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
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
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
NEWS LINK
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
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.
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