County Executive Mangano Honors Garden City Doctors Who Helped Save Young Girl's Life

Child Rescued For Urgent Medical Care Before National Protest Began in Egypt

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today honored two doctors and an exceptional nurse for volunteering their medical expertise to help save a six-year-old girl who had been severely burned at her home in Gaza. Both Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh and Dr. Roger L. Simpson of Long Island Plastic Surgical Group, who help run the Burn Unit at Nassau University Medical Center, volunteered their medical expertise to help rescue a six-year-old girl named Nebal Hani al Shamali. Nurse Lynn Bert helped care for Nebal as she recovered from surgery at South Nassau Communities Hospital. Nebal was severely injured when she knocked over a tea kettle which poured scolding hot water all over her body.

An organization, Doctors Without Borders, helped sta

Pictured (left to right) are: Father Guirguis Tadros; Rabbi Anchelle Perl; Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano; patient Nebal Hani al Shamali; Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh of the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group and “Mission Restore” who performed the surgery at South Nassau Communities Hospital; Nurse Lynn Bert of South Nassau Communities Hospital who care for her as she recovered from surgery; Nebal’s mother Ikram al Shamali; Igram Mohammed, daughter of the host family who acted as an interpreter for Nebal and became good friends; Gayle Somerstein RN, MPH, MBA Administrator for Surgical Services for South Nassau Communities Hospital; and Dr. Roger L. Simpson of Long Island Plastic Surgical Group and Nassau University Medical Center’s Burn Center.

bilize her but recommended urgent and highly specialized care in the United States that was not available to her in Gaza. Therefore she and her mother started a six day journey across the Rafah crossing into Egypt. She was then sent from Egypt to the United States just days before the riots broke out. Had she tried to leave Egypt even a day later, she probably wouldn't have gotten out.

The Long Island Plastic Surgical Group, which runs the Burn Center at Nassau University Medical Center, volunteered their services through Mission: Restore. Mission:Restore had organized the doctors as a public service, providing pro bono medical care along with transportation and hospital costs. Not only do these doctors improve the health, safety and well-being of Long Islanders everyday, they use their talents to help those who need treatment the most, all over the world.

“With the recent turmoil in Egypt and barrage of devastating news stories, it's wonderful to be able to honor Nassau County doctors who saved this young girl's life,” said Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano. “Her incredible story is a much-needed reminder to all of us that even amidst chaos and destruction, miracles do occur.”

“Had it not been for the compassion of organizations like Mission: Restore and Doctors Without Borders, which acted immediately on this girl's situation, the outcome we're celebrating might have turned out very differently,” added Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, the President of the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group.

“I'd like to formally thank Dr. Alizadeh and Dr. Simpson for volunteering their time and expertise and commend them for setting an example for all those who live and work here in Nassau County,” said County Executive Mangano. “I take great pride in knowing that we have these very talented and compassionate doctors here in our great county and running our burn unit at Nassau University Medical Center.”

In attendance at today’s press conference/ceremony was Rabbi Anchelle Perl, Nebal Hani al Shamali, her family and various religious and business leaders who all came to express their appreciation for the Doctors life saving treatment. The young girl spoke for the first time to express gratitude for the community and doctors that assisted her.