Walter Reed FReep #106: Healers and Heroes (Special early start time this Friday; Update at #34)

4/30/2007 | PleaDeal

[PleaDeal]

Walter Reed FReep #106: Healers and Heroes

Washington, DC, April 27, 2007-- It was a small crowd tonight despite the wonderful weather. The weather readers predicted thundershowers which precluded putting up the MOAB (Mother Of All Banners), but the rain stayed away until after we had put away the banners and flags and called it a night. Tonight's list of FReepers & FRiends in attendance (If I missed anyone - please let me know!): BillF, Bill from MD*, Cindy-True-Supporter, Fraxinus, Jimmy Valentine's Brother, Kristinn, Laura B from VA, PleaDeal, PrezUSA222, R.T. Delta, tgslTakoma, TJ from GoE, Tolerance Sucks Rocks, and VAFlagWaver.

The delightful evening brought us some fantastic company with visits by our wounded heroes and even one of their terrific docs. As we were waving flags and yelling "Thank You!" to the cars and trucks leaving the hospital, one car pulled over to the curb in front of the folks on the MOAB corner. The driver, dressed in fatigues and an Under Armour® T-shirt, got out and started shaking our hands and saying "Thanks" to us!

It was none other than Walter Reed's Chief of Neurosurgery, Dr. Leon Moores.

Col. Moores is one of the miracle workers at Walter Reed. He was recognized by Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz at the 2005 TRICARE Conference. Below is an excerpt from the speech.

Dr. Leon Moores is chief of neurosurgery and also a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He, too, has been involved in life-saving procedures on wounded soldiers and Marines. And I should also explain that Dr. Moores brings a special empathy to their care. He began his own career as a cadet at West Point and served both as an infantry officer and with the 82nd Airborne. Only then did he enroll in the Uniformed Services medical school. Back home at Walter Reed, he has continued to work with the wounded who have been evacuated. One of his patients is here with us today, Army Spec. Hugo Gonzalez, who grew up in Puerto Rico.

I met Hugo last summer shortly after he entered the hospital. He'd been injured in June as the gunner on a humvee in Iraq. They rode into an ambush. He was hit with shrapnel from an IED [improvised explosive device] and suffered a life-threatening injury to his head. He received emergency surgery in Baghdad, including a craniotomy, to relieve the swelling. He was evacuated, first to Germany, then to Washington, where I first met him. They preserved a piece of his skull inside his body in a procedure that some of you are probably familiar with. And a few days ago, Dr. Moores reversed the procedure by carrying out a cranioplasty. That operation brings Hugo one step closer to recovery. And yesterday, I'm happy to say, he was discharged from the hospital. Hugo is with us this morning, together with his mother, who's visiting from her home in the Dominican Republic. I'd like to ask all four of them, including Mrs. Gonzalez, to stand and let us recognize their service. [Prolonged applause] Thanks to all of you, including Hugo's mother. I must say, the families of these patients are part of our medical care system, and it makes such a difference when they are there with their loved ones.

Last month's Esquire magazine featured a story about one of Dr. Moores' patients. Titled Sgt. Wells New Skull, the article tells the story of one of our wonderful soldiers from the day he was shot by a terrorist sniper near Baghdad, thru the long and torturous road to recovery. The part where Dr. Moores does his stuff is excerpted below.

Dr. Moores flanked by PrezUSA222 and Cindy-True-Supporter

Before Colonel Leon Moores opens Wells's skull, he holds his pseudo-skull in his hands, turning it upside down and sideways, studying the hole and planning his attack. Rouse crafts another piece of resin matching the missing piece of skull. This is built up with modeling wax into the precise shape and checked against the skull model for final adjustments. The piece is used to make a plaster mold, which is filled with polymethyl methacrylate, a plastic mixed into a putty. Within several years, doctors hope to make these implants from hydroxyapatite, the building block of our bones. Over time, bone cells would invade and alter the bioactive implant, which would slowly become natural bone, leaving the skull whole again. But for now, the plastic is the best thing going, and harder than bone. Encased in the mold, the implant cures in a pressure cooker for twenty-four hours, and then Wells's new head is ready. Nurses wheel him into the operating room on a Friday morning, and Michelle paces and fidgets and waits. Colonel Moores, a former infantry officer and now chief of neurosurgery at Walter Reed, slits open Wells's scalp and starts peeling back the flap. In the five months since the skull pieces were removed, the skin and scar tissue have fused to the dura, a millimeter-thick protective sac that envelops the brain. Moores runs his knife between dura and scalp, much as you might skin an animal or clean a fish. But this is much, much slower, a millimeter at a time. Delicate work, and the risks are severe. The dura is also fused to the brain, already injured and prone to bleeding. A wrong move with the scalpel can cause a hematoma, stroke, or seizure. And there's the ever-present threat of infection, a risk multiplied if Moores pierces the dura. For more than an hour, he works at Wells's scalp, gently tugging it back, exposing the rim of bone around the giant hole in his head. The skull model sits nearby for reference. Of more than a hundred cranioplasties the Army has performed since the beginning of combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, this is one of the biggest, so big it's done in two pieces.

