MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) - A 5-year-old Iraqi boy scarred as an infant from a roadside bombing has been formally adopted by his uncle at a special ceremony on Long Island.
The uncle, Hasan Khazaal, nursed his nephew back to life following the 2008 car bombing.
A Long Island judge sealed the adoption Wednesday.
The boy, Zeedabdeen Hadi, was gravely injured when the explosion downed a power line outside his home. It left his face badly disfigured.
Khazaal, an auto body shop worker, lives in Floral Park. He said doctors in Iraq gave the boy no hope for recovery but he persuaded doctors at an American military base to help save his life.
The boy's parents allowed Khazaal to adopt him. Hadi has had dozens of surgeries and is scheduled for another in March.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:01 PM EDT2013-06-19 03:01:57 GMT
Photo courtesy of @N42_21_W71_04)
Riders should anticipate some changes but "near normal" service on the Long Island Rail Road for the Wednesday morning rush.
Riders should anticipate some changes but "near normal" service on the Long Island Rail Road for the Wednesday morning rush. Crews have bee working to repair tracks and switches after Monday's derailment.
Monday, June 17 2013 10:52 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:52:57 GMT
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
Federal authorities say they've raided 7-Eleven stores across Long Island and in Virginia as part of a probe into human smuggling, identity theft and money laundering.
A lawsuit filed in 2005 claiming a suburban New York community discriminated against minorities in the way it approved local zoning policies is getting an airing in federal court.
A lawsuit filed in 2005 claiming a suburban New York community discriminated against minorities in the way it approved local zoning policies is getting an airing in federal court.
Saturday, June 15 2013 9:19 PM EDT2013-06-16 01:19:35 GMT
Long Island environmental officials say they are looking for another alligator seen in a river. According to Newsday, state Department of Environmental Conservation say the gator was reported on Sunday night and was confirmed by officers on Wednesday. The sighting is the fifth in the same area of the Peconic River where DEC officials captured four alligators in April.
Long Island environmental officials say they are looking for another alligator seen in a river. According to Newsday, state Department of Environmental Conservation say the gator was reported on Sunday night and was confirmed by officers on Wednesday. The sighting is the fifth in the same area of the Peconic River where DEC officials captured four alligators in April.
Saturday, June 15 2013 7:32 PM EDT2013-06-15 23:32:29 GMT
A pharmacist on Long Island defended himself from an attempted robbery by firing shots at the suspect Friday afternoon. Police say the incident happened inside Precision Pharmacy on Merrick Road in Bellmore around 3:30 p.m. 43-year-old Marc Gumpert entered the pharmacy and demanded the drugs Ritalin and Dilaudid. The 34-year-old pharmacist complied and handed over the drugs, but followed Gumpert outside. The pharmacist saw Gumpert inside his car. Gumpert saw the pharmacist, got out of...
A pharmacist on Long Island defended himself from an attempted robbery by firing shots at the suspect Friday afternoon. Police say the incident happened inside Precision Pharmacy on Merrick Road in Bellmore around 3:30 p.m. 43-year-old Marc Gumpert entered the pharmacy and demanded the drugs Ritalin and Dilaudid. The 34-year-old pharmacist complied and handed over the drugs, but followed Gumpert outside. The pharmacist saw Gumpert inside his car. Gumpert saw the pharmacist, got out of...