Dianne Wolfer - Aussie STEM Stars: Munjed Al Muderis: From refugee to surgical inventor

Aussie STEM Stars series

Published by Wild Dingo Press

Melbourne, Australia

wilddingopress.com.au

This work was first published by Wild Dingo Press 2020

Text copyright Dianne Wolfer

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

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Cover Design: Gisela Beer

Illustrations: Diana Silkina

Series Editor: Catherine Lewis

Printed in Australia

Wolfer, Dianne 1961-, author.

Munjed Al Muderis: From refugee to surgical inventor / Dianne Wolfer

ISBN: 9781925893373 (paperback)

ISBN: 9781925893380 (epdf)

ISBN: 9781925893397 (epub)

Disclaimer

This work has been developed in collaboration with Associate Professor Munjed Al Muderis. The utmost care has been taken to respectfully portray, as accurately as memory allows, the events and the stories of all who appear in this work. The publishers assume no liability or responsibility for unintended inaccuracies, but would be pleased to rectify at the earliest opportunity any omissions or errors brought to their notice.

Contents

1980: War begins

We must fly home immediately.

Why? Munjed asks his father.

Saddam Hussein has invaded Iran.

Munjed is only eight but he knows that Saddam Hussein is the president of their country, Iraq.

Why? he asks again.

Munjed, do as your father says!

His mother, Kamila, has just returned from the supermarket and Munjed knows better than to argue when she uses that tone of voice. He frowns instead. The Detroit hotel where theyre staying has a great games area and there are plenty of kids his age. Munjed doesnt want their summer holiday to end.

His mother drops her bag on the counter with the groceries, smooths her floral dress and turns to her husband.

It may not be safe to return to Baghdad, she says, quietly.

We must go back while we can.

I think we should stay here.

The atmosphere in the room is tense. Munjed tries to make himself invisible as his parents discuss the situation in their country and what they should do.

Finally, his father whispers, I am an Iraqi. I should die at home in my own country.

For once his mother has no reply.

Are you sick, Baba? Munjed asks, forgetting to be invisible.

His father laughs and opens his arms.

No, my son, but we must return. I cant leave my homeland when there is conflict.

Baba is an affectionate term for Dad in many languages including Arabic which is spoken in Iraq.

Abdul Razak Al Muderis is a Supreme Court judge. Hes a soft-spoken academic, a natural leader with a strong sense of social justice. Through Abdul, Munjed can trace his ancestry to one of the nine traditional rulers of Baghdad and also to the Prophet Muhammad who is the prophet all Muslims follow.

Munjed sits with his father until his mother calls him.

Come and help me pack.

Why are we in such a rush? Munjed complains.

His mother pushes loose hair behind her ears. Iranian planes will target Baghdad Airport. We need to arrive before they do.

Kamila has worked as a teacher and school principal. Shes tough and practical, traits that will help her save her sons life in later years when he flees Iraq to find safety in a new homeland.

Dont worry, she says, ruffling Munjeds hair. Everything will be fine.

Although her voice is calm, Kamilas eyes are anxious. An unfamiliar feeling of dread settles in Munjeds stomach as the Al Muderis family zip their suitcases and hail a taxi.

The airport, his father tells the driver. Please hurry.

The KLM Airlines desk is already crowded.

We need to catch the next flight to Baghdad, Abdul tells the clerk.

Yes, sir. The man checks his screen. The best connection is via Athens. It leaves in a few hours.

Before they board, Abdul listens to the latest news broadcast. The conflict in Iraq is worsening. Ever since Munjed can remember, his family have spent summer holidays abroad. This is the only time theyve returned early.

The aeroplane is a 747 jumbo. Munjed settles into his seat. Its a long flight but theyre in business class so the seats are comfortable.

Would you like another bowl of ice cream? a steward asks. Munjed nods.

He loves the free colouring-in books the stewards give him, best of all is the miniature aeroplane model they bring. Munjed zooms the plane around the seats then makes a careful landing on his tray table.

Eleven hours later, their flight arrives in Athens and the Al Muderis family connect with their eight-hour flight to Baghdad. As Munjed drifts off to sleep, he wonders whats happening at home and whether his best friends, Manaf and Ayser, are safe.

Excuse me, passengers. A crackly noise wakes him. Its mid-flight. The pilot is making an announcement over the PA. Im sorry to interrupt your rest, but weve just learnt that Baghdad Airport is closed to all non-military aircraft. This flight is now being diverted to Amman in Jordan. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines apologises for any inconvenience.

Munjed feels his stomach drop as the plane dips then turns sharply. The woman behind him screams and people shout questions.

Whats going on?

Is Baghdad being bombed?

Will it be safe to land in Jordan?

Munjeds parents exchange worried glances.

We might have to take a bus from Amman, Abdul whispers.

That will take ages, Kamila says.

Its the only way

His mother grips Munjeds hand and says, It will be fine. The high pitch of her voice frightens him even more.

At Ammans Queen Alia Airport, his father takes charge again.

Are there any flights at all to Baghdad? he asks the frazzled Jordanian clerk.

Im sorry, sir, theres no civilian air access into Iraq.

But we must return home.

The only way into Baghdad is by road, the clerk replies, however, that could be dangerous. I dont recommend it.

As Munjeds father makes arrangements to catch a bus, his mother gathers three chairs.

Come, she says. Lets try and rest.

Its impossible to sleep on the drooping, plastic chairs. Munjed wanders around, watching other travellers and reading notices. The building is little more than a shed. He learns that the ramshackle airport is named after a queen who died in a helicopter accident a few years earlier.