>>>Remember Those in Harm's Way<<<

A friend of mine is a Critical Care Nurse in the Air Force. She is currently deployed to Bagram Afghanistan. Her young family is scattered across the USA, from Hawaii to Florida to Ohio while she is away. Regardless of your stance on the war itself, we must keep in mind that on all sides of the equation these are real people with families...who did not initiate the war. My friend does not injury or kill people, she helps save lives no matter which "side" they serve. Please keep her, the young soldier and all of our service people in your thoughts and prayers. One day we will rise above war, but not before it becomes much, much worse and many are sacrificed at the altar of greed.

Story from Bagram Afghanistan

One of the patients I recovered in PACU lost his left foot, broke his right tibia and fibula, and broke a bone in his right arm. He was walking in a field with other service members and heard, “WATCH YOUR STEP!” The next thing he heard was a loud “BOOM!” He was thrown in the air and landed on the ground. The tough solider tried to get up after he noticed his left foot was gone. Then he heard the bones in his right leg crack which made him buckle down to the ground again.

While he was in the PACU, he kept playing the scenario over and over in his mind thinking, “If I just took one step to the right or one to the left…” He had a traumatic amputation to the left foot and needed debridement. He also had an external fixator to the right tibia/fibula with a four compartment fasciotomy. Wound vacs were also placed to both his lower extremities.

He asked a question that at first made me speechless. He was curious why I chose to be in the medical field. I became teary-eyed when I told him that I wanted to be in the military to take care of people like him…to give back to those who fight for my freedom. These airmen, soldiers, marines, and sailors sacrifice so much…life, limb and their own freedom.

This made me remember why I am here. It is easy to get caught up in the negativity out here, and become worn-out, grumpy and irritated with the constant tempo. The interest from that one solider had in my career choice revived my pride in the care I provide. I am proud to serve the men and women in the armed forces at home and in deployed locations. Thank you for all you do.

Last Edited by PalmOfDeborah on 10/01/2010 02:06 PM