Greetings from Afghaniland!
Just a quick entry to let everyone know that things are going well here. I had a very exciting day yesterday - I delivered a baby! It sure makes up for the other night! I got a call that my girl that I saved was over at the women's clinic so I went over to visit her. It however was not her but was another pregnant woman. The mid-wife over there let me help her deliver the baby. For any woman who has ever had a baby - you'd be amazed at how they deliver them. First the woman's clinic is nothing more than a room with a metal bed (no mattress) in it, no heat, barely any medical equipment, and certainly no painkillers. Secondly, it's not all that sanitary and to make matters worse, the mid-wife and all other women in Afghanistan think the area down below is dirty and therefore they won't touch it - even to clean up the mess after a child comes out. Secondly - they rip out the placenta and don't even make sure the woman isn't bleeding afterwards. Let's just say it's very medieval. I hope that through working with them we can help them improve the standards a little so more woman / children survive the ordeal.
Speaking of which.....If you know of anyone who has recently had a child - myself and the woman's clinic would greatly appreciate it if you could ask them to send their used bottles and onesies (totally spelled wrong but the little cheapo baby jumpers). It would be nice to be able to put the newborn in something rather than letting it freeze.
Thanks for all the words of encouragement - I really appreciate it.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Pictures
I thought I should post some pictures. I keep forgetting to do it when I post a blog. Enjoy!
Saving a Life....
Last night was one of the best and most horrifying nights of my life. A pregnant woman was brought into the aid station last night and she had been in labor for 24 hours and the baby would not come out. The local midwife at the woman's clinic could no longer do anything for her so she was brought over to see if our Doctor could help. The only problem was he is a male and males are not allowed to see Afghan women - AT ALL, or she will be stoned or shot to death.
Here is where the story begins. I happened to be in our TOC when the Doc was making a call to ask for a Medevac to get her to a Red Cross Hospital. It was denied because it is against policy to help local nationals no matter the circumstance. Doc wasn't sure how to proceed because the girl was only 13 years old and the baby was lodged in the pelvic bones and he couldn't get it out. A C-section was out of the question as we have no surgical equipment. The only thing to do was try and get the baby out no matter what means were used. The baby had already died and now the mothers life was in danger. I volunteered to help, figuring I would just be holding her hand as I have NO medical training what-so-ever. We rounded up two other females to be in the room also. The girl was given a 10% chance of living as they thought she would bleed out if we got the baby out.
Without getting into gory details because I'd rather not have to relive what I had to do to this dead baby to get it out of a 13 year old girl who had no right to be pregnant in the first place, I ended up being the one who had to do everything because i had the smallest hands. I got the baby out and was able to stop the bleeding, mind you I was being talked through all of this by the Doc as he wasn't allowed to touch or look at her. The woman lost a lot of blood and was really weak but she made it through this horrific ordeal. I went to visit her this morning and she kept telling me how grateful she was for saving her life. It was a great feeling but it doesn't make it any easier knowing and seeing what I did to that baby.
I got her up and moving and made sure that she was not bleeding anymore and brought her back over to the woman's clinic so she wouldn't get in trouble for being on our base by her family. The only horrible part is her husband who is Taliban is in Pakistan and he returns tomorrow. If he finds out that a man was even in the room during this they will stone her to death. Everything could have been in vain. I just pray he doesn't find out. She has to go back to the woman's clinic in 48-72 hours for a checkup and I intend on being over there.
Due to my ability to act under pressure and not get squeamish, I was asked if I would volunteer in the woman's clinic a few days a week for a few hours. I will have to examine the woman, tell the Doc what is wrong with her, and hopefully be able to be talked through how to help her. I guess a lot of pregnant woman come in with still born babies and they end up killing the woman because they are unable to help them. It's very sad but it's very primitive out here and they have no real medical facilities.
So out of this whole ordeal all it does it make me realize how fragile life is and how we really need to appreciate every moment. When the Doc called to give the head doc in theater an update on how it went he couldn't believe she survivied. He said he delivered 9,000 babies and we had the worst one he has ever heard of. This woman shouldn't be alive but by some miracle she is. God or Allah or whoever is up there works in mysterious ways.....
