Lionheart: The Story of Saleh

On October 10, 2003, as he walked home from school, a 9-year-old Iraqi boy named Saleh Khalaf picked up something on the roadside that looked to him like a toy ball. Seconds later it exploded, ripping open his abdomen, tearing off his hands, blowing out his left eye, and mortally wounding his older brother.
“Lionheart: The Story of Saleh” documents this courageous Iraqi boy’s life, spanning 20 years between the event that forever altered the course of his life and his present-day struggles and joys.
Days after the accident, Saleh’s father, Raheem, persuaded doctors at a U.S. Air Force base in Iraq to perform emergency surgery to keep his son alive. It marked the beginning of an international mercy mission to save the boy whose indomitable spirit earned him the nickname Lion Heart. The mission would take Saleh and Raheem to the Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California, for treatment. After many months and dozens of operations, Saleh’s condition began to improve, but his heart was still heavy. He prayed that he would one day be reunited with his mother, Hadia, and his younger siblings back in Iraq. Raheem and Saleh were granted asylum, and soon afterward their family received permission to join them in the United States. In December 2004, Hadia and the children left Iraq and made the arduous journey to Oakland to begin a new life there.

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Raheem would comfort Saleh in his hospital bed until he fell asleep. Raheem worried about his wife and children back in Iraq, where the war was raging. December 16, 2003.

As he began to venture outside the hospital more often, Saleh would wear sunglasses to hide his missing eye. On this trip to the grocery store, he forgot them and was stared at by other customers. April 20, 2004.

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Raheem would comfort Saleh in his hospital bed until he fell asleep. Raheem worried about his wife and children back in Iraq, where the war was raging. December 16, 2003.

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Throughout his teenage years, Saleh experienced ups and downs as he navigated life in America. He was fitted for a prosthetic arm but it was cumbersome and caused discomfort so he set it aside and did the best he could without hands. As a young adult he mostly remained positive and had dreams and hopes for the future: a good job, stability, and maybe starting a family.
In 2017, Saleh’s mother introduced him to a young Iraqi woman, a friend’s daughter, named Fatima. After a yearlong courtship with her online, he traveled back to Iraq and married her. He had hoped to go through the regular administrative procedures to bring her to America. However, the “Muslim ban” came into effect at this time and it took four years before she finally joined him in America in December 2022.
In 2024, Mohammed was born bringing newfound joy to Saleh and Fatima. Being a good father to his son is of paramount importance to Saleh who is determined to provide for his family despite the constant challenges that he faces. Jobs involving entering data manually or using a keyboard are difficult. He tried taking graphic design classes, but ultimately had to give up because he couldn’t press multiple keys on the computer keyboard. He got a job as a security officer until the position was no longer needed.
What began as a story about Saleh’s personal struggle has evolved into a broader narrative about the brutal effects of war on civilians. Through Saleh’s experience, this project explores themes of trauma, resilience, healing, and hope, providing an intimate account of the long-term challenges of rebuilding a life after war.

Deanne Fitzmaurice

This project was supported by the W. Eugene Smith Grant 2024.