Iranian girl puts faith in Twin Cities doctors

Doctors say when Cheesta’s life was at stake, the only way to save her was to sneak her out of Iran and to Minnesota.

Cheesta is as bright eyed nine-year-old. But behind her smile is a life threatening malformation of her spine. In simple terms, Cheesta's body was literally collapsing on itself.

Twin Cities surgeon Dr. Amir Mehbod says he met Cheesta while in Iran last fall at a surgical conference. Mehbod was eating lunch when Cheesta's doctor unexpectedly showed up with the child and asked for help.

"First of all, she has a beautiful smile. Right there I fell in love with her because I have three children of my own. One is her age and I said if I can help her in any way I am going to do that," Mehbod said.

But wanting to help and actually helping a child in Iran are two very different things. So a plan was hatched—one that relied on the trust of Americans whom Cheesta and her mother had never met.

The Iranian government would not likely grant a visa for Cheesta to leave Iran to come to the U.S., according to her family. So her loved ones planned to get the girl to the United Arab Emirates, where they would make their case to the American Consulate.

A Metro charity, Foundation for the Children of Iran, decided to help—as it has others who needeto leave Iran to undergo medical treatment in the U.S.

"We call it our chain of hope. There are people in Iran who I cannot, I must protect their identity and for their own safety and security I cannot mention their names. They are absolute heroes and they help organize the family's departure," said Nazie Eftehari with the foundation.

Quietly, the foundation and Cheesta's doctors began providing the State Department all the medical data necessary to show Cheesta's life was at risk. Doctors at the Twin Cities Spine Center and Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul say they needed to straighten her spine to save her life.

"It will get worse during puberty and then decrease the lung space and lead to early death due to lung failure," explained Dr. John Lonstein. "In Iran they don't have the facilities available to treat something as severe as this."

But they had to wait a month to hear weather a visa would be granted.

"I do not regard politics, I regard this as a child who needs care doesn't make a difference where they are from. If I can help them, then I will help them," Lonstein said.

Once the visa was approved, Cheesta and her mother traveled to Dubai before taking a leap of faith and took a flight to the U.S.

"She says she has complete faith you and the other doctors. She says first God, then you. She has faith," a translator said of Cheesta’s mother.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS agreed not to use Cheesta's full name or show her mother's face, as the family says they fear there could be reprisals when they return to Iran.

"This is what I live for. This is why I became a doctor to help somebody improve their life," Mehbod said.

Chance meeting and clandestine journey now complete, Cheesta's life was in the hands of surgeons.

For 14 and a half hours, the tiny 30-pound child underwent a dangerous surgery—one that could have left Cheesta paralyzed if something were to go wrong.

But her mother’s faith was rewarded. Doctors say they’re pleased with the outcome of the surgeries that has substantially straightened Cheesta’s spine. Doctors now expect her to live a long and healthy life.

Cheesta and her mom will return to Iran in a matter of weeks. While they do have concerns about reprisals back in Iran, they felt it was important to share their story because of the generosity of the doctors, nurses and everyone else who have helped them.