Here is where the story begins. I happened to be in our TOC when the Doc was making a call to ask for a Medevac to get her to a Red Cross Hospital. It was denied because it is against policy to help local nationals no matter the circumstance. Doc wasn't sure how to proceed because the girl was only 13 years old and the baby was lodged in the pelvic bones and he couldn't get it out. A C-section was out of the question as we have no surgical equipment. The only thing to do was try and get the baby out no matter what means were used. The baby had already died and now the mothers life was in danger. I volunteered to help, figuring I would just be holding her hand as I have NO medical training what-so-ever. We rounded up two other females to be in the room also. The girl was given a 10% chance of living as they thought she would bleed out if we got the baby out.
Without getting into gory details because I'd rather not have to relive what I had to do to this dead baby to get it out of a 13 year old girl who had no right to be pregnant in the first place, I ended up being the one who had to do everything because i had the smallest hands. I got the baby out and was able to stop the bleeding, mind you I was being talked through all of this by the Doc as he wasn't allowed to touch or look at her. The woman lost a lot of blood and was really weak but she made it through this horrific ordeal. I went to visit her this morning and she kept telling me how grateful she was for saving her life. It was a great feeling but it doesn't make it any easier knowing and seeing what I did to that baby.
I got her up and moving and made sure that she was not bleeding anymore and brought her back over to the woman's clinic so she wouldn't get in trouble for being on our base by her family. The only horrible part is her husband who is Taliban is in Pakistan and he returns tomorrow. If he finds out that a man was even in the room during this they will stone her to death. Everything could have been in vain. I just pray he doesn't find out. She has to go back to the woman's clinic in 48-72 hours for a checkup and I intend on being over there.
Due to my ability to act under pressure and not get squeamish, I was asked if I would volunteer in the woman's clinic a few days a week for a few hours. I will have to examine the woman, tell the Doc what is wrong with her, and hopefully be able to be talked through how to help her. I guess a lot of pregnant woman come in with still born babies and they end up killing the woman because they are unable to help them. It's very sad but it's very primitive out here and they have no real medical facilities.
So out of this whole ordeal all it does it make me realize how fragile life is and how we really need to appreciate every moment. When the Doc called to give the head doc in theater an update on how it went he couldn't believe she survivied. He said he delivered 9,000 babies and we had the worst one he has ever heard of. This woman shouldn't be alive but by some miracle she is. God or Allah or whoever is up there works in mysterious ways.....
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Well it's Christmas Eve here in Afghaniland. I can't believe it's almost the end of the year already. These last few months have gone by quicker than expected. We got our first snowfall a few days ago. Nothing much, just an inch or so. Nothing compared to the snow you guys are seeing back home. It melted by 2 in the afternoon. Today it was in the 50's again. I kind of wish it would snow just so it would feel a little more like Christmas. As usual, the Army is preparing a big meal for us tomorrow. I'm hoping for fresh fruit and veggies again....Ahhhh....the small joys in life. Speaking of small joys - I ate a peach the other day that was actually ripe and sweet. It was by far the best tasting thing I have had in months!
In keeping with the ridiculousness of the Army, they have decided to drug test us while we are over here. Let me tell you what an experience that was! Not only do we not have real bathrooms (we have heated outhouses and not being gross but we go into a barrel and it has to be burned every day) but you have to be observed giving the sample during the drug test. So two femals had to cram into a stall that can barely hold one. Let's just say you got to know the person you were in the stall with very well! It was miserable.
I've also discovered that I would be near supermodel status in Russia. Well at least that is what the Russian pilots tell me but who knows how long they have been away from their families. All the pilots love me and today they brought me Christmas presents, telling me "Merry Christmas Eve." I got a Mars bar and some Russian candy.
Well I will wrap this up. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. Wish I could be there but know that I'm thinking of you all!
In keeping with the ridiculousness of the Army, they have decided to drug test us while we are over here. Let me tell you what an experience that was! Not only do we not have real bathrooms (we have heated outhouses and not being gross but we go into a barrel and it has to be burned every day) but you have to be observed giving the sample during the drug test. So two femals had to cram into a stall that can barely hold one. Let's just say you got to know the person you were in the stall with very well! It was miserable.
I've also discovered that I would be near supermodel status in Russia. Well at least that is what the Russian pilots tell me but who knows how long they have been away from their families. All the pilots love me and today they brought me Christmas presents, telling me "Merry Christmas Eve." I got a Mars bar and some Russian candy.
Well I will wrap this up. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. Wish I could be there but know that I'm thinking of you all!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
12/16/2008
Another day in beautiful Afghanistan is drawing to a close. Temperatures are slowly starting to get colder although still no clouds in the sky and no snow either. I'm still running around without a jacket on so it's not that bad yet!
