HOME!!!

On 9/2/2010 at 6:20 PM eastern time Shannon arrived in Maryland safe and sound. The trip from Kuwait took a total of 36 hours with two stops, one in Germany and one in Iceland. Needless to say she was exhausted but glad to be back on US soil. After 9 months in the desert she said it was very strange to look out of the plane's window as they landed in Germany to see so much green.
Thank you to everyone who followed Shannon on her journey and for all your kind comments, thoughts and prayers. We are looking forward to seeing Shannon soon when she returns home on leave.

Heading Home

Shannon has begun the journey home. We heard from her today and she has arrived safely in Kuwait. She should be back in the USA within the week. Can't wait to see you Shannon!!!

Slainte!

Here is part of the Grimes Clan on their recent trip to Ireland. In the family tradition here is a picture of their first Guinnes, they were toasting to Shannon's safe return. Slanite Shannon, Love Tara, Kim, Grandma Millie, Lily and Grandpa Tony.

ICU TEAM

Things at the Role 3 have been very busy. Shannon is back on days and they have had an increasing number of call-ins, as a result we have not been able to talk to her as much. She is in good spirits and looking forward to her birthday next week. The tempuatures in Kandahar have reached 127 degrees making it uncomfortable to do much outdoors. This is a photo one of her team mates took of the ICU team. Some of the pictured are;
Candy Anderson, David Antico, Dominick Stelly, Rhea Ramirez, Meredith Keller, Kristin Stoniecki, Cayce Moore, Amy Nowakowski, Nicholas Eighmy, Shannon, Ingrid, Garrett, Gail Murray and Melissa Mertens.

Role 3 On ABC's Nightline

ABC ran a story on Shannon's hospital on Nightline last week. Most of the footage was shot in the old trauma bay just before they moved into the new hospital. You may recognize a few faces from Shannon's photos. Click on Nightline below to link to the story.

Nightline

From plywood to brick, new Kandahar hospital offers another chance at life - Winnipeg Free Press

This is an article Ian found about the new Role 3 hospital. Lt-Col Douglas Kromrey, interviewed in this article, was one of the judges in the bullnapping trial. If you go to that post he is the judge on the right with the Canadian flag on his chest. Click on the blue link to see the article.

From plywood to brick, new Kandahar hospital offers another chance at life - Winnipeg Free Press

A Touching Moment

When talking to Shannon last week she told us about a patient she was caring for in the ICU. He was a young soldier who had been shot while out on a mission with his unit. The round entered near his clavicle traveling downward and through his upper arm severing his brachial artery. He was rushed into surgery where they were able to miraculiously save his arm and his life.

Soon after his surgery a few of his buddies came in and asked if they could see him. Knowing how important it was to these guys to see their friend she told them they coud visit for a few minutes but no more than 3 or 4 at a time. They were very thankful and 3 soldiers went in to see him, then 3 more, and 3 more. As Shannon continued with her care she began to wonder, how many of these guys are there? She went out into the hall to see if any more soldiers were waiting to come in and was shocked to see a long line of guys lined up down the hall as far as she could see. More than 60, all standing quietly waiting for their turn. Every solidier that was with him out on that mission came in, many close to tears, worried about their wounded friend.

A Must See

My boss sent me this video today of Oliver North's Veterans Day tribute to those on the front lines. Please click on the link "Oliver North" below.
Oliver North

A Day In The Life

As I have indicated in previous blogs Ian has a friend who is the Uncle of CDR Coffel, who is currently at Role 3 with Shannon. CDR Coffel sent an e-mail thanking a charitable organization for sending calling cards to the troops, in response they asked him to send a "Day In The Life" snapshot of Role 3. Ian and I thought this snapshot was enlightening, and we were given permission to share it with Shannon's followers.

CDR Coffel's response
A day in my life is very different here, it can dramatically change within minutes. For example yesterday was a wild day for us here. We started out our day with a couple of surgical cases that were scheduled from the previous day. Mainly wound debridements and washouts. The cases went well and we were able to get them done fairly fast. As soon as we cleaned up the room, we got a "9-line" stating that they were bringing in 2 Alpha's (Alpha is a extremely critical patient from the battle field, they are called in by the troops on the ground and then picked up by helicopters and sent to the nearest medical facility). The two arrived in less then 30 minutes and rolled into our trauma bays, they were assessed and then they were sent to the OR for surgery. One fractured leg due to a gun shot wound and the other was for a head concussion with bleeding in the dura space. As soon as we got done with those two case a couple of hours later. We literally walked out of the room after it was cleaned and another chopper landed with an Afghany kid and his father. The kid was brought into our trauma bay awake and sitting up looking around. His father was just with him without injury. From what we could gather there was a mortar attack by the Taliban and he was hit by a fragment of the mortar shell in the side of the chest. As they were evaluating his wounds his heart rate went way up and his blood pressure started to drop. They intubated him and did an ultrasound on his chest and belly, they found blood in his epicardial space (the tissue that surrounds the heart). We brought him into surgery immediately and cut open his abdomen to try and do a cardiac window procedure (this releases the blood and decompresses the pressure on it), it didn't work. So they made an incisions over his chest and split the sternum (breast bone) to expose the heart to see what was going on. They saw the blood through the epicardium and incised it, blood rushed out and the kids blood pressure dropped very fast. Lucky for us we were using a rapid infuser to give him blood. They discovered a hole in his heart from the fragment, one of the surgeons put his finger in it. The Anesthesiologist was telling them that they were losing him. The blood was able to fill back up in his heart and his pressure began to rise again. The other surgeon then sewed up the heart, we then closed the kid up and he was doing very well after.

