Dandy in Afghanistan

Hello Gang, 

 What the heck is “Molasses Express”?  It’s a phrase I heard today during a trauma involving a two year little boy who had fragments to his head from an improvised explosive device (IED).  It’s amazing when the little ones come through how the stress level triples among the surgeons, nurses, and techs.  My logic is that most of our patients raised they right hand and swore in to protect and defend our country or their own country, but the children did not.  They are often caught in the cross fire and are consequently injured.  One minute they are playing outside and the next thing they’re hit with fragments of an IED.  There is absolutely nothing common or normal about that, but yet it happens and they roll through our trauma bay doors on litters with tubes down their throats, bellies open, legs broken, or whatever else may happen to them.  We work feverishly and swiftly to get the child the best care possible because we know they still have an unfinished life to live. 

 So what did the trauma surgeon mean when he said “Molasses Express”?  He meant pick up the pace so we can get this baby to the CT scanner and to the operating room.  I asked the flight surgeon if seeing the four year old little girl with an infected right arm and fingers dangling by deadened tissue “does she make you miss your kids?”  He says “it makes feel lucky that they are safe at home with my wife”.  And then I think of Laney and Jake and wish I could hug their little bodies and plant a big, wet, smacker on their foreheads.

 Mommy misses you!

 Dandy 124.3 miles to go Aaron