A memorial is being dedicated to a child that captured the hearts of Hoosier and people around the world at 1:00pm on Thursday, February 23 in the atrium of Riley hospital for children. The 13 month old Qudrat, brought to Indiana through the Rotary District Gift of Life program, was found living in a refugee camp under very bad conditions by Indiana National Guardsmen during their year long deployment to Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan.

LtC. Terry Snow, a Greenfield Rotarian,who had been called up for a year of overseas duty,  quickly arranged for the child to be accepted for a heart operation at Riley Hospital.   The child arrived last February and immediately captured the interest of all of Indiana.   Dr Mark Turrentine, the operating surgeon worked a miracle as the operation was far more of a risk than had been anticipated. Frank and Marian Snyder, two Hoosiers, made a generous contribution to fund a bronze sculpture that shows the hand of a child being lifted by a military person's hand

Rotary continues on with the Gift of Life program helping a six year old from Afghanistan and are currently hosting a child from Burkino Faso, a West African country, for heart surgery in the next week.

Although Qudrat died four days after returning to his home, this memorial will bring Qudrat, our soldiers from Indiana and Rotary's Gift of Life to mind for years to come  

The  inscription on the sculpture reads:

“Children's smiles inspire bridge building across seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Their hearts create communities we never imagined possible. This smiling boy showed us what we can achieve for all children through compassion, selflessness and vision. In loving memory of Qudrat Ullah Wardak.”