Uday Hattem: Patients of Courage Honoree

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As a citizen of Baghdad, Iraq, Hattem signed on as a translator for the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In May, 2003, Hattem ventured out for supplies for the troops when he encountered a group of insurgents who shot him at close range in the face, neck, and arm and left him for dead. He suffered facial deformities losing the right eye socket, cheek, palate, and partial mandible. He underwent microsurgical reconstruction of the cheek and orbit followed by facial flap rotation for soft tissue coverage. He also required bone grafts, nasal reconstruction, as well as numerous skin, cartilage, and fat grafts to improve the color and contour mismatch on his face. Grateful for all he's been given, Hattem gives back to those in need by actively participating in the GMRF efforts to bring Iraqi children injured during war to the United States.

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