Politically Indifferent

Dear Ikey

Advice from a Bumbling Redhead

Advice you won't get from your mother, your sister or your best friend...

Politically Indifferent Advice from a Bumbling Redhead

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Politically Indifferent

President Bush's approval rating on Iraq has dropped to an all time low. I am not saying Bush is perfect but I think his approval rating would be a little better if the American public actually received news about the good things our troops are doing over there. If any American solider has a story he wants the world to know about, send it to dearikey@dearikey.com. I will be more than happy to include it on this website.

A friend of mine is over in Iraq and he is wondering why the American media doesn't tell the real stories of what is happening in Iraq. They never report how the average Iraqi feels about our troops. They never report that our troops are actually appreciated by the average Iraqi and that these Iraqi's are happy that our troops are there. My friend has met some Iraqi's and listened to their stories of how they lost families and friends who were murdered under Saddam's rule. How people were starving while he was living like a fat cat in his palace.

Since the newspapers and television media don't want you to know what our troops are doing over there, I will tell you a story that you haven't heard. I know you haven't heard it because no one in the media thought it was worthy of print. I sent this story out to a reporter who is quick to protest the war in Iraq, complain about everything and anything Bush does but since this story wouldn't support her views, she ignored it. She works for the New York Daily News and she knows who she is. I am really ashamed of that she couldn't find the time to report this story. She has no problem spending her time complaining about the stupidest things you can imagine so it is really annoying that she didn't step up to the plate.

Before I start, I want to thank the troops for being there. I want them to know that I support them. I want them to know that there are many people like me who do feel a little safer knowing they are proof to the terrorists and the rest of the world that America isn't going to sit back let the terrorists kill innocent people. We will invade your country, we will bomb the shit out of you, we will imprison your leaders, we will do whatever we have to to protect our freedom. Yeah we might piss off the rest of the world but we won't care what they think. So without further commentary, I present to you, a real story about Iraq as reported by the American soliders who are there.

Hey Ikey,

Great hearing from you! Hope You, Ceaz & the baby are doing good! The troops are doing as good as can be expected. Where I am stationed is KIRKUK Iraq. It is north of Baghdad & south Of Mosul. The temp lately hasn’t been to bad. We’ve been holding between 110 – 120. A few days it went up to 125. I also have met some locals & I will tell you first hand they are EXTREMLY happy that we are here! I have met one person who lost 2 brothers because of Saddam Hussein. I am not going to lie, sometimes things around here may get a little rough but it is not as bad as what you see on TV. WE ARE DOING a lot of good things here.

Medical squadron saves infant's life

6/30/2005 - KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq -- Kirkuk medical staff recently saved the life of a local 3-month-old child who was suffering from a severe infection.

The child’s father brought him to a forward operating base, where it was arranged for the baby to be evacuated to Kirkuk for care.

Though the 506th Expeditionary Medical Squadron doesn’t routinely care for civilians, much less infants, an exception was made because of the immediacy of care needed in this case.

“The Army physician at the FOB immediately recognized that the infant was within 24 hours of dying from infection and bleeding,” said Col. (Dr.) Brian Peyton, 506th EMEDS. “They transferred him here via dustoff.”

When the medical staff first discovered they had an infant heading their way, they immediately started evaluating their capabilities. They found a wealth of experience, including Maj. (Dr.) Paul Morton, emergency physician, who treats children back in the states; Capt. (Dr.) Scott Janus, an anesthesiologist who recently completed training including pediatric cardiac anesthesia; and family physician Maj. (Dr.) Claire Shervanik. Additionally, Capt. Dawn Graham, a nurse with pediatric intensive care unit experience, had already put together pediatric ICU equipment when she arrived in the AOR, in case the need arose.

Once the infant arrived, the 506th EMEDS team began working to save his life.

“The first task was to place intravenous lines and stabilize him,” said Col. (Dr.) Steve Chambers, 506th EMEDS commander. “We gave him fluids, blood and antibiotics and prepared him for surgery all while taking cover during an alarm red.”

The team determined that the baby was in shock from blood loss and infection secondary to an abscess of infected glands in his chest wall. Once he was stabilized, Colonel Peyton performed the one hour surgery.

During the stay, the hospital staff noticed the infant’s blood wasn’t clotting normally and had to replace clotting factors as well. EMEDS is not equipped to perform the more complex clotting tests available at major academic hospitals. Therefore, the 506th began working with the Iraqi Ministry of Health to find a local doctor who could provide not only follow-up care for the surgery, but could help treat the infant if the blood issue continued.

Using an interpreter, they taught the father to change the dressings and otherwise care for the wound.

“Despite the language barrier, the father took to caring for the wound as well as, or better than, anyone in the states,” said Colonel Peyton.

After five days and several surgeries, the infant was ready for discharge and to receive follow-up care from local civilian hospitals.

“It shows the flexibility of EMEDS,” said Colonel Chambers. “Though we highlighted a few people, the entire EMEDS staff helped with the care of this infant – as they do with every patient.”