Gaza boy gets treatment in Michigan

11-year-old boy from Gaza awaits prosthetic leg while Dearborn Heights family opens home to him

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. – Although Muath Abudaher does not speak English, during a quick game of one-on-one basketball it became clear he doesn't back down from a challenge.

The 11-year-old boy from Gaza has had to live his life that way beginning at an even younger age. Muath lost his mother to cancer at age 4. He lost a leg to bone cancer at age 6.

Now, he's in Dearborn Heights living with a host family, the Hameds. He will return home in a few months as a very different young man.

"We're going to be hopefully sending him home with a new prosthetic leg," said Yasmeen Hamed, his host mother.

It is thanks to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, a non profit organization dedicated to helping children in the Middle East.

"They bring children to different countries, wherever they can find care for that child," she said.

Hamed has hosted children like Muath in her home before. Muath has only been at her home for a couple of weeks but he is already a part of the family.

"It's just been something I have always believed in. I mean, it's children, you can't say no to them. Look at his face. Look at his smile. It attracts anybody," Hamed said.

Muath has a nice jump shot but he dreams of becoming a professional soccer player. He says he is grateful to be one step close to living that dream.

"He can't wait to do a lot of things while he's on his two feet," said Hamed.