My Last ER/Trauma Dept Meeting

I am really becoming a short-timer now. I had my last ER/Trauma Dept meeting this week. My awesome crew gave me a cake and a present. The present, of course, was a workout shirt. Imagine that. Even though they have been here only a month, they obviously know me too well:)!

I thought I was done with clinical medicine already, however, fate had other plans for me. As multiple casualties were coming in, all the primary trauma teams as well as the "ad hoc" trauma teams that I led came in to take care of the wounded. It reminded us all why we are really here. An important but somber mission to be certain.

On a lighter note, one of the docs received a "tennis court/set" in a box from an unknown source. So, the trauma team du jour set it up and proceeded to play a couple of sets. American ingenuity never ceases to amaze me!

Where's the Justice? aka "Life's Not Fair"

Although I was very honored and excited to meet Admiral Debbink (the highest ranking Navy Reservist) during his visit, I must admit I was a little jealous of my brother Ben's newest acquaintance! With all due respect to the Admiral, I think even he would admit that my brother and his dental school classmate, Dimitri, got the better deal!

A Shout Out To My Nephews- Colin & Cameron!

I hope you never have to lifeguard at a pool such as this! Since it has been warming up and the wind has been blowing, the "sweet smell of poo pond in the morning" has been wafting to my nostrils. So, I figured I would finally brave the trek to go check out the infamous Kandahar "POO POND" and take some pictures. The closer I got, the more intense the stench, until it became almost overpowering as I reached the edge. I had to get upwind to take some pictures, then quickly return (can you say "speed walk") back to the barracks!

HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone back home! No, the first picture is NOT from Afghanistan. It is, however, one of my favorite St. Paddy's Day pics that you might recognize from my Okinawa blog. It was a retired Marine Sgt playing the bagpipes at a bar in Oki in 2010!

We did have a party, which included O'Doul's (of course) and corned beef and cabbage. It also included Karaoke (not the same with N/A beer) and "bling." We even had green fortune cookies. One of the ward nurses that works with Chris and Judy Hanhila back in Bremerton is in the picture with all her "bling" on. The party was, as usual, in the ambulance bay outside the ER. Strangely, though, no patients came in during the party (at least not while I was there). I did have to leave early, though, to make it to my second spin classs of the day.........;)

NAVY SPIN TEAM IN AFGHANISTAN

Even in Afghanistan, we have great spin classes. In fact, today, for the class that was to begin at 7pm, the sign up was full by 0510 (that is 5:10 am for you non-military people!), just 10 minutes after they allowed people to begin signing up. The class was led by Annalei, who refers to herself as the "sweet Swede." She is anything but when it comes to spin classes. She does make it fun, though, so the 60 minutes passes quickly. I will actually miss the spin classes here (especially being able to do "two-a-days"), but I am looking forward to returning to my spin classes at the Village (also my swimming, which I dearly miss). It is getting closer every day, and I hope to be home before Benjamin finishes his first year at the UofA and final exams.

See you all soon!

NEW ARRIVALS

Out with the old, in with the new! It has been a while since I have posted any new pictures as it has been very hectic training all the new people who replaced the old rotation. I am one of the few left now from the "old rotation."

It has been fun, though, seeing the growth in capabilities in the new arrivals. From corpsmen, to nurses, to doctors- the transition is exciting to see. It is rewarding to me, and one of my goals before I leave, to make sure that the transition for the new arrivals is smooth and the new teams are well trained. I have been doing daily training with the corpsmen and some of the nurses for the last two weeks.

Before he left, my LPO (Lead Petty Officer), HM1 Sauer, a fellow Reservist and fireman from NC assisted in training some new corpsmen in the Trauma Bay. Also, despite a winter lull, the pace has picked up again, unfortunately, and we had our first multiple casualty event the first week after our new people arrived. Even after five months here, it never ceases to amaze me the teamwork demonstrated during such times, and the truly incredible care that is given to our wounded warriors!