NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- An Iraqi girl brought to the U.S. for life-saving surgery checked out of Vanderbilt Children's Hospital to take a week off before open-heart surgery.

Video: Young Iraqi Girl Prepares For Heart Surgery

Amenah and her mom will relax in Leiper’s Fork as guests of their host family, the Bergers, and the Grace Chapel family.

“We just couldn’t say no, it’s just this great opportunity. But, the blessing that we’re already getting from it, you know, everybody always says that, but it’s so true. Our hearts have become connected,” said Sarah Berger.

It was Marine Maj. John Jarrard, who, after a routine patrol of Haditha City, met Amenah and began a crusade to get her help. It was battalion surgeon John Nadeau, a hypertension expert from Vanderbilt, who helped get the surgery done for free.

The family’s interpreter is now like a family member, and Amenah also won the heart of her cardiologist.

During Amenah’s surgery, surgeons will reroute blood to her lungs. Basically, for the rest of her life, she will have only one pumping chamber instead of two.

It’s an operation that works, but Vanderbilt will not be there down the road to maintain her heart.

“It’s a permanent fix. It’s going to sustain her for the rest of her life in a village where she has very little medical care or very little access to any medical personnel. So we’re really hoping things go well. That’s her only option,” said Dr. Thomas Doyle.

The Iraqi ambassador said that saving the child has left a mark not only on the family but the entire community of Haditha City, Iraq.

Amenah Fund
c/o Grace Chapel
3279 Southall Road
Franklin, TN 37064