BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan—Knowing the skills of the Coalition doctors at Bagram, Zaleikha and her uncle hoped just showing up at the Bagram gate would be enough. Posted on 03/18/2005 3:57:42 PM PST by SandRat
Coalition doctors give Zaleikha a reason to smile
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan—Knowing the skills of the Coalition doctors at Bagram, Zaleikha and her uncle hoped just showing up at the Bagram gate would be enough.
The pair traveled from Farah, on the other side of Afghanistan from Bagram, to see if Coalition surgeons could operate on 10-year-old Zaleikha and repair her cleft palate.
Once the doctors were made aware of the girl’s needs, they were eager to do what they could for her. Colonel Dallas Homas, a Combined Joint Task Force 76 surgeon, deployed here with the 25th Infantry Division (Light), performed the surgery March 2 at the U.S. hospital here at Bagram. Afterwards he said he was pleased with the operation, and it went well and looked very good.
Homas also said that immediately following the procedure, Zaleikha’s uncle was very happy and was smiling, and repeatedly gave the troops in the hospital the ‘thumbs up’ sign.
Zaleikha and her uncle were eager to begin the long journey back from the Bagram hospital shortly after the surgery, so Coalition doctors armed them with antibiotic ointment to prevent infection, preventative antibiotic medication and Tylenol for the pain. They were also encouraged to visit the Farah Provincial Reconstruction Team to see the physician’s assistant and get the sutures removed.
Captain Winnie Paul, a physician’s assistant at the Farah PRT treated Zaleikha Thursday, and removed her sutures, “She looked great and was all smiles.”
One of the more noticeable things, she said, was that Zaleikha no longer covered her mouth with her hand, “she looked quite happy and in no distress when we saw her,” Paul said.
Paul said was glad to see her come to the PRT for treatment and was even more pleased to know that they had made a friend. Though she no longer needs the assistance of the doctors, Zaleikha said she would come to visit again soon in a few weeks, “just to say hello.”
A two-hour procedure in an operating room in Bagram made all the difference for one Afghan girl and her family, and gave the Coalition forces involved something they’ll never forget.
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Remember I warned you. Do not read without a tissue box handy.
I am looking on the news tonight for this story, but I can not find it. :(
What are you doing posting this uplifting stuff, SR?
Don't you know that protesting the war is en vogue now? Get with the program.
:) HA!
Great post, SR.
Maybe on Fox, depending on the program. But you won't find it on network news anywhere. This is far too uplifting.
I wasn't with the program during Nam when I joined up and I'm not going to change now. 8^)
In Britain a cleft palate is considered a deformity so great a woman can abort her pregnancy to avoid having to deal with it.
hmmm that may explain British Dental care.....
:)
So.... do ya think I just might be l-i-t-t-l-e bit set in my ways?
Yep. A typical close-minded conservative. :) hehehe!
Smile when ya say that pardner!
:-)
HA!
Now where is that majic mushroom? Is the green on to grow and the red one to shrink or is it the other way around?
Mushrooms are all good, daddio. Just open your mind, man.
:) Hehe!
Thanks for the ping!
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