In some interesting news....As some of you may already know I had to pack a "toughbox" for the deployment. Basically it was supposed to be a year supply of all hygiene items, extra uniforms, or anything else that you thought you might need. I spent a lot of money on getting it ready and I also put all my extreme cold weather gear (military down jackets and pants) in the box. We were notified about a week ago that our toughboxes had made it to Pakistan (they had to travel but ships across the ocean). THEN...we get told that the shipyard was mortared and there is a 65% chance that all of our toughboxes were destroyed. They still can't confirm though....what a waste of my money! Who knows if or when I'll ever get it. Oh well....
We've been really busy here lately with elections coming up. Taliban is moving in and trying to influence people so we've had to step up our patrols. Elections are in January, so hopefully once that is over things will calm down a little.
I wanted to thank everyone for the amazing care packages. I couldn't have better friends and family back home! Miss you all!
Me and my flight ops counter part (SSG WIRTH) showing how we handle unruly pilots!
Chilling out at the flight line. Notice the sky...NEVER A COULD IN IT!
In some interesting news....As some of you may already know I had to pack a "toughbox" for the deployment. Basically it was supposed to be a year supply of all hygiene items, extra uniforms, or anything else that you thought you might need. I spent a lot of money on getting it ready and I also put all my extreme cold weather gear (military down jackets and pants) in the box. We were notified about a week ago that our toughboxes had made it to Pakistan (they had to travel but ships across the ocean). THEN...we get told that the shipyard was mortared and there is a 65% chance that all of our toughboxes were destroyed. They still can't confirm though....what a waste of my money! Who knows if or when I'll ever get it. Oh well....
We've been really busy here lately with elections coming up. Taliban is moving in and trying to influence people so we've had to step up our patrols. Elections are in January, so hopefully once that is over things will calm down a little.
I wanted to thank everyone for the amazing care packages. I couldn't have better friends and family back home! Miss you all!
Me and my flight ops counter part (SSG WIRTH) showing how we handle unruly pilots!Chilling out at the flight line. Notice the sky...NEVER A COULD IN IT!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Mishaps of Michelle - 12/11
Sorry it's been a while since I've been able to post. Things have been crazy busy around here. I've had a few small funny incidents that I thought I'd share...
EADS -
Just a little background before I start this story - EADS is the celebration before the Ramadan and unlike the US where holidays are pretty well set in stone, in Afghanistan the government decides what day is a holiday. We knew EADS was coming up but we thought it was on Monday and we planned to shoot off illum mortars for the locals (our version of fireworks). So Sunday night I'm laying in my bed watching a movie and I hear gun shots. We hear them occasionally but never really pay attention. So I go back to watching my movie and I hear lots of gun shots and a few loud booms. Still not sure what's going on...I knock on my neighbors door and ask him. Well he tells me to stand fast and goes running for the company headquarters. Now I really don't know what to do because no one's said we were getting attacked (we usually have a notification system and we run to our posts). So unsure of what to do I decide to get out of my PJ's and get dressed. I peak my head out the door and see people running around so I decide maybe I should but my night vision on my kevlar. Still have not received word so I'm unsure if I should put on my gear or not. I hear someone yell "Screw this I"m going to go and get my gear" so I decide to put my on. Gun shots are still going off so here I come, running out of my room - in full gear ready to go and guard my post against the enemy. I come busting out of my door into the courtyard and everyone is standing around, smoking cigaretts, and looking at me like I'm retarded. It appears that EADS got moved a day earlier...go figure. So now I can't live it down that I came running out of my room, in full gear, gun ready, and there was NOTHING!
