Lessons learned:
1) Interventional radiology, a subspecialty that relies heavily on the latest and greatest technology, can work and excel in a tent operating room with a regular OR table and a C-arm. The ability to do cases while the patient is on the table undergoing a massive resuscitation attempt is vital, and incredibly exciting and rewarding.
2) Skype may be the world's best invention for people away from home. Even if the quality is lousy sometimes, the ability to see the kids and home is priceless.
3) Watching a non-beating heart in a severely injured soldier suddenly start beating, is both frightening (because I know what challenges lie ahead for him) and awe-inspiring.
4) Making the kids laugh on Skype by simply putting Curious George on my head and spinning around in my chair makes me happy.
5) What may be perceived as inappropriate laughter or comments in the setting of severe trauma helps keep us sane.
6) I like looking at the moon and stars, with the knowledge that the same moon and stars can be seen by my family.
7) I love working dogs.
8) I love pictures of our goofy Boxer, Lilly, sleeping the days away. That's one way to get through a deployment.
9) I love the picture of Ruth and the kids in the snow. Smiles of joy.
10) I'm not going to put down 148 lessons learned.
11) Injured kids make my heart hurt.
12) When the rocket attack alarm goes off, it's worth hitting the deck.
13) Nargis: An Urdu word that means daffodil. A name of a cyclone. A name of a Bollywood star. The brand of tissues that they put in our dining facilities to use as napkins. One wipe of anything slightly moist and they shred and do nothing remotely useful, therefore, we have taken to using the word "Nargis" as an epithet.
14) Curry with mango chutney is one of God's great creations!
15) Desserts named "Spotted Dick" should probably be avoided.
16) Courage: pre-positioning tourniquets on your legs before you go out on a mission with the expectation that you will hit an IED.
17) Watching a priest give last rites to a patient while we are trying to save his life is both disturbing and an acknowledgement of our limitations.
18) Plane watching on the flight line is a great way to pass the time.
19) Having a good roommate can make or break a deployment. I am lucky.
20) Having a strong support system can make or break a deployment. I am lucky.
21) I miss my family.
John,
ReplyDeleteThank you once again for everything you are doing in Afghanistan. So glad you're at the halfway point. We love you and miss you.
--Paul
Love you and miss you.
ReplyDeleteJohn, promise us a USU 10% discount when the book/movie deal gets inked...until then, just keep throwin' hammers!
ReplyDeleteI second that roommate comment...my wife and I talk about how lucky I have been to have the support of a good friend and roommate in theater. When one gauges the quality of a deployment, its not the base, the lodgings, or the facilities at the hospital, its the people you deploy with. In that regard, this has been a great deployment. That being said, I'm still not going to pass along the kiss that my wife wants to give John--Nargis! Oh well--Maybe they have lamb curry tonight?
ReplyDelete