Now that Youssif and his family have had a few days to adjust to life in the U.S., it's time to get started on the work to repair his burn-scarred face. Via CNN:

SHERMAN OAKS, California (CNN) -- A big day had arrived in little Youssif's life: Surgery day.

And the boy's joyous mood turned into fear.

Hospitals in Baghdad meant only pain. They didn't use anesthetic when he was treated there.

Now, on Thursday, he sobbed in his room as doctors came to take him to the operating room. "No," he said in English, clinging to his father.

Tears rolled down his father's face. His mother wept.

It was 6:05 a.m. (9:05 a.m. ET). Youssif was wheeled out of the room, escorted by his parents.

The boy held his dad's hand as long as he could. When they had to let go, the boy screamed and cried even more.

His 2½-hour surgery was about to begin.

[. . .]

"I am happy and so upset. I'm not worried about the doctor's abilities. I'm worried about what my son is going to go through," [his father] said softly, clenching his hands. "A 5-year-old shouldn't have to go through this."

Marveling at her boy dressed in a Superman shirt, Zainab said her son hadn't been this joyful since he was so savagely attacked nine months ago, when masked men grabbed Youssif outside his Baghdad home, doused him in gas and set him on fire.

"Even back home in Baghdad, Youssif was never this happy," she said.

"Just look at him," she chatted with her husband. "Remember when we first arrived here and he wouldn't talk to anyone? Look at him now."

This is just the first of the many surgeries that will be necessary to reconstruct the little boy's face, but each day will bring him closer to the time when he will be free from pain and disfigurement. Hopefully each day will also bring healing to his spirit, and a sense of the love and concern that everyone involved in this project has for him. Then the smile on his face will reflect the joy in his heart.

Look below for some cute Youssif pictures.

UPDATE: Youssif's surgery 'went well,' doctor says

Five-year-old Youssif was recovering Thursday from several hours of surgery to repair his badly burned face, and his doctor is happy with the outcome.

"It went well," Dr. Peter Grossman told CNN. "I was very pleased to see that everything went the way we wanted it to. Youssif was scared, but he was a trouper.

"Surgery really went without any complications, and we're very pleased at the outcome."

Grossman said Youssif will have some pain as he recovers.

"But kids are really pretty brave, and they get over the pain relatively quickly," the burn expert said. "And he's shown that he's a brave young boy."

Here is Youssif getting a hug from Spiderman at Universal Studios.

This is Youssif's first meeting with Dr. Peter Grossman, who will perform the reconstructive surgery on Youssif's face.

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