Moores and his team set the sterilized implant pieces. Sometimes the skull has grown in the time between the scans and surgery, so the bone must be shaved. But here there's a perfect fit, just like the model. The implant won't actually touch the brain, and while there's always a danger of rejection, that hasn't been a problem in the operations performed thus far in the war. Using a half dozen titanium plates a centimeter long and three millimeters wide, Moores joins skull to implant, fastening the bridges with titanium screws anchored in bone and plastic. He runs sutures through holes in the implant and into the dura, pulling up the sac. This will prevent blood clots from forming between the dura and the plastic. He pulls the sutures slowly, over many minutes, to keep from tearing the delicate brain tissue that clings to the dura. Moores also runs sutures through the temporalis, a fan-shaped muscle that normally runs from the cheekbone to the side of the skull. This is cosmetic. Wells's jaw would work fine without it, but the side of his head would look dented. Three hours down and Moores is done. The scalp flaps are pulled up and stapled shut. Wells has his new head.

Wounded Warrior Howard S. spent most of the evening with us. He is a really pleasant young man who has been at Walter Reed since late Dec. 2006. Like most of the soldiers here, he would much rather be with his buddies in Iraq and feels the strong need to be taking care of them. Howard seen here with tgslTakoma and Jimmy Valentine's Brother.

We also were happy to meet William and his wife who accepted our invitation to the FReeper Canteen and ate some pizza with us while discussing military and political topics. William has created a website called The Caucasian Rights Foundation which focuses on, well... the lack of equality for the majority in this country. From the website:

The Caucasian Rights Foundation is not a hate group. The Caucasian Rights Foundation believes that everyone should be proud of where they come from and the history of their ancestors. We do not believe that this history makes a person better or worst that anyone else, only unique, and that a person should not be judged by the color of their skin, but the content of their character.

Some pics...

TJ of Gathering of Eagles.	A boisterous gang of Patriots.
tgslTakoma, Cindy-True-Supporter and BillF	Tolerance Sucks Rocks, a hidden Fraxinus, Cindy-True-Supporter and PrezUSA222.
Lurker Bill's* view down the street towards the Pinkos.	The pathetic showing had Pinko Perry phoning for reinforcements. It didn't work...

The bus filled with wounded warriors and family coming back from
the weekly free dinner. It was early for a change!

A few more pics in the collection can be viewed here.

We'll be back out at Walter Reed Friday night, May 4th, from 6:30 until at least 9:30 at the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Elder Street, NW in Washington, D.C.

The wounded warriors inside the hospital are heartened by the sight of ordinary citizens cheering for them and displaying our thanks for the service and sacrifice they've made on our behalf.

A couple hours this Friday night is very little to give compared to what they've contributed!

Tearing down

If you can't get to D.C. to join us but would like to do something for the wounded, you can find a wealth of ideas by FReepmailing Albion Wilde, Cindy-True-Supporter, VAFlagwaver or PleaDeal.

Keeping the BIG LIST: All DC Chapter Walter Reed FReeps - c/o BufordP.

[tgslTakoma]

Terrific report, PleaDeal; thanks for all the hard work composing it. I was wondering who the military man was who pulled his car over (I was across the street), hopped out and gave you a great big hug. I thought he was somebody you knew.

That's a great thing about our weekly WRAMC Support Our Troops mini rallies; we meet so many new people who quickly become friends. God Bless Col. Moores and soldier Howard S., our newest-found friends at WRAMC.

