Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that Ive really...The Home Stretch Begins
Posted by Erik Rupard on August 11th, 2008
So I commence the first day of my last week as a provider in the Al Asad Troop Medical Clinic. In many ways, this is a prototypical day: our internet is completely down (“River City OPSEC,” we are told, which means that some unfortunate person[s] died over the past 24 hours, and next-of-kin have yet to be identified), and we have received notice that our electricity will be going down sometime this morning and should remain out for the rest of the working day. The weather is mild for August, probably in the mid eighties as I stepped out of my canister today, and there is a fine smog of dust hanging low over our camp.
My medics and other co-workers are cheery through a bit of Monday-morning grogginess. One hour into clinic, our patient load has been fairly typical:
- A pregnant soldier. She did a home pregnancy test a month ago, which was positive, but she spent the last month hoping that it would somehow turn negative (and thus she could avoid having to officially notify anyone of her circumstances, which usually results in disciplinary action). She remains positive on our tests today, and will be flying out of Al Asad even before I do.
- Back pain (fell on the rocks).
- Sexually transmitted disease workup: Likely all this soldier has is a case of genital warts, but we will be testing for HIV and syphilis as well. He is really worried about herpes, but we won’t know if he has that until a sore shows up.
- A soldier with an enzyme deficiency which causes him to have a hemolytic crisis every so often (hemolysis = the spontaneous breakdown of red blood cells). He is fatigued and jaundiced, and since our lights just went out, he’ll be heading to the CSH (Combat Surgical Hospital, pronounced “cash”) for labs and possible transfusion/admission. Being a hematologist myself, I’ll check on him later in the day as a medical consultant.
- A crush injury to the left leg: calf/tibia got slammed into a humvee door, and the soldier likely has a bruised tibia, possibly a broken one. We shall see.
Not bad for the first couple hours of clinic. Since I started writing this, the lights have indeed gone out, but a backup system devised by SGT Evans, wherein we have limited light for the hallways and 2 exam rooms, seems to be working well. No A/C, though, and the air is getting stuffier and warmer by the minute. Can’t complain too much: at least I’m not riding in a tank with ten other sweaty men. It’s good to be a Fobbit.
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Rupard Mailbag
I had an unexpected surprise on Sunday. One of my soldiers knocked on my door at 3 PM, which is well-established as a “DO NOT DISTURB—NAPTIME” for me. The exceptions to this rule are in case of emergencies and/or mail delivery. (Yes, we get mail on Sundays here, but don’t feel too jealous: there are at least three other random days each week in which there is no mail service, usually due to sandstorms.) I opened the doors of my frosty-cold trailer, and in rushed the 100-degree heat, along with SGT England’s hand holding a priority mail package from the Ainsworths, of Evans, GA. This is my third package from Craig and Kathleen, who are good friends back home, and I ripped it open, finding not one or two, but three boxes of donuts, including some of those sour-cream kind that I love so much. I immediately brought a box next door to the lair of the Halo Cowboys, and they hopped all over them (complaining loudly, of course, that I was unfairly trying to sabotage them with carbs). Mine lasted about 55 seconds, but it was a very good 55 seconds, indeed. Brought the other two boxes in with me this AM and I got literal cheers from the medics, who gathered around.
Also in the Ainsworths’ box was a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread, some peanut butter M&Ms, and a couple of CDs, which I will be transferring to the old ipod shortly. Craig likes the same kind of quirky, guitary pop music that I like, and so far has never steered me wrong. (Last package had Rogue Wave’s “Descended Like Vultures” which has been in constant rotation for the past couple of months.)
So Craig and Kathleen and family: thanks for the sugary goodness, literal or otherwise. You have some (real) mail on the way, from my lovely vacation spot.
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Especially For Maya #2
I usually brush my teeth after lunch. I’ve kept my toothbrush in an empty “Jelly Belly” container for some time now to protect it from the dust. When I reached to get at the brush today, I noticed this tiny little fellow, who had managed to get himself stuck in the plastic jar. He was probably about 3 cm long (missing part of his tail), and his skin was almost see-through. Below are a couple of pix for you, Maya.
