by Rosie Alfatlawi
This story has a sad beginning: Iraqi actor Saad Khalifa, well-known for his comedy show Caricatures, was lying forgotten in a Baghdad hospital. The 56-year-old actor needed a kidney, and no match could be found.
That is until Abbas Kareem Ali Altaee, from rural Maysan province, heard about it and sprung into action. In a viral Facebook post, the young man explained that he had offered to donate his kidney to Khalifa.
Peace, mercy and blessings of God upon you.
My brothers, I am Abbas Karim Ali Altaee from Maysan governorate, from the Mu'alimeen al-Jadeed district [of governorate capital Amarah].
I speak in full awareness and with full [mental] capacity.
After having seen this Iraqi artist is going to die and [that he has] found no one to donate a kidney to him, I stand before God and declare my readiness to donate my kidney to him [in order to draw] close to God, [out of] humanitarianism and [in order to] help save the life of a person... so take me to [Saad Khalifa] and I am his humble servant.
The post captured the imagination of Iraqis, and the news quickly spread across social media. It was soon reported that Altaee had arrived in the capital to see if he was a match for Khalifa.
The arrival of the young Maysani man Abbas Altaee in Baghdad. [He has undertaken] the necessary tests to prepare for the donation of his kidney to the artist Saad Khalifa. What do you say to this young man?
It seems that Altaee’s kind gesture has inspired many others, with local news agencies reporting that as many as 10 people have offered to donate their kidneys. Al-Rashid channel described on Saturday that the hospital was carrying out tests to see if there was a match for Khalifa.
What’s more, since the news of his illness broke, Khalifa has been visited by a who’s who of Iraqi society.
Actors and comedians...
Haidar Dadaoua [Iraqi comic poet] visits the esteemed Iraqi artist Saad Khalifa.
The stars Qasim Al-Malak, Ayad Rady, Anam Al-Rubaie, Sinan Al-Azzawi, Razak Ahmed and Reda Tarash check up on the health of their beloved colleague Saad Khalifa who is lying in Al-Karama Hospital.
Religious figures...
The visit of [Iraqi cleric] Ali al-Taqani to Saad Khalifa in hospital.
And politicians…
Mohammed Karbouli [tribal leader] and Iyad Allawi [former Vice President] visiting the Iraqi artist Saad Khalifa to check on his health.
The Interior Minister visits Saad Khalifa.
A statement from the Interior Ministry said that, following his visit on Saturday, the Minister had described the “need to provide full healthcare for [Khalifa]”, Alghad reported. Medical treatment is free in Iraq, however years of conflict and widespread corruption have resulted in an ailing health system.
It seems, however, that this well-loved celebrity will be getting the VIP treatment after all in his nation's hospitals.
RA
