Guardsman Helps Girl From Kosovo

HALIFAX, Mass. -- A National Guardsman from Halifax met a little girl in Kosovo who he just had to help.

NewsCenter 5's Todd Kazakiewich reported Friday that when Sgt. Kevin Powers returned from his deployment in November, his mission did not stop. He felt compelled to do more to help a 7-year-old girl named Tamara, whose father runs a clinic in Kosovo.

"I found out looking at her that she had club feet. This hit close to home for me because my son, Riley, was born with club feet," he said.

Riley, 7, has received treatment since birth and is now a very active little boy.

"I like basketball and soccer," he said.

Kevin Powers and his wife, Kristen, a nurse, said that Shriners Hospital can help Tamara, just as they helped Riley, although Tamara's condition is more complicated.

"When she was born she had a lack of oxygen to her brain because in the hospital she was born in they didn't have electricity. They couldn't give her oxygen, and she suffered brain damage," Kristen Power said.

Shriners Hospital will treat Tamara pro bono. Some of Kevin Powers' comrades contributed money for visas for Tamara, her father and sister. Now, they need money for airline tickets.

"Once we get them here, then we go to Shriners and improve this girl's life," Kevin Powers said.

If you'd like to make a donation, a fund has been set up at Sovereign Bank in Halifax.