His American odyssey

Abdullah watches nurse Ronald Licup secure the bandages on his leg at Shriners Hospital. The Palestinian lost his mother and two sisters to Israeli shelling in November 2006.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

George Abuhamad welcomes Abdullah to his home in Yorba Linda, where the boy is staying while recovering from surgery. Abuhamad is a Palestinian American who grew up in Damascus, Syria.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Cierra Abuhamad, 4, hugs Abdullah in the driveway of her home in Yorba Linda.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Joan Abuhamad helps Abdullah settle in.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Cierra Abuhamad delights in Abdullah’s play with a soccer ball he was given upon leaving the hospital.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Abdullah makes himself at home. Doctors in Egypt tried to amputate beneath his right shin, but his fibula and tibia bones kept growing, pushing painfully against the skin that had grown around his stump. The recent surgery corrected that, doctors say.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Abdullah, center, bows his head as his host father, George Abuhamad, blesses the boy’s first meal at the home.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Abdullah and Abuhamad relax on the breezy patio.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Abdullah winces after bumping his leg. After a few minutes of rest, the energetic youngster recovered with no ill effects.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Abdullah smiles as his kite takes flight in the Yorba Linda backyard. He crafted the simple toy from a single sheet of typing paper and a spool of thread.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Abuhamad helps Abdullah get comfortable on the patio.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Cierra dashes around the backyard as Abdullah tries to coax his handmade kite into flight. As soon as the scars from his recent surgery heal, he will be fitted for an artificial leg.  (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)