CDS Water Drop -
Due to our remote location we get all of our water from a water drop. Basically a plane comes and drops water, usually 40 pallets. Because I'm the flight OPS person, I have to talk to the planes and let them know that the LZ is clear for them to drop. So it was 4:00 Am and we are assembling the vehicles to go out to the LZ. I got tasked out to drive the 5 ton (very very large truck - 3 X the size of a HMMWV). I'm the only one who knows how to drive it so I climb on in. Well it just happens to be snowing (our first snow) and the turret doesn't have a hatch so the snow is coming directly into the vehicle and I'm getting snowed and rained on at the same time. It's also pitch black out and the blackout lights (Army lights that allow you to see but not be seen by the enemy) are not working so I have no lights. To make matters worse I don't have windshield wipers either. So we roll out of the base camp with me not being able to see a darn thing and we are driving through the desert (no roads in Afghanistan). The 5 Ton is not handling so well in the wet sand and it keeps sliding around. Well some jackass in front of me decides to take the worst possible route and goes over a mound of sand. The 5 ton doesn't make it and I get stuck at the top of the mound. I can't go forward or back and I am basically just digging myself in. They have to send a vehicle back to tow me out. They pulled me forward a few feet and took off. So I go to start moving and once again I'm stuck. The tow vehicle and to turn around and come all the way back to get me unstuck. I'm freaking by this point because I have to have the LZ set up and ready to go by 6:45 for the water drop and it's 6:30 and we aren't even close. So they get my vehicle unstuck and I decide that I can't slow down and must drive like a bat out of hell to ensure that I don't get stuck again. I have this beast of a machine completely floored and I am flying past my convoy and they are looking at me like I'm a mad woman. Well the lead vehicle didn't know where it was going and got lost so it had to turn the convoy around. I try to turn the vehicle at a high speed to prevent it from getting stuck and I just about made my turn and SHIT - I'm stuck again! This time they couldn't get it out and had to call back to base to have a recovery vehicle come and tow it out. I didn't make it to the LZ until 7:20. THANKFULLY the plane was late itself so crisis averted.
Hope you all are doing well - I'll try to update this more regularly.
EADS -
Just a little background before I start this story - EADS is the celebration before the Ramadan and unlike the US where holidays are pretty well set in stone, in Afghanistan the government decides what day is a holiday. We knew EADS was coming up but we thought it was on Monday and we planned to shoot off illum mortars for the locals (our version of fireworks). So Sunday night I'm laying in my bed watching a movie and I hear gun shots. We hear them occasionally but never really pay attention. So I go back to watching my movie and I hear lots of gun shots and a few loud booms. Still not sure what's going on...I knock on my neighbors door and ask him. Well he tells me to stand fast and goes running for the company headquarters. Now I really don't know what to do because no one's said we were getting attacked (we usually have a notification system and we run to our posts). So unsure of what to do I decide to get out of my PJ's and get dressed. I peak my head out the door and see people running around so I decide maybe I should but my night vision on my kevlar. Still have not received word so I'm unsure if I should put on my gear or not. I hear someone yell "Screw this I"m going to go and get my gear" so I decide to put my on. Gun shots are still going off so here I come, running out of my room - in full gear ready to go and guard my post against the enemy. I come busting out of my door into the courtyard and everyone is standing around, smoking cigaretts, and looking at me like I'm retarded. It appears that EADS got moved a day earlier...go figure. So now I can't live it down that I came running out of my room, in full gear, gun ready, and there was NOTHING!
CDS Water Drop -
Due to our remote location we get all of our water from a water drop. Basically a plane comes and drops water, usually 40 pallets. Because I'm the flight OPS person, I have to talk to the planes and let them know that the LZ is clear for them to drop. So it was 4:00 Am and we are assembling the vehicles to go out to the LZ. I got tasked out to drive the 5 ton (very very large truck - 3 X the size of a HMMWV). I'm the only one who knows how to drive it so I climb on in. Well it just happens to be snowing (our first snow) and the turret doesn't have a hatch so the snow is coming directly into the vehicle and I'm getting snowed and rained on at the same time. It's also pitch black out and the blackout lights (Army lights that allow you to see but not be seen by the enemy) are not working so I have no lights. To make matters worse I don't have windshield wipers either. So we roll out of the base camp with me not being able to see a darn thing and we are driving through the desert (no roads in Afghanistan). The 5 Ton is not handling so well in the wet sand and it keeps sliding around. Well some jackass in front of me decides to take the worst possible route and goes over a mound of sand. The 5 ton doesn't make it and I get stuck at the top of the mound. I can't go forward or back and I am basically just digging myself in. They have to send a vehicle back to tow me out. They pulled me forward a few feet and took off. So I go to start moving and once again I'm stuck. The tow vehicle and to turn around and come all the way back to get me unstuck. I'm freaking by this point because I have to have the LZ set up and ready to go by 6:45 for the water drop and it's 6:30 and we aren't even close. So they get my vehicle unstuck and I decide that I can't slow down and must drive like a bat out of hell to ensure that I don't get stuck again. I have this beast of a machine completely floored and I am flying past my convoy and they are looking at me like I'm a mad woman. Well the lead vehicle didn't know where it was going and got lost so it had to turn the convoy around. I try to turn the vehicle at a high speed to prevent it from getting stuck and I just about made my turn and SHIT - I'm stuck again! This time they couldn't get it out and had to call back to base to have a recovery vehicle come and tow it out. I didn't make it to the LZ until 7:20. THANKFULLY the plane was late itself so crisis averted.
