Stryker Brigade News

Long time readers are aware of our difficulties with Scott's physical profile and the effort to get him on his way to the VA Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center in Minneapolis. The purpose of this meeting (for us, anyway) was to push through administrative resistance to sending Scott off with a temporary profile and halt any medical boards or other administrative actions that might cause him to be discharged until such time as he had sufficient treatment and rehabilitation. The meeting went well and the initial reaction was to recommend that Scott be sent as we desired. Then, a phone call was made and the Colonel expressed a desire to discuss the issue with the doctors involved. I wrote a quick list of who to contact and we left with the promise that we would receive word before the close of business today.

We went up to PT and found Scott getting some heat treatment on his leg muscles to help with soreness. He probably pushed himself too hard yesterday afternoon. I went back to the ward with Tiffany to do some e-mail correspondence (NOT this report) regarding the pending administrative decision. While there, I noticed a soldier with what looked to be copies of Purple Heart certificates and I overheard the word "Majors." Someone would be presenting Majors and Scott with their Purple Hearts at noon. Hmm. Okay, who would be doing this? No one knew. Phone calls were made and the head nurse wrote out the name: A B I Z A I D and didn't know who that was. I told her I knew who he was and set off to alert Julie and Tiffany that the commanding general of Central Command was coming in under an hour to present Scott with his Purple Heart. We wanted someone in his chain of command to present the award, but this was a lot higher in the chain than we thought. I found Julie returning Scott from PT and told them. Our opinion was that it would have been nice to have some warning, but since there's no way to stop CENTCOM, we figured we'd better get ready. Scott wanted to lie down and take some rest while I set about to invite persons to the ceremony who have been so nice to us here. The invitees were:

--Michael Wagner, Ph.D., from the Medical Family Assistance Center.
--John Cesca and Dr. Steve Rouse from the 3-D Lab.
--The military's remaining ocularist, whose name I promise I'll learn tomorrow (we don't need his services, but he's a nice guy and a friend of John and Steve).
--Major Nerges, who runs the ICU where Scott was before and after Bethesda.
--Coren Point, the PT (he was unable to come, but dropped by later).
--Latonya Henriques, the OT (ditto, with Coren).
--Kirsten the speech therapist and her graduate student (Kirsten arrived as things were finishing up).
--LTC Scott Carpenter, who described himself as a "family friend" and we're honored to have him think of himself in this way. He's a man who knows how to get things done and to make civilians show up in a soldier's room to fix things at 0600 hours. He has a genuine enthusiasm for helping soldiers and won't take no for an answer when they need help.
--Dr. Janke, the psychiatrist who thinks Scott is a hoot and a gentle father.
--The Mike Oreo's, as ambulatory 1/14 Cavalry witnesses, one being a two-time Purple Heart recipient who welcomed Scott "to the club" after the ceremony was over.

I would have invited a few more, such as LT (j.g.) Erickson and LTC Armanda from Bethesda, but since I had 40 minutes to do the invitations, I figured this was the best I could do. We were honored to have them present.

Of course, as the hour approached, the word came that the ceremony would be at 1 p.m. so I had to alert everyone as best I could about the new time. Some found out as they arrived at noon. I also alerted the head nurse as to the possible whereabouts of Majors' mother and step-father so they could be present for his ceremony!

As the new hour approached, the soldier with the medals and certificates arrived and we worked out the order of presentations so Scott would go first, then Majors and then a third soldier I did not know. This way, if Scott felt up to it, he could go down to Majors' room and be present for his man's award.

People stood outside Scott's room while we waited for the general. We knew he was coming soon when an MP almost as big as I am came around the corner. The Oreo's were inside the room, the younger holding a stand with his IV's hanging from it. Introductions were made, some small talk about Mike the Elder's military service and mine, as well as our being from California where Abizaid was born. Then the orders were read. The general put the medal on Scott's Bronco Troop t-shirt and then discussed the situation in Mosul with Mike and Scott. He stressed the need for soldiers such as themselves to help win the struggle in Iraq and how important it was to defeat the people who were preventing peace and stability in the country. Pictures were taken, hands were shaken. I told General Abizaid as he shook my hand that our goal was to return Scott to duty. The "official party" left and others came in to shake Scott's hand, wish him well and thank him for his sacrifice. I asked Scott if he wanted to be present for Majors' ceremony. He said he did, so we got the helmet on him and walked him down. I don't know if it's the first time the CENTCOM commander was delayed by a sergeant walking by, but no one raised any objection today. It gave Dr. Rouse the chance to discuss his work with Scott at the suggestion of Major General Farmer, the North Atlantic Region Medical Commander (His signature is on the certificate as is the acting Secretary of the Army). MG Farmer was present with the tour to the 3-D Lab last week, so he was very familiar with Scott's case and Dr. Rouse's work. I was pleased such good use was being made of the time Scott made available.

