Just liked it and wanted to share

[greenfiremajick]

ellison, md

a military doctor

this should be required reading in every school and college in our country. this captain, an army doctor, deserves a medal himself for putting this together. if you choose not to pass it on, fine, but i think you will want to, after you read it.

i am a doctor specializing in the emergency departments of the only two military level one-trauma centers, both in san antonio , tx and they care for civilian emergencies as well as military personnel. san antonio has the largest military retiree population in the world living here. as a military doctor, i work long hours and the pay is less than glamorous. one tends to become jaded by the long hours, lack of sleep, food, family contact and the endless parade of human suffering passing before you. the arrival of another ambulance does not mean more pay, only more work. most often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle crash.

often it is a person of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed. with our large military retiree population, it is often a nursing home patient. even with my enlisted service and minimal combat experience in panama , i have caught myself groaning when the ambulance brought in yet another sick, elderly person from one of the local retirement centers that cater to military retirees. i had not stopped to think of what citizens of this age group represented.

i saw 'saving private ryan.' i was touched deeply. not so much by the carnage, but by the sacrifices of so many. i was touched most by the scene of the elderly survivor at the graveside, asking his wife if he'd been a good man. i realized that i had seen these same men and women coming through my emergency dept.. and had not realized what magnificent sacrifices they had made. the things they did for me and everyone else that has lived on this planet since the end of that conflict are priceless.

situation permitting, i now try to ask my patients about their experiences. they would never bring up the subject without the inquiry. i have been privileged to an amazing array of experiences, recounted in the brief minutes allowed in an emergency dept. encounter. these experiences have revealed the incredible individuals i have had the honor of serving in a medical capacity, many on their last admission to the hospital.

there was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic, trying to start an iv line in her arm. she remained calm and poised, despite her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins. she was what we call a 'hard stick.' as the medic made another attempt, i noticed a number tattooed across her forearm. i touched it with one finger and looked into her eyes. she simply said, ' auschwitz .' many of later generations would have loudly and openly berated the young medic in his many attempts. how different was the response from this person who'd seen unspeakable suffering.

also, there was this long retired colonel, who as a young officer had parachuted from his burning plane over a pacific island held by the japanese. now an octogenarian, he had a minor cut on his head from a fall at his home where he lived alone. his ct scan and suturing had been delayed until after midnight by the usual parade of high priority ambulance patients.. still spry for his age, he asked to use the phone to call a taxi, to take him home, then he realized his ambulance had brought him without his wallet. he asked if he could use the phone to make a long distance call to his daughter who lived 7 miles away. with great pride we told him that he could not, as he'd done enough for his country and the least we could do was get him a taxi home, even if we had to pay for it ourselves. my only regret was that my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and i couldn't drive him myself.

i was there the night m/sgt roy benavidez came through the emergency dept. for the last time. he was very sick. i was not the doctor taking care of him, but i walked to his bedside and took his hand. i said nothing. he was so sick, he didn't know i was there. i'd read his congressional medal of honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. he died a few days later.

the gentleman who served with merrill's marauders,

the survivor of the bataan death march,

the survivor of omaha beach ,

the 101 year old world war i veteran.

the former pow held in frozen north korea

the former special forces medic - now with non-operable liver cancer

the former viet nam corps commander..

i may still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, but now i am much more aware of what an honor it is to serve these particular men and women.

i have seen a congress who would turn their back on these individuals who've sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. i see later generations that seem to be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties, won with such sacrifice.

it has become my personal endeavor to make the nurses and young enlisted medics aware of these amazing individuals when i encounter them in our emergency dept. their response to these particular citizens has made me think that perhaps all is not lost in the next generation.

my experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an incredible generation, and this nation knows not what it is losing. our uncaring government and ungrateful civilian populace should all take note. we should all remember that we must 'earn this.'

written by capt. stephen r. ellison, m.d. us army

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

This is why nursing is NEVER boring......and what I love about it most.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

how strange that i read this post, then find this poem in my inbox....

