The infant Saddam was sent to the family of his maternal uncle Khairallah Talfah until he was three .
Shortly afterward , Saddam 's 13 - year - old brother died of cancer .
The infant Saddam was sent to the family of Saddam 's maternal uncle Khairallah Talfah until he was three .
Shortly afterward , Saddam 's 13 - year - old brother died of cancer .