Purple and Afghan Hearts

Today, there were two special things that happend.  The military is not always about blowing people up and taking over other countries.  The first things that happened was with my patient who was a local national.  Her case was a humanitarian case.  This woman has not been able to move for six months.  Our neurosurgeon operated on her and she can now move her hands and feet.  She doesn't have complete movement but it's better than it was before.  Today, while I was caring for her she called me her "sister".  To the Afghan people this is a very high compliment and I felt so honored.  These people may be uneducated but they are very kind and appreciative of what we're doing for them. 

The second thing that happened was caring for a Marine.  He is a 25 year old who was eight days from going home.  He was hit with an IED.  EIGHT DAYS!!  He wanted to call home so after several attempts to get a good line through, he talked to his dad.  I was on this end of the conversation but he said "I don't think I'll be doing any mountain climbing soon."  He's missing both legs, three fingers and part of his scrotum.  I can't believe how many marred people we will have when all is said and done.  Gen Townsend came in to give the Army soldier a purple heart but he visited the other two in the bay.  He came up to Dan and said "I can't award you with a purple heart since you're a Marine, but here's a Purple Heart coin you can keep in your pocket."  It was pretty awesome.  I knew my patient wouldn't remember much, so I wrote it all down and attached it to the coin.  At least he knows who gave it to him and when. 

Thinking back to the Korean and Vietnam wars, I am so happy the American public is more supportive of our military now than they were then.  It's too bad the vets of those previous wars endured such anger.  Col Mcneill said it's probably because those vets were drafted and it wasn't a volunteer service.  I think in that case they should have been more respected becasue they were "voluntold".