t'was the night before christmas,

he lived all alone,

in a one bedroom house,

made of plaster and stone.

i had come down the chimney,

with presents to give,

and to see just who,

in this home, did live.

i looked all about

a strange sight i did see,

no tinsel, no presents,

not even a tree.

no stocking by mantle,

just boots filled with sand,

on the wall hung pictures,

of far distant lands.

with medals and badges,

awards of all kinds,

a sober thought,

came through my mind.

for this house was different,

it was dark and dreary,

i found the home of a soldier,

once i could see clearly.

the soldier lay sleeping,

silent, alone,

curled up on the floor,

in this one bedroom home.

the face was so gentle,

the room in disorder,

not how i pictured,

a true british soldier.

was this the hero,

of whom i'd just read?

curled up on a poncho,

the floor for a bed?

i realised the families,

that i saw this night,

owed their lives to these soldiers,

who were willing to fight.

soon round the world,

the children would play,

and grownups would celebrate,

a bright christmas day.

they all enjoyed freedom,

each month of the year,

because of the soldiers,

like the one lying here.

i couldn't help wonder,

how many lay alone,

on a cold christmas eve,

in a land far from home.

the very thought brought,

a tear to my eye,

i dropped to my knees,

and started to cry.

the soldier awakened,

and i heard a rough voice,

"santa don't cry,

this life is my choice;

i fight for freedom,

i don't ask for more,

my life is my god,

my country, my corps..."

the soldier rolled over,

and drifted to sleep,

i couldn't control it,

i continued to weep.

i kept watch for hours,

so silent and still,

and we both shivered,

from the cold night's chill.

i did not want to leave,

on that cold, dark, night,

this guardian of honor,

so willing to fight.

then the soldier rolled over,

with a voice soft and pure,

whispered, "carry on santa,

it's christmas day, all is secure."

one look at my watch,

and i knew he was right.

"merry christmas my friend,

and to all a good night.

[HiHoCherry-O]

Thank you so much for sharing this!! This is what I love the most when I am at the bedside; listening to life stories, places people have been, things people have done, wisdom and advice that they want to share. I love it!!

[rn/writer, RN]

Thank you so much for sharing this.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

thanks for sharing. Wish we all could remember that others have something to share.

[RaziRN]

Unfortunately, I work with a lot of demented patients and only really get to learn anything about them when they die. I always read my patient's obituararies. I like to learn about who they really were. We recently had one of our frequent flyers to die and I read his obituary. He led such a rich life and had stormed Omaha beach. This especially touched me because I have been to Omaha beach in my travels and seen all the pristine white graves in Normandy. It was a profound moment for me much like the moment the doctor had when he also realized what great people this generation was/is. Thanks for sharing!

[Anisettes, BSN, RN]

Thank you for posting this, simply beautiful.

[wound warrier]

Your post sure made me think of my Dad - he was in WWII and was in the waters of Normandy on D-Day. Never spoke about this, but sure wish he would have. After he dies, my uncle told me that the only thing my dad told him about this time, was how red the sea was with the blood from all of the killing. How horrible. I miss my dad, and am very proud of him for what he did for me and this country. Tnaks for the post and for the continued recognition that you give to our service people.

[greenfiremajick]

Your post sure made me think of my Dad - he was in WWII and was in the waters of Normandy on D-Day. Never spoke about this, but sure wish he would have. After he dies, my uncle told me that the only thing my dad told him about this time, was how red the sea was with the blood from all of the killing. How horrible. I miss my dad, and am very proud of him for what he did for me and this country. Tnaks for the post and for the continued recognition that you give to our service people.

I lost my dad to the Vietnam War. He came home, but was a changed person. You're so very lucky you got to keep yours..... My husband is Army and he has been deployed several times to Diego Garcia (mostly naval), Afghanistan, and Iraq. Not to sound biased since they are all heros in my eyes, but my hubby's my favorite hero!