I'll also add this little recollection from last Friday... Kristinn and I were the early arrivals (hard to believe, I know), and had just begun assembling and raising our flags when a young man pulled up in his convertible (it was a great night for driving with the top down) and asked us if we were having a fundraiser, thinking we were with the church right by our location. Kristinn explained that we were just a bunch of folks who come out every Friday night to say "Thank you" to our troops at Walter Reed and their families. This young man said, "OUTSTANDING! That's terrific!" and he continued, telling us that his kid sister was in Iraq now and that he got back from Iraq last year (USMC). We thanked him and his sister for their service and sacrifice, and before he drove away, he thanked us for being there and for "giving a damn."

No matter where we are, we need to remind our local service members and their families that we all "give a damn" about them... A smile and a thank you, a handshake, a hug, buy their movie tickets or pay their tab at a restaurant... let them know that we honor them and their mission.

God Bless them and Keep them all safe.

[JoyjoyfromNJ]

PleaDeal, great write up, as always. And I appreciated the tie-in to the Esquire article. Just a few months ago, their cover article (and cover photo) was one of our heroes who is a triple amputee. (Said hero has a name, I just can’t remember it.)

And last, but not least, it’s great to see BillF in so many of the photos—making up for missed freeps I guess :-)

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[BufordP]

Morning bump!

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Wounded Warrior Howard S. is quite the talker and I enjoyed every minute of it. He has a wonderful attitude and great plans for the future. His wound was in the throat area and as a result his wind pipe involuntarily closes. Friday night was not the case. Later he crossed the street and had long conversation with Laura Bush.

At the end of the evening Laura and Howard in the midst of the teardown turmoil had a quiet prayer. I was very touched by the scene.

[\/\/ayne]

West Point infantry officer and brain surgeon? What a guy! Reminds me of Tucson's SWAT Police Officer and surgeon Dr. Richard Carmona who became Surgeon General. I'm glad men like this are on our side. Thank you, Dr. Moore for your hard work on behalf of our country and Armed Services!

[Landry Fan]

bump

[Doctor Raoul]

Perry seems to think that the fireplug is a disabled vet. He gave it that sign to "hold".

[pissant]

Wow. Great pics, once again. Thank you ALL for doing this very, very important duty.

[PleaDeal]

Hi Landry!!!!!! Big ‘ol BUMP back atcha!

[PleaDeal]

I was wondering who the military man was who pulled his car over (I was across the street), hopped out and gave you a great big hug. I thought he was somebody you knew.

Never seen him before in my life -- I'm just greedy and a mere handshake won't do when giving thanks to anyone in uniform!

Thanks for adding the early evening story of the Marine and for assuring him that we definitely "give a damn" about him and his sister. OOORAH!

[wita]

I need to feel Gratitude, humility, edified, uplifted far beyond normal, (and who doesn’t). I need tears flowing freely in regards our boys and what is being done for them, after all they have done for us.

I need to engage in just a little WR Freep read for that much needed weekly soar with eagles.

It is almost painful to read anything related to the original reasons for the Freep at WR, the PINKO’S. One might also include most congressional dems on the painful pity list, but not our brave warriors.

Once again freeper diligence at WR has unlocked stories needing to be told, uplifted others far beyond the street corners at WR.

So thanks and thanks again, you who go the extra mile, Just can’t believe it is one hundred six and counting.

[Landry Fan]

Hi Plea Deal. Keep up the good work with the reports and with your blog.

[kristinn]

We'll be starting the Walter Reed freep early this Friday so that those attending the MilBlog conference can freep with us before their reception Friday night.

We'll be starting at 5 p.m. this Friday only, and finish up a our usual time.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

We'll be starting the Walter Reed freep early this Friday so that those attending the MilBlog conference can freep with us before their reception Friday night.

What the heck! When was that announced? I bet you, BufordP and Kathy I discussed the early start last Saturday in Olney; didn't you?

[kristinn]

No. I spoke about it with Andi today. The MilBloggers are having a reception at 8 p.m. at their hotel in Arlington on Friday. We thought it would help the milbloggers who wanted to spend some with us at Walter Reed to start early this one time.

[BufordP]

You think he tells ME anything in advance? PSHAW!

[PleaDeal]

Thanks for the heads-up! We had lots of people skip the FRreep last year because it conflicted with the Milblog reception. I hope to see a BIIIIIIIG crowd come out May 4th!

[Albion Wilde]

Wonderful report, PleaDeal! Thank you so much for your usual excellent reporting and photographs. The breakdown photo cited by freema and the other one like it have your unique feeling for color.

[freema]

Striking, isn’t it!