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Coalition Doctors Mend Boy’s Cleft Palate
Defend America ^ | 02/14/05 | U.S. Army Sgt. Stephanie L. Carl

Posted on 02/14/2005 5:06:50 PM PST by SandRat

DefendAmerica News - Coalition Doctors Mend Boy's Cleft Palate

Photo, caption below.
Jan Mohammad holds his nephew Khan in Ghazni after the surgery. Courtesy photo.
Coalition Doctors Mend Boy's Cleft Palate
During a medical assistance mission, doctors noted the boy's condition and
contacted a combat support hospital to determine if they could help.
By U.S. Army Sgt. Stephanie L. Carl
17th Public Affairs Detachment

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Feb. 14, 2005 Three-year-old Khan Mohammad clung to his uncle, Jan Mohammad, as he entered Bagram Airfield, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar people around him.

"To perform this surgery is very gratifying," said Dr. (Col.) John Caufield

 

 

The two had just finished a six-hour drive from Ghazni province in central Afghanistan to the airfield, where Khan would undergo surgery.

Khan was born with a severe cleft palate. With his lip and gums split in the middle up to his nostrils and teeth protruding from the gums, it was difficult for the boy to eat and breathe.

Coalition doctors were hoping to change that.

"We first met Khan during a (cooperative medical assistance)," said Lt. Col. John Loose, a member of the Task Force Victory Surgeon Cell.

Noting Khan's discomfort and severe disfiguration, Loose contacted the 325th Combat Support Hospital at Bagram to see if they could help. In a matter of days, the surgery was scheduled.

The first part of the surgery was preparation.

Capt. Don Schondelmaier, a certified registered nurse anesthetist, administered a general anesthetic to help reduce his anxiety.

While Schondelmaier and his assistants inserted a breathing tube into the boy's throat, the surgeons, Drs. (Cols.) Dallas Homas and John Caufield, prepared for surgery. Soon, they

Coalition doctors at the 325th Combat Support Hospital on Bagram Airfield operate on Khan Mohammad to repair his cleft palate. Before the surgery, Khan had trouble eating and breathing. Coalition members first met the 3-year-old boy through a cooperative medical assistance in Ghazni province and set up the surgery to help the young boy live a normal life. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Stephanie Carl

were closely inspecting Khan's face, determining which parts of the lip would be cut and sutured, ensuring the folds of skin would match up to form the lip.

"This part here is the line between the inner and outer lip," said Caufield as Homas marked an incision point.

Working methodically, the two spent several hours in the operating room, ensuring Khan's lips would look as much like any other 3-year-old's.

For the attending surgeons and assistants, this surgery reflected their favorite part of working in Operation Enduring Freedom - helping others.

"To perform this surgery is very gratifying," said Caufield.

http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/feb2005/a021405la5.html


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: americanhero; anamericansoldier; child; doctors; genuinehero; hero; iraq; iraqichildren; medical; qfn; quagmirefreenews; wheredowefindsuchmen; wheredowegetsuchmen

1 posted on 02/14/2005 5:06:51 PM PST by SandRat
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To: Ragtime Cowgirl; Radix; HiJinx; Spiff; JackelopeBreeder; Da Jerdge; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; ...

We help a samll child in Iraq


2 posted on 02/14/2005 5:07:22 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat
My daughter was born a cleft palate. She had four surgeries, and is a beautiful young woman, who was married a year ago.

The surgical technique these doctors used was pioneered by my daughter's surgeon, years ago.

God bless these surgeons. They have made a real difference in this child's life.

3 posted on 02/14/2005 5:11:41 PM PST by Miss Marple
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To: Miss Marple

"They have made a real difference in this child's life."


...and all those who know this child and his family. There are no greater "Ambassadors of Peace" than these wonderful doctors and other service personnel.


4 posted on 02/14/2005 5:21:03 PM PST by Socratic (Ignorant and free? It's not to be! - T. Jefferson (paraphrase))
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To: SandRat

Bump!


5 posted on 02/14/2005 5:24:40 PM PST by windchime (Hillary: "I've always been a preying person")
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To: SandRat

So wonderful for this youngster and his family. A miracle. My youngest son was born with the beginnings of a cleft palate. Luckily, it was fixed with orthodontics....seven years of work. In fact, his orthodontic bill came to more than a new car! Worth every penny.


6 posted on 02/14/2005 5:30:01 PM PST by hershey
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To: SandRat

I thought the mission was to kill innocent civilians (and journalists) in Iraq. /sarc


7 posted on 02/14/2005 5:31:07 PM PST by DTogo (U.S. out of the U.N. & U.N out of the U.S.)
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To: SandRat

We have helped a lot of people in Iraq. I am privileged to have met many superb military dentists. Colonel Caufield is just one more.:-)


8 posted on 02/14/2005 5:32:36 PM PST by GW and Twins Pawpaw (Sheepdog for Five [My grandkids are way more important than any lefty's feelings!])
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To: ducks1944; Ragtime Cowgirl; Alamo-Girl; TrueBeliever9; anniegetyourgun; maestro; TEXOKIE; ...
Coalition Doctors Mend Boy's Cleft Palate
During a medical assistance mission, doctors noted the boy's condition and contacted a combat support hospital to determine if they could help.
9 posted on 02/14/2005 5:52:46 PM PST by Calpernia (Breederville.com)
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To: SandRat

bttt


10 posted on 02/14/2005 7:07:01 PM PST by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: All

If you actually read the article, you will learn the kid lives in Afghanistan, and the operation was performed in Afghanistan also.

The post-surgery photo looks like they did a very good job.


11 posted on 02/14/2005 7:20:21 PM PST by wolficatZ (. '<*((((>< Fresh salt-water catfish fried in cornflake batter ><))))*>' .)
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To: SandRat
You mean the Taliban didn't have a national health care plan?

/sarcasm

12 posted on 02/14/2005 7:48:51 PM PST by eccentric (aka baldwidow)
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To: eccentric

Oh yes they did! The same as the Mafia Retirement Plan. /sarc


13 posted on 02/14/2005 8:29:21 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat

Thanks for the ping!


14 posted on 02/14/2005 8:35:40 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Calpernia

Bump!


15 posted on 02/14/2005 10:03:24 PM PST by windchime (Hillary: "I've always been a preying person")
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To: windchime

bump! He looks great. I'm so happy for them. Kudos to the docs.


16 posted on 02/14/2005 10:09:20 PM PST by I'm ALL Right! (Welcome to my addiction.)
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To: SandRat
"Jan Mohammad holds his nephew Khan in Ghazni after the surgery."

The look of love on the face of Jan Mohammad makes me believe that all of the people do not wish to make their children into suicide bombers.

Thank God for those that are still civilized in that crazy world they live in.

17 posted on 02/14/2005 10:19:21 PM PST by LADY J
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To: SandRat

Not bad for a satanic imperialist force, huh?


18 posted on 02/14/2005 10:20:04 PM PST by HitmanLV
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