He’s now happily living in our “dirt garden” out behind the clinic, where he will be able to dine on some very exotic-looking bugs. I truly love those squiggly toes…
August 11th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Erik,
Looks like you could use some word from us, so here it is. We can’t wait for you to come home. I read your letter aloud in YW and the girls were all thrilled. I was asked to pass the letter around, and I think, for a moment, each girl got to feel ,in her heart, how good and right true service to others is. I also think each girl understood, for a glimmer of a moment, what it means to be an American, and that actual people are out there somewhere making sure all their secret hopes and dreams have the ability to become a reality. I hope so, anyway. They loved the letter, so thank you for that.
We are enjoying the Olympics. It is fun to watch the athletes, even if it is in China, where the smog is unhealthy and unbelievable.
Can’t wait to hear your voice on this side of the Atlantic. I bet your family is over the moon. I am thinking of them always, especially Lorri, who has done an unbelievable job being both parents while you have been gone. she has my deep admiration, as always, her ability to overcome hard things chucked at her hard!
Love to you, Erik, Mit
August 11th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Mit,
You, too, have a real letter on its way to (along with Caroline and Becky). BY the time you get it, I will be just days away…
August 11th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Melissa thanks, you are so nice to say that. Some days I honestly didn’t do such an unbelievable job; some days I watched more TV than usual and just sort of got through hoping I could fake it unlike so many genuine-article military wives out there (i.e. my good friend Renee) who do everything …. cut their kids hair, mow the grass, make dinner for 6, fix a toilet, change the oil on the van-with one hand tied behind their back! etc etc. etc. Unfortunately I can’t fake all of that. However, now that I think about it, I did learn to backwash the pool…(with Erik coaching me through the process on Skype-if that counts for anything)
You too are one of those people who has also that ability…to overcome hard things chucked at you hard!!
August 11th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I love the noodle toes on that little lizard, there’s no way to transport those things home? =[ So cute. Strangely, I think its because he resembles mimba ever so slightly. anyways, im trying low carbs too but I pretty much let my self down with a bowl of cereal everyday. theres something about milk and cereal. im excited for you to come home, dad and eat cereal with us on saturday mornings.
August 11th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
DAD!! ACCORDING TO THE COLDPLAY WEBSITE!!!!!
“We’re pleased to reveal that Coldplay have confirmed four more shows in the US of A. They are as follows:
Wed Oct 29 – Boston, MA – TD Banknorth Gardens (on sale Fri August 15 at 10am)
Fri Oct 31 – Washington DC – Verizon Center (on sale Fri August 15 at 10am)
Sat Nov 1 – Philadelphia, PA – Wachovia Center (on sale Mon August 18 at 10am)
Wed Nov 5 – Altanta, GA – Phillips Arena (on sale Sat August 16 at noon)”
DAD, COME ON!!!! MESSAGE ME BACK.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Dad! That guy is so cute! He is definitley a gecko of some sort, maybe a medditerranean one, or it could be just a random type of house gecko. We miss ya and luv ya and I am so excited for Cal Tort.Thanks for postin’ those gecko pics.
mwah, love you!!!
Maya!
August 12th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Maddy
We have had no internet (or power) overnight, just came on a minute ago. We’ll talk later, but looks like that one is on a school night…
Daddio
August 12th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Hi, Erik,
Can you tell us what day you are actually leaving, and can you provide me with the name of an individual in the clinic that I can send another box of goodies to in case you are already gone. I will package it up for mailing tomorrow after Wade and Danny go home. Did you get a name for my LDS young lady? Love, Mom
August 12th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Maddy and Erik: Make it Boston for Coldplay! Then you can come and see us old folks. We will show you the sights! Lobster, anyone?
August 12th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Or you can go to Coldplay in Philly and come and stay with us. You have all sorts of options! Cookies, anyone?
August 13th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I do cookies too.