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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 1:00 PM EDT2013-05-22 17:00:29 GMT
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police.
An emotional funeral service has been held for a Hofstra University student who was accidentally shot by police. Andrea Rebello's family followed the pastor Wednesday as he led her white cloth-draped coffin to the altar at St. Teresa of Avila Church in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y.
Monday, May 20 2013 5:32 PM EDT2013-05-20 21:32:24 GMT
As a family prepared for the funeral of a Hofstra junior killed by a cop's bullet during a standoff with an armed intruder, questions remain about how police handled the situation.
As a family prepared for the funeral of a Hofstra junior killed by a cop's bullet during a standoff with an armed intruder, questions remain about how police handled the situation.
Sunday, May 19 2013 3:14 PM EDT2013-05-19 19:14:07 GMT
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Authorities say one person is dead and another was injured when the vehicle they were in ran off the road and crashed into Huntington harbor on Long Island Saturday evening.
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:40 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:40:30 GMT
A proposal to build a major Long Island casino with video slot machines is part of closed-door negotiations to expand casino gambling in New York.
A proposal to build a major Long Island casino with video slot machines is part of closed-door negotiations to expand casino gambling in New York, according to the head of the Nassau County Off-Track Betting Corp. and a legislative bill.
