Sorry for the Wait

I apologize for the long wait between postings. Unfortunately, I've been very busy here since last week. I also found out that the computers here don't recognize Microsoft Works documents so I'm typing up this posting from scratch rather than saving a copy on my thumb drive to copy onto the blog when I get to the internet cafe. Internet access here can be spotty. There are times when all internet access is shut down when something happens to someone affiliated with the base in order to limit inadvertent contact to family members. These periods can last from hours to days depending on the circumstance.

As for life here. It's not bad so far. We are learning a lot from the previous group. Patients come through any time of day, but usually the mornings are less busy than the evenings. The nature of the injuries, as I suspected, are grave. Many times the decision I have to make is when do I stop and let the next level take over. I did my first external fixator case a few days ago on a patient with a severely fractured leg and foot. I'm don't think he's going to keep the leg.

I've also found time to check out the Hajji shop and tea house. Iraqis like to sip tea and smoke cigars in the late evening. Many of the Marines and Army guys like to do the same. It's a nice way to relax at the end of the day. We are also working on getting the interpreters to consider starting an Arabic language class. That should be interesting.

I'll try to post some images with this entry. Right now we are in another email blackout period.

Some info on the pictures above. The photo of me and the other guy is Chris Carr one of the general surgeons. One day I accidentally picked up his uniform top and put it on. I didn't realize I had it on until I got to the chow hall and one of the other officers told me. You may notice that we have each other's uniform tops on.

The picture in the OR is me and CAPT Thompson. He's the outgoing Ortho Hand surgeon. He's the program director of ortho for the Navy in San Diego. I'll try not to send any bloody, grotesque operating room pictures.

The Dirty/Clean picture is how the laundry gets done here. Just drop off on laundry day and you get back clean, folded clothes in a plastic bag 2 days later. If only it were like that at home. lol.

The beer picture is actually non-alcoholic beer. I didn't realized so many different beer makers offer a non-alcoholic version. I guess they have to make their money on soldiers somehow.

Take care.