Monday, January 7, 2008

Happy New Year!






I know, I am a little behind and all. No excuses except not a whole lot to email about. Things have continued to slow down here clinically (about 30% less than what they saw last year at this time). Which is great, although there was a pretty bad attack yesterday where we lost another two young soldiers. It is interesting that now that clinically we have slowed down, the non-clinical (admin) people have been looking for things to do - making new policies, changing things around, just to keep busy and usually to the detriment of patient care. Fascinating that it happens even in Iraq in a combat zone.

Had our own little new years celebration at midnight on new years, complete with noise makers and non-alcoholic beer. Including 'beer' chugging contests and the like. I guess you make due with what you have. The celebrations in the DFAC where the same as for Christmas, so nothing new there to report.



Iraqis have a strange way of celebrating - they fire their weapons straight up in the air in celebratory fire. I guess they are so happy, that they forget that th rounds still have to come down at some point. For about 15 minutes following midnight, we heard quite a few weapons being fired. Followed by the sound of raining metal on the pavement outside and on the roof. We had been warned to expect it, so the hospital was actually on "lockdown" during the period to prevent anyone from going outside without their full IBA (Individual Body Armor). Unfortunately some of the locals didn't figure this out right away and well... back to work.



The pics above are pretty typical of our traumas, kind of like organized chaos. Actually runs pretty smoothly now - everyone knows their job and what needs to be done and just makes it happen. For the medical types, I can share pics of some of the injury at personal request. Not the kind of traumas we tend to see in the states.


For most of December, we had an AP photographer/reporter 'embedded' with us. It was an interesting experience - for one, because we could get as much information from her as she took from us. So learned a little about what life was like outside our little FOB, what the soldiers are actually going through and how the locals seemed to be reacting. It was also nice to be able to interact with a civilian in a normal manner, not have to worry about rank, and what position they are and all that. Anyway - her name is Maya Alleruzzo - and she has a fair number of pictures published (best way to find them is to look in Yahoo news images, and search for her by name - there are about 30 of her pics from the CSH published in various sources that pop up). Unfortunately/fortunately, I am too ugly for the camera and did not make it into any published ones, but many of our nurses, medics, and the two other ER docs did (Todd Baker and Marti Roellig). She gave us copies of all her pics that she took when she left and made a small collage that is below - I can send people the PDF if you can't see the collage.




The big excitement back home is that the Cohens are now a minivan family - much to my dismay - when I return I will be driving a blue minivan. Laugh all you want, but well, I would laugh at me too. But I guess it is practical and makes things easier for Amy. So we will blame it on her.

Anyway, just thought I would put the new years pics up - let me know if you can't get to them. I hope you are all well and having a great new year.
Miss you all - well, except you Yiram. Happy New Year.
cohen

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