We then received 2 more patients that were Bravos (Injured patients that can't walk but not critically injured). They were a fractured femur and a blast injury to the head. They required an external fixator and a wound washout. This all happened with in a 12 hour period of time. Other times we can sit around and not see a surgical patient at all. In that case we do training and cleaning. Very boring but necessary. Being the Department Head, I have a lot of administrative work that I have to do. We are getting ready to move into a new hospital and we have a lot to do before we can move. This is where I spend most of my time now.

Some days it feels like ground hog day, we get up, work out, go to work, go home, eat, and go to bed. Not much to do around here besides that. We do have a boardwalk area where we can go, some shops are there but most have shut down due to the US Commander closing Them down due to having a "three ring circus" in the middle of a war zone. We lost Pizza Hut and Burger King, but we have a TGIF. I try and stay away from them, trying to eat healthy while I'm here.

You may want to watch Night Line in the next couple of weeks, they are coming here to film us at work. Not sure when it will air, since they haven't arrived yet. Hope this helps.

Update KAF Attack

At 9:40 our time Shannon Called to let us know all is well. It was a long night for the Hospital staff, all personnel were called in to handle the wounded as they came in. The situation was finally stable enough for her team to be dismissed, they all had breakfast together and she was back at her room safe and sound. She was very tired but sounded well.

Breaking News

As many of you following along may have heard, today KAF came under attack at 8PM Kandahar time May 22, and at this time all news accounts indicate the battle is far from over. We have been unable to contact Shannon but Ian's friend, who is the uncle of CDR Coffel, received an e-mail from him just a short time ago. He said that the Hospital and all medical personnel are thus far unharmed. We would assume that all hands as they say are "on deck". I will update the blog with news as it comes in. Events like this remind us of the daily threat Shannon and everyone serving there is under, and that all the hi jinks are merely stress relievers. Anyone interested in reading a recent news article can use the link below.

NEWS LINK

Two Officers Sentenced In Bullnapping Trial

One Day after the Bullnapping at Role 3 two naval officers, Shannon and CDR Coffel, were put on trial for their part in the infamous bullnapping of Shannon's bull. Shannon was charged with "Willfully neglecting the discharge of her designated duties to dutifully deny a bunch of dudes from dreadfully abducting and detaching the dang bull from her digits", and mid trial one count of "D-ringing a steer" was added. In Shannon's testimony she stated "I attached a carabineer to the bull to help prevent this very thing from happening". CDR Coffel was charged with one count of conspiracy.

Presiding over the trial were three judges, Role 3 Commanding Officer, the Executive Officer and the Command Master Chief. All hospital personnel were commanded to be present at the trial. The court was called to order and the witnesses were sworn in with "Do you swear to tell the whole shit, nothing but the shit, and no bull shit so help you John Paul Jones?"

During his testimony CDR Coffel stated "The bull was politely taken while she [Shannon] was restrained". At trials end Shannon was found guilty of all charges. CDR Coffel was found guilty of being the "Chief conspirator" and he was sentenced to "Carry and pamper the bull to include day spas, manicures & pedicures, showers, baths, washings and open air walks for a period of 24 hours, at which time he will provide photographs to document these events and the bull will be returned to it's rightful owner". The bull was then handed over to CDR Coffel and the trial was adjourned.

POST SCRIPT:

While in the protective custody of CDR Coffel the bull was abducted. Rumors at Role 3 are that he is now in Landstuhl Germany.