PFC Travis Majors was presented with the Purple Heart with his mother and step-father there. Scott, as his squad leader, was at the head of his bed. General Abizaid thanked Travis for his work and sacrifice and encouraged him to put his trust in the medical personnel working with him. More pictures were taken and then the general departed with his entourage. I took a picture of Scott and Travis together. It would have been nice to have them standing next to each other in uniform, but that will have to wait for another day.

Earlier in the day when I invited the men of the 3-D Lab to be present for the ceremony, we discussed putting together a video following a soldier through the process. Dr. Rouse asked if we would be so kind as to allow them to use Scott as the demonstrator. I said I was certain this would be fine with us as it would help other soldiers and their families understand the process and give them some hope for recovery.

After the ceremony, we asked Scott about the video idea and if he wanted to see the skull models being made. He agreed to both so we packed up and headed for the tunnel. When we arrived, the skulls were about 90 percent completed while the rest of the models were done. Dr. Rouse explained to us how the system works and Scott watched models of his skull forming. It must have felt really weird, looking into the stereo lithography apparatus (the SLA 7000 made by 3D Systems in Valencia, California--we'll have to go over there next time we go to Magic Mountain) as it hummed along. The models were forming .125mm at a time in a pool of resin being hit at precise locations by a laser beam. After each layer is zapped, a blade sweeps across the surface to make it smooth, like the pin sweeper in a bowling alley. While we were there, the chief of the maxillo-dental surgery team came in. He expressed a desire to learn more about the case and said Scott should do exceptionally well with the surgery based on what he was able to see on the 3-D computer model. He is a strong supporter of this technology and said it could be used in a wide variety of cases such as cleft palates and facial reconstruction. He said he could do the surgery when Scott returns if others couldn't do it. Nice to have doctors fighting over who gets to do the cool surgery, I suppose.

it seemed to be a case of "take the rest of the day off" for Scott after we got back to the room as he lightly snored his way through the afternoon with Alyson asleep at his feet. Dr. Janke came by and said he was impressed with the tenderness Scott showed Aly in his interactions with her. This can be a problem for patients with brain injuries, so we're happy to write off another concern.

I was returning from somewhere in the elevator. I noticed a 2nd Infantry Division pin on a woman's collar. I mentioned it her and she said her son was in the division. Her husband was with her and I asked him what unit he was in. 1/14 Cav was the answer (I felt the world shrinking as we spoke). Well, he was in the first platoon of Scott's troop! They didn't seem to know about the casualties (she was there for an appointment) on the floor she was headed for, so I quickly briefed them as Tiffany arrived in the vicinity of the elevators. They agreed to come by and visit the men after her appointment. The woman gave me her 2ID pin and a hug. I told her I wouldn't take the shirt off her back, but I'd keep the pin. Unfortunately, Scott was asleep when they came by later, but I thanked them for taking the time just the same. I'll get their names from Tiffany tomorrow and properly thank them for their concern and generosity.

Speaking of which, we are amazed at the on-going generosity of members of the Stryker family in the area and others who come by to meet Scott, bring him something they've made for him to wear or to keep warm, and to express their appreciation for his work. Scott is less puzzled by this behavior than he was previously, so I think he's understanding that people really do think he's worthy of the attention. He doesn't think he's worthy of it, I'm sure, but he appreciates that others feel this way. He talks with them a bit and thanks them for the gifts. It's nice to see our soldiers treated with respect, even by those who oppose the conflict that put them here. No one wants our soldiers hurt. We're all pained by it and inspired by their efforts to return to their comrades still in the fight.

Sometime this afternoon, we got the correct answer to the question of Scott's departure. The paperwork has been submitted to the air evacuation office, so we should be leaving soon for Minneapolis. I know this may strike many of you as a strange thing to be happy about on the Edge of Winter, but we are indeed pleased.

Early this evening, Scott got a suprise visit (which wasn't a surprise because I "didn't get the memo" and blew it) from Ron and Kristine Smith, parents of Scott's best friend, Trevor. They brought some goodies for Scott, Tiffany and Alyson. All of it was very nice, but nothing compared to being able to share time with them. Scott was awake and alert when they arrived, having finished off his baked fish dinner. He smiled broadly and recognized them at once. He was able to join and follow the conversation about the various deeds and misdeeds of Trevor and Scott when they were in high school and playing football together. After about an hour of "catching up" the Smiths took Julie and me to eat at P.F. Changs over by Bethesda. It was good to get away from the hospital and it gave Scott, Tiffany and Aly some time to be a family.

My fortune cookie: "People find it difficult to resist your persuasive manner." That may be, but it's still more cathartic to move the building.

ST