index | next →

Karim's Journey

Karim Ahmad, a 9-year-old boy from Lebanon, suffers from Olmsted's syndrome: a rare incurable skin eating disease. Karim has lost all of his fingers and is in the process of losing his toes. The disease has spread over much of his face. Karim's life in Lebanon is one of isolation. He spends much of his time alone at home while his parents work to earn money. His family, who left their native Syria for Lebanon where there was work, sold everything they had to pay doctors and laboratories.

A priest based in Lebanon, Father Antonio Elfeghali, discovered Karim and began to write about him on an internet blog. Liz Zagar, of Laketon Township- a community outside of Muskegon, Mich., learned of Karim through the site. Liz was determined to do something. She wanted to bring Karim to America for medical diagnosis and treatment. Liz spent months raising money, accessing medical records from Lebanon, finding a local Arabic translator and enlisting the aid of Muskegon-area doctors who would treat the boy for free.

In the end, doctors were able to make Karim more comfortable but nobody has a cure. With just 34 known cases of the disease, first identified in 1927, it isn't likely that scarce research funds will be channeled to Olmsted's syndrome. In addition to doctors donating their time, people donated their money and the community showered Karim with hugs and smiles. The Muskegon area raised about $20,000 for Karim's cause. Karim wasn't able to find a cure in America, what he found was more powerful- Love.

Photographs contained within these pages may not
be republished or downloaded without the consent of the copyright holder.

index