Karim's Journey

Audio Slide Shows

Karim's Journey | 5:00

Back From Lebanon | 4:17

A Changed Karim | 4:46

Karim Ahmad, an 11-year-old boy who lives in Lebanon, suffers from Olmsted's syndrome - a rare incurable skin disease. He has lost all of his fingers and is in the process of losing his toes. Karim's life in Lebanon is one of isolation and poverty. His family left Syria for Deir el-Kamar, in Lebanon, where there was work sweeping streets. His parents sold everything they could to pay doctors. A priest based in Lebanon, Father Antonio Elfeghali, discovered Karim and began to write about him on an internet blog. Liz and Joe Zagar, of Laketon Township, near Muskegon, Mich., learned of Karim through the blog in 2007. Liz was determined to do something. She wanted to bring Karim to the U.S. for medical diagnosis and treatment. Liz spent months raising money and enlisting the aid of local doctors who would treat the boy for free. In Muskegon, doctors made strides improving his condition, but there is no cure. With just 34 known cases of the disease, first identified in 1927, it isn't likely that research funds will be channeled to Olmsted's syndrome. Karim returned home after four months with the Zagar family.

With Karim's health deteriorating in 2008, Zagar decided to bring Karim back to the U.S. to seek more treatment. This time, Karim stayed one year until his U.S. visa expired in 2009. During his second stay, area doctors were able to cure his infections, which made walking on his afflicted feet possible again. Karim was also able to realize his dream of attending school for an entire year. Officials from Karim's local Lebanese school previously denied him admittance, saying his appearance would traumatize other children. Despite drastic health improvements and evidence that Karim excelled socially in a Muskegon-area elementary school, the Lebanese school reconsidered but again denied him admittance.

Karim's story was published as a series in The Muskegon Chronicle from 2007-2009. The series helped bring awareness to the Muskegon community, which raised about $20,000 during Karim's first trip in 2007, giving his family running water, a bathroom and floor covering the dirt in their Lebanese home. On Karim's return trip in 2008-2009, another $22,000 was raised for a tutor and future medical expenses in Lebanon. The Zagars truly brought a community together. "When he first came, he was this hunched over little boy that didn't say much of anything, looked down all the time, he was hiding from people's glances," Liz Zagar said. "Now he's totally out of his shell and he's not afraid to speak up for what he wants." The Zagars will continue to work with Karim's family to improve his conditions. Karim wasn't able to find a permanent cure in America, what he found was more powerful- Love.

Karim's Journey:
in the Chronicle