In March 2003, during a missile strike in southern Baghdad, twelve-year-old Ali Abbas sustained terrible burns and lost not only his arms, but his family. From the moment his photo appeared in newspapers, this appealing young boy became an international symbol of suffering, and his courage and resilience touched hearts around the world. This is his story—his early life, what really happened during the bombardment, and the months that followed his eleventh-hour air-lift to safety, when he was brought to Britain for medical care. In his own words, Ali Abbas also talks about his life and future—a future made brighter by both family and strangers.