Matt Roloff, the star of the TLC show “Little People, Big World” was our guest here in Baghdad this week. He was invited here to help out some children we know who are suffering from dwarfism.
The intent of this show is to highlight the challenges faced by “little people” in a world that is made for “big people”. Typically the show focuses around Matt and his family as they go through their day to day lives in an effort to rid the American population of the stereotypes produced by popular media and ignorance.
In my "free time” I have started to work with a few other officers who are trying to help out some of the families that have been devastated by the war. One of these families has three children who have degenerative dwarfism. This bone disease will make them completely immobile by the time they are adults. The oldest daughter who is 13 is beyond help; she lies in the floor of this family’s one-room house and can only lift her head and one arm. The other two children have some bone deformities but can be helped by surgery if treated soon enough.
The intent of this show is to highlight the challenges faced by “little people” in a world that is made for “big people”. Typically the show focuses around Matt and his family as they go through their day to day lives in an effort to rid the American population of the stereotypes produced by popular media and ignorance.
In my "free time” I have started to work with a few other officers who are trying to help out some of the families that have been devastated by the war. One of these families has three children who have degenerative dwarfism. This bone disease will make them completely immobile by the time they are adults. The oldest daughter who is 13 is beyond help; she lies in the floor of this family’s one-room house and can only lift her head and one arm. The other two children have some bone deformities but can be helped by surgery if treated soon enough.
This is where “Little People” come into the picture. The show was contacted to see if they would be interested in highlighting the difficulties of these "little people" in a country that is doing nothing to help them. Our medics can provide basic medical care, but nothing like what these kids need. So the vision was for the show to come and tape a show with the kids meeting Matt, people would become engaged and the children would be helped.
Matt Roloff was here yesterday and visited with the family to do the shoot. He said he was "crushed with sadness" at how bad these kids have it. Matt talked with the children and their parents, capturing footage for his show. This episode will be the fall season opener and the money made from the show will be used for the needs and medical care of the children. I have to tell you, Matt is a great guy.
The group coordinated through the security firm “Blackwater” to use their medical facilities to x-ray the children. The film will be evaluated by doctors back in the U.S. who have volunteered to perform surgeries to prevent the breakdown of the skeletal system of these kids.
Matt Roloff was here yesterday and visited with the family to do the shoot. He said he was "crushed with sadness" at how bad these kids have it. Matt talked with the children and their parents, capturing footage for his show. This episode will be the fall season opener and the money made from the show will be used for the needs and medical care of the children. I have to tell you, Matt is a great guy.
The group coordinated through the security firm “Blackwater” to use their medical facilities to x-ray the children. The film will be evaluated by doctors back in the U.S. who have volunteered to perform surgeries to prevent the breakdown of the skeletal system of these kids.
They will fly them out through Jordan to receive treatment in the US later this year after we work through all of the bureaucratic challenges involved in moving children out of a war zone and into the United States.
It is nice to be able to do some good of a personal nature while we are over here. I know our military operations are bringing stability to the region because the violence is way down. I also know this stability is just the first step that has to be followed by developing trust. This is what we are working on. I hope we can help some people in this process, because I believe the only way we can make lasting change over here is to make personal connections through our actions.
4 comments:
I did two tours in Iraq, one of them in the Baghdad AO. I saw this stuff everyday and felt helpless. Even as a medic there was very little I could do. I am greatful that you have taken up the challenge to better these kids lives. I wish you the best on your tour.
J. Reisig
Hi John,
Thanks for all you do. Guess what. I passed your blog on to others so that they will know what you do. We are so grateful for all you guys do. Me and my husband love the Roloffs and feel that they give back in so manygood ways.
Hi John, THANK YOU FOR SERVING! YOU ALL ARE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB
OVER THERE, May God always bless each of you. We will be watching Matt in "Little People, Big World" and will do all we can to help their cause of dwarfism. Just know that God is in control and where they allow Him in, He will do a wonderful work.
Hi John,
What all of you do is beyond words. A Thank you does not seem like enough to say. I watched the Little People Iraq episode and cried at the conditions of those 3 kids and the living conditions for the family. You all must see so much of this, I simply cannot imagine. I cried at the help the troops were giving this family and I am sure many others. It makes me very proud to be an American. It is nice to hear Matt is a great guy.....kudos to Matt for jumping in for that family.
Lastly, God bless all of you! Our troops allow us all to sleep well in our warm beds here at home....I simply cannot tell you all enough how proud I am of our men and women in service to our country. My heartfelt thanks to all of you!
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