A Brave Face: Two Cultures, Two Families, and the Iraqi Girl Who Bound Them Together
About this audiobook
The inspirational story of an American woman who moved mountains to secure medical treatments—and eventually a home—for a young Iraqi girl severely burned in a roadside terror attack. This is a story of the astonishing power of self-sacrificial love.
On a typical Sunday morning in 2006, Barbara Marlowe saw a photo that changed her life: a photo of four-year-old Teeba Furat Fadhil, whose face, head, and hands had been severely burned during a roadside bombing in the Diyala Province of Iraq. Teeba’s eyes captivated Barbara, and she yearned to help this child who had already endured more pain and suffering than anyone should bear.
Because surgeons were fleeing the war-torn country, Teeba would be unable to receive much-needed treatments if she stayed in Iraq. With powerful faith and determination, Barbara overcame obstacle after obstacle to bring Teeba from Iraq to the United States for medical treatments.
A Brave Face explores the connection forged between Barbara and Teeba’s Iraqi mother Dunia over the past decade—a deep bond between two mothers that has flourished despite the distance, the strife of war, and the horrors of Al-Qaeda and ISIS. With chapters written by Teeba, now a young woman, and Dunia, the three women recount the story of courage and sacrifice that bound them together.
A Brave Face contains the messages that:
- Tremendous trust can cross borders and war zones
- Tragedies can turn into miracles
- Love can be found in the most unexpected of places
In the end, this is a story of hope. A story of building bridges. A story of the always astonishing power of self-sacrificial love.
About the author
Barbara Marlowe is the Marketing and Public Relations Director for the law firm of Dworken & Bernstein Co., L.P.A., in northeast Ohio. She has served on several boards for nonprofits and is currently a member of the University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Leadership Council and Dogs Unlimited Rescue; she is also president of the Iraqi Children’s Foundation. Until Teeba’s arrival, Barbara was an avid golfer and loved to play in tournaments. She hopes to return to her favorite sport one day very soon. Barbara and her husband, Tim, live in an eastern suburb of Cleveland along with Teeba and their dog Becca.
Teeba Furat Marlowe is a sophomore in high school at Gilmour Academy. She is dedicated to her studies and focused on her future as a pediatric anesthesiologist. She hopes to one day volunteer with Doctors without Borders. Teeba is an accomplished dancer in various styles of dance and has a talent for creating and editing videos. She is also a gifted public speaker and skilled speech writer. Teeba serves as Honorary Youth Ambassador for the Iraqi Children’s Foundation. She does an amazing job of balancing two mothers and two fathers!
