Donna Clementoni, an employer outreach director with the Department of Defense, stood in the auditorium at Shelter Rock Elementary School on Monday in front of a giant screen emblazoned with the words, “It began with a soldier.”
Students from throughout the Manhasset School District filed in to hear Clementoni tell the story of Bilal Sharif, a 7-year-old Afghani boy born who was brought to Long Island last fall by Major Glenn Battschinger, of the 353 Civil Affairs Battalion of Staten Island, to remove a rare genetic abnormality in which his bladder sat on the outside of his body.
At the tale’s conclusion, Clementoni presented district officials and Col. Jose Madera of the 353 Civil Affairs Battalion with the defense department’s Seven Seals Award for their fundraising efforts toward Sharif’s recovery at the Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park.
“This was a personal mission for him to give this little boy a normal life,” Clementoni said, adding that March 17 had been declared Sharif’s unofficial birthday. His actual birth date is unknown, as his native Afghanistan does not keep such records.
The Seven Seals Award is given by the defense department’s Employer Support of Guard and Reserve in recognition of the efforts of a citizen, business or organization toward humanitarian causes.
In November, doctors performed a four-hour surgery to place Sharif’s bladder inside the 7-year-old’s body and close a hole that had been leaking urine.
During Sharif’s recovery at the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park, students from Manhasset High School and Middle School raised $1,600 to pay for the boy’s uncovered medical expenses, while ESL students at Shelter Rock made him flash cards and notes of encouragement.
Students from Munsey Park Elementary School also organized a clothing drive, collecting coats and other winter attire for children in Sharif’s home in eastern Afghanistan who are often ill-prepared to handle the region’s harsh winters.
Mara Steindam, the district’s social studies coordinator, thanked the students for helping Sharif and the defense department for aiding the district in organizing its donation efforts.
“You guys really stepped up to the plate right away,” Steindam said.
Sharif was not in attendance Monday, as he has recently begun attending first grade classes while staying with a host family on a travel visa that is good until next fall. Battschinger was also unable to attend. He is currently serving in Africa.
“My job and Glenn’s job is to help people, so you guys have helped us to do our mission,” Madera said. “Helping people is not easy to do, and you’ve all helped us help Bilal.”
