In 1996 Awaz Bawari was put on Saddam Hussein's kill list. While the United States granted Awaz asylum, allowing her to leave Iraq and come to America safely, they did not include her newborn baby girl.
When Awaz was crossing the border, her daughter was not on the list and thus unable to leave.
"He actually pointed to the window and said, 'You can toss her to somebody who can deliver her to your family,' " Awaz said.
However, Awaz wasn't going to leave without her daughter no matter how much her life was in danger.
"She's not a sack of potatoes. I'm not giving her to anybody. That's my baby. That's the whole point why I'm leaving my country and my mom behind," she said.
Then American soldier Greg Peppin stepped in and defied all odds.
Even at war, we see the best in people, like when this soldier trained his beloved dog to be a hero against the odds.
He took the baby girl, named Lava, and said she was now known as Greg.
"That's a beautiful name, but today, that's not her name. Her name is Greg Peppin," he said.
He then transferred Lava across the border using his own U.S. passport.
Lava and Awaz were able to settle into a wonderful life in Georgia. However, they never saw Peppin again and they never got to thank him.
Eighteen years later, Lava tracked him down and invited him to her high school graduation.
"I wanted him to be here because I wouldn't have made it here or had a better education than my parents if he hadn't helped us that day," Lava told Fox 5.
Now watch what happens when they reunite.
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