BULLNAPPING AT ROLE III

Dateline Kandahar Afghanistan

On April 28, 2010 at approximately 11:20am there was a bullnapping at Role 3. In a statement given to investigators Shannon reported that her bull had been taken after she was ambushed in the stand-easy, a location where soldiers can purchase food and take a break near the flight line. Shannon said her roommate and friend Amy Nowakowaski lured her to that location. "I can't believe she [Amy] would take part in this", Shannon said, "I trusted her". Once Shannon and Amy arrived at the stand-easy Shannon was surrounded by a group demanding she turn over the bull. She was told they could "take it the easy way or the hard way". Well, you all know Shannon...it was the hard way! "I can't even remember all the people involved" Shannon exclaimed, "but the ones I can positively identify are CDR Coffel, LCDR Schultz, CDR Hawker, LCDR Hart, LTJG Marsh, HM3 Nottingham, HM2 Jones and HM3 Perez". Removing the bull was far from easy; Shannon had altered it enabling her to secure it to her uniform with a carabineer. Once the bull was successfully removed it was passed off to a runner, Shannon gave chase but after 2 handoffs she lost sight of the bull and had to give up. Shannon returned to the hospital ward where she began questioning HM3 Perez, the last person she saw with the bull, about its whereabouts. The questioning reportedly escalated to a point where Shannon jumped on Perez's back placing him in a rear naked choke in an attempt to extract information. Approximately 2 hrs after the abduction, Shannon was successful in locating and rescuing the bull from HM3 Nottingham as he was attempting to take a picture of it getting a CAT scan. While in the possession of the Bullnappers, many photos were taken of the bulls travels. Shannon rescued the bull just shortly before it was scheduled on a flight to Germany, and from there the plan was to take it to Australia.
Bullnapping Photos

New Hospital

Kandahar Air Field has been constructing a new Role 3 hospital, the building is now complete and the task of bringing in all the medical equipment and supplies is underway. The new hospital is an actual structure rather than a tent building and will be much more secure. Shannon has been working on her days off to help bring in and organize supplies. Shannon's team may be the first to work in this new facility, she said it's very nice but thinks she will miss the plywood floors held together by duct tape. This is a photo of the new trauma bay.

First Day With The Bull

Shannon & Amy Role 3 Multi National Hospital, "The best care anywhere"

Ian ran across this article about the Role 3.

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN – U.S. Navy Chaplain LCDR Charles Hodges comforts CAPT Patricia Hagan after the head nurse bid farewell to a young Afghan girl who was flown back to her rural village on a U.S. medevac helicopter on March 20, 2010 from the military hospital at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan . The child, Mina, 7, was critically ill with an abdominal infection when brought to the Role III Multinational Medical Unit for treatment. Medical personnel treat wounded soldiers, Taliban insurgent detainees and civilians alike. Severely wounded American and other international soldiers are treated and flown out for more advanced treatment outside of Afghanistan . Wounded and sick Afghan children often stay longer and medical staff, far from home and their own families, sometimes grows emotionally close to them. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

The "Bull Ensign"

Shannon's command staff has realized she is the senior most Ensign at the hospital and have bestowed upon her the distinction of "Bull Ensign". The Bull is the Ensign in the unit who is next to be promoted to Lieutenant JG. By tradition, this officer is responsible for guiding and mentoring the other Ensigns of a ship or squadron's wardroom. In some squadrons, the Bull Ensign must don a bull-horned hardhat to social functions. The Bull Ensign is the direct social superior to the J.O.R.G. Ensign, or "George" (Junior Officer Requiring Guidance) who is the most junior officer in a naval command.

The Bull Ensign often receives an enlarged collar insignia, crudely engraved with the word "BULL", but because they are in combat uniform Shannon has been given a Bull Ensign name tag to wear. If she is caught without the bull name tag she will be cited for being out of uniform. Shannon has also been given a bull she is to carry with her 24/7. She is responsible for the bulls whereabouts at all times and must protect it from anyone who might want to take it for ransom. Shannon has taken to carrying the bull in her holster for safe keeping but she has realized she must on guard even when she is off duty. Amy somehow got a hold of it and Shannon had to tackle her to get it back. All in all sounds like good fun, I'm sure Shannon will take great pleasure in handing the bull down once she promotes.

Happy Easter

Amy's mom sent her bunny ears for Easter, she brought them in to work and everyone took turns wearing them. It looks like a good time was had by all, and it was a fun stress reliever. To see all the bunnies at Role 3 check out the slide show or photo album.

Quilts Of Valor

This is a wounded soldier being presented with his Quilt Of Valor by the ICU staff who have cared for him at Role 3. They have all signed it and the surgical team who took care of him will sign it as well. Pictured from left to right are LTJG Kelly Flock, LCDR Kona Denny, LTJG Marsh, CAPT Hagan, Bull Ensign Shannon and LTJG Amy Nowakowski.
These handmade quilts travel with the wounded to each medical facility where they receive treatment and are signed along the way by the medical personnel who care for them.

Compassion

This is a picture of LTJG Eighmy coloring with a young boy. This boy's family was hit by an IED and they were brought to Role 3 for treatment. He and 3 boys in his family were injured. Two of the boys had minor injuries and are ambulatory, one is still on the ward and the most seriously injured boy was a triple amputee and lost one of his eyes. The most severely injured boy was transferred to Bagram and their father, who served as escort for all 4 children, went with him. Because the father is gone the two ambulatory boys stay on the ward 24/7 with their brother. The hospital staff have been caring for the boys left behind and they are always looking for ways to entertain them. The two boys have bobbed for apples, visited the firehouse, played tennis and on this day Eighmy spent much of his time coloring with them.