podcast
Battschinger arranged for Egyptian-born doctor Moneer Hanna to perform a series of operations to correct the birth defect. The boy has been living with a New Jersey foster family and attending kindergarten during his recovery.
He was reunited with Battschinger on Friday at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
Battschinger plans to accompany Muslam back to Afghanistan once he has recovered.
(TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
