Posted on 02/07/2006 3:35:40 PM PST by SandRat
Personnel at the 249th General Hospital developed a close bond with the infant, badly burned on her face and head at two days old when a kerosene lamp exploded in her home.
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan, Feb. 7, 2006 — Soldiers from 249th General Hospital, Task Force Strength visited Zargona, a special Afghan girl who, in the first five months of her life, received inpatient care for life-threatening injuries. Zargona, like many Afghans, has only one name and was badly burned on her face and head at two days old when a kerosene lamp exploded in her home in May.
"She's lucky to be alive. With burns to the face and neck, (the injuries) could have caused her airway to become constricted."
U.S. Army Dr. (Capt.) Patrick Raney
At her checkup Jan. 17, doctors maintained that her health is "looking very good" despite extensive facial scarring.
"Her wounds really look very good," said U.S. Army Dr. (Capt.) Patrick Raney, a family practice physician with 249th General Hospital. "From when she came in (until) now, she's had a dramatic improvement."
"She's lucky to be alive," said Raney, who has been Zargona's family practitioner since she was first admitted. "With burns to the face and neck, (the injuries) could have caused her airway to become constricted."
U.S. Army Dr. (Lt. Col.) Joseph Kolb, the chief of plastic surgery at Walter Reed Army Hospital, D.C., is assigned to 249th General Hospital, Task Force Strength to help Zargona. He is also a plastic surgery consultant for the surgeon general.
Starting in September, Kolb performed four reconstructive surgeries on Zargona's eyes and one ear.
Though she can now close her eyes and listen without impairment, the extent of her injuries will continue to cause short- and long-term problems that will require more surgeries.
"Unfortunately, reconstruction will need to take place at different times (in her life)," Kolb said. "I fixed the things that were the most immediate threats to her well-being."
"I've seen many burn victims, and she's certainly the youngest," Raney said.
In November, she was discharged from the hospital and has been seen every two to four weeks for regular checkups and immunizations.
In the time Zargona spent in the hospital, the staff developed a close bond with her and her parents, Raney said. At every checkup, they receive food and baby supplies donated from the troops who have helped restore her health.
The hospital has been invaluable to improving Zargona's health, but lacks the necessary equipment to follow up on her conditions.
Hospital and the Afghan Ministry of Health officials are making plans to fly her and a family member, for a month-long visit, to the Boston Shriners Hospital for further treatment, Raney said.
No dates have been set, but with coalition assistance, Raney said he hopes Zargona will not become lost in the list of ailing Afghans waiting to receive health care in the United States.
It will help a lot for her to receive care in the United States, Raney said. "She could be doing lot better if she had the facilities and capabilities that aren't available here."
Zargona's mother, Ghutai, and her father Jumagul, have expressed deep gratitude for the coalition's help.
"We're very happy (with the Coalition) for helping the last seven months with treatment at the hospital," Jumagul said through an interpreter. "She's getting better, and that makes us very happy.
Didn't John Kerry warn us about US soldiers setting little kids on fire?
This is the stuff of the America I love. The crap we hear and see about in the MSM doesn't even come close to being mainstream.
This is the stuff of the America we all love ... these are good men and women doing good things. They follow in the footsteps of people like my wonderful father, a WWII Lt.Col in the Army COE, and many other good men [and women]. They have all fought for the preservation of the American spirit of truth and decency and humane treatment of others.Just ignore the MSM ... they do not seem to share our rich heritage ... or our strong value system.
BTTT
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