Hope you all are doing well - I'll try to update this more regularly.
Monday, December 1, 2008
12/01/2008
I can't believe it's December! Where has this year gone? We had Thanksgiving here last week. The cooks really put a lot into it to make sure it was special for us. They even made ice sculptures! We had the typical Thanksgiving dinner with Turkey, Ham, Sweet potatoes, more pie then we could ever eat, but most importantly we had fresh fruit and VEGETABLES! It was very exciting!Things here have been going well. My hand is healing nicely (for those who don't know I broke my knuckle). I included a picture so you could check it out. We've been busy with a lot of helicopters coming in to resupply us before winter sets in full force. The weather here has been pretty nice though. Freezing cold at night then 40-50 during the day. And there is NEVER a cloud in the sky. It's weird to look up and not see them, in fact I didn't even notice until someone pointed it out to me. It makes for gorgeous nights though. The stars here are phenomenal.
Hope everyone is doing well. I'll try to get another post up this week with some more pictures of the FOB. Talk to you all later!
This in my room - a little dusty but it's big and quiet.
Monday, November 24, 2008
11/25/2008
Ano
ther fantastic day in Afghanistan. I was quite busy this morning. For those who don't know I'm the Flight Operations LMR NCO. Basically I talk to the helicopters when they are landing and I'm in charge of all personnel / equipment that is on my flight line. I've attached some pictures today of some of the helicopters. They pilots of Jingle Air are usually Russian or Polish and they just love me. Today they let me up into the helicopter. They always take pictures with me, kind of worried about where those pictures will end up :) All the guys are really nice though and if I need anything from a base they hook me up. Can't complain I guess.
ther fantastic day in Afghanistan. I was quite busy this morning. For those who don't know I'm the Flight Operations LMR NCO. Basically I talk to the helicopters when they are landing and I'm in charge of all personnel / equipment that is on my flight line. I've attached some pictures today of some of the helicopters. They pilots of Jingle Air are usually Russian or Polish and they just love me. Today they let me up into the helicopter. They always take pictures with me, kind of worried about where those pictures will end up :) All the guys are really nice though and if I need anything from a base they hook me up. Can't complain I guess.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
An Opportunity to Help...
If anyone would be interested in helping those less fortunate this holiday season then I've got the perfect thing for you.
Our FOB interacts with the local nationals on a daily basis. Our medics provide medical aid and we are involved in community restoration projects. One of the projects if for the village school that was hit with a grenade by a terrorist. Half the school is missing the roof but thankfully only minor injuries occurred. Due to the fact that we interact with them daily I can give them items they desperately need. Here is where you come in....
If you would like to participate please send
* used / new winter clothes (hats, scarves, gloves, etc)
* School supplies
* Children's clothes and toys
These people are very poor so anything you can donate would be appreciated. You can send it to my attention:
Sgt. Michelle Johnson
333rd MP CO
FOB Waza Khwa
APO AE 09354
Our FOB interacts with the local nationals on a daily basis. Our medics provide medical aid and we are involved in community restoration projects. One of the projects if for the village school that was hit with a grenade by a terrorist. Half the school is missing the roof but thankfully only minor injuries occurred. Due to the fact that we interact with them daily I can give them items they desperately need. Here is where you come in....
If you would like to participate please send
* used / new winter clothes (hats, scarves, gloves, etc)
* School supplies
* Children's clothes and toys
These people are very poor so anything you can donate would be appreciated. You can send it to my attention:
Sgt. Michelle Johnson
333rd MP CO
FOB Waza Khwa
APO AE 09354
11/24/2008
I decided to go ahead and create a blog to avoid the fiasco that happened last time with 5 million email replies back to everyone. When I post something new I'll go ahead and send out an email to everyone so they know to check it. If you'd like to comment, go ahead and do so on the blog - not through emails.The blog name comes from a little joke a few of us have. We decided that it sounded more like we were going somewhere fun if we called it Afghaniland. Here are some pictures of my new home...
This is my home...
The village outside of our FOB
Another view from the towers
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