After surviving a car bombing and a freak workplace accident, a young Iraqi man resolves to lose over 300 pounds while dreaming of a life without war.

Occasion

For a series called “Daily Life Baghdad,” we set out to find a Christian Baghdadi. Although the sectarian war in Baghdad was mainly fought between Shia and Sunni Muslims, Christian churches were also targeted. Christians lived under the constant shadow of violence, caught between militias, checkpoints, and deadly faith-based attacks.

Approach

Our fixer introduced us to Khduer, an incredible young man who had already survived a massive explosion while working for an international news agency and later lost an arm in a workplace accident. Struggling with trauma, he turned to food and became morbidly overweight.

But one day, he’d had enough. Inspired by the American reality show The Biggest Loser, Khduer set out to transform his life.

I kept returning to him—drawn by his rare combination of honesty, vulnerability, and unshakable determination. Against all odds, Khduer survived his stomach reduction surgery, lost the weight (and then some), moved to the U.S., and eventually got married.

Quote

“He has a boyish smile. When he feels shy, he’ll put his hand on the elbow of his left arm, which ends in a stump. Posters of beautiful Arab singers cover the walls, along with images of tough, romantic men who, like Khduer, crave another life. Five weeks ago, Khduer went on a diet. He weighed 538 pounds and wants to lose 100 kilograms (317 pounds). A doctor has promised to reduce his stomach by seventy percent.”

Publication

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Publication Details

???? Appeared on: Narratively
???? Date: April 2015
???? Project Type: Narrative journalism