Tamarah is a beautiful and intelligent little girl, but she suffered from a physical disability that prevented her from walking normally.

BEIT SAHOUR, Israel – As a four year old, Tamarah had perfect ballerina feet—a flawless point.

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Every step she took, she did so on her tip-toes, but not because she wanted to—Tamarah didn’t have a choice. She suffered from a physical disability that prevented her from walking normally.

Abandoned by her own mother, Tamarah was taken in by a woman named Hiyam, who does her best to care for the little girl. Their home is a simple two-room house with only a few pieces of furniture.

Unable to find a job near her home, Hiyam simply didn’t have the resources needed to take Tamarah to a doctor for diagnosis or treatment.

When Operation Blessing heard about Tamarah and Hiyam’s difficulties, a team from OB Israel visited their home in Beit Sahour. There, they found a beautiful and intelligent little girl, full of life.

“Tamarah is a little girl full of energy and talk,” said Lori Bryan, OB Israel staff. “She giggles and laughs as though she doesn’t have two feet that aren’t functioning like everyone else’s.”

To provide for Tamarah and Hiyam in the future, Operation Blessing helped Hiyam develop a business creating and selling handmade jewelry like these rosaries.

“I wanted to help Tamarah because no little girl should grow up with issues that can be resolved with surgery,” Lori continued, “and in this culture she would always be stigmatized and made fun of.”

Operation Blessing provided for Tamarah’s corrective surgery, as well as her follow-up physical therapy.

Now, Tamarah is working through her physical therapy appointments—and walking better every day. “She is doing well,” Lori said. “She steals the hearts of everyone who comes to visit with her.”

To provide for Tamarah’s future, Operation Blessing helped Hiyam develop her own handcraft business where she makes and sells jewelry. They also helped with their outstanding electric bill and provided new furnishings for their home—including a bed for little Tamarah.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity that you provided,” Hiyam said. “This is a burden lifted off. You invested time into me, walked me through some of my greatest needs and, as an answer to prayer, provided me with more than I could possibly imagine.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Operation Blessing is helping to transform the futures of children like these by providing clean water, education assistance, nutritional feeding programs, medical care and more. Please make an online contribution toward OBI's orphan care programs today and help us continue to reach those in need.