The Match

Yesterday at 6:01AM I found out that we will be staying in San Antonio for the following 4 years while I complete a residency in pathology.

One day more.

Today is the day before I will find out officially what I will be doing next year. It is quite exiting to look at all my classmates as they eagerly await what will happen next. We all have grand aspirations to be this or that but this is when we find out what will be, at least for next year.

As with any potentially life altering information people have different reactions to it. I have chosen not to think about it, though it creeps up in my dreams in which I never get what I want. Others get a kick about telling others how they were able to find out the results of the match early by whatever means, inevitably getting a rise out of someone who is not expecting the joke.

I, Alas, am in a situation that is not to be envied. For even now I am not sure that Pathology is what I really want to do. Though I am sure of many things that I don't want to do. In the event that I get pathology I will be exited and relish in the opportunity. In any other endeavour I will have a degree of skepticism over the result.

So it is one day more. For those of my fans who indulge themselves in these words I wish you the best. Give me a call tomorrow and I will be delighted, or perhaps not, to tell you what I will be doing next year. You in turn can celebrate or mourn with me. I am told that the day of match brings unremitting happiness to some and deep dejection to others. So it is with life.

Tomorrow is Christmas in the match. So I leave you with little prose:

Tomorrow is another day just like all the others,
The sun will rise, the stars will fall
Rain will come and the wind will blow.
The tides on distant shores will rise and fall:
Someone will die and another someone will live.
Tomorrow is just another day.
Just live it better then all the others.

The Wonderful World of Medicine

Over the past few days I have had the pleasure of being entertained by a myriad of intelectuals imparting wisdom on the practice of the art of Medicine. The topics vary from how to interprit the nuances of an EKG to treating toxidromes. In these lectures I have also had the opportunity to study the archetecture of my inner eye lid. That is not to say that I haven't learned things. For I have.

The number one thing to remember is that a physician makes a living by deciding to treat patients the best that we know how and to research new ways to treat patients better. The practice of learning all this information is daunting, which leads to point number two: understand what you know and don't be to proud to ask for what you don't. More damage is done when a physician thinks that he is doing the right thing when in reality they haven't a clue. Point number three: All of our patients will die. Unfortunately in the end all of our interventions have not cured death. So it is that we make our money by extending the life that one does have. We also like to think that we increase the quality of life by relieving suffering.

In three little points I have summed up the basics of being a doctor. I suppose that 4 years of medical school should have been enough. As it is my books will be warm and my consultants will be busy.

Thanksgiving

This is a time of year where we take a look at all that we have. We have a myriad of things that we are grateful for. One of the observations that I have made over the last year through my travels is that the thing that makes us happier then all others is our relationships with others. The things that we have and the food that we eat give us pleasure, but in the end all of things things will rot away. The relationships we have have the ability to grow over time. By the same token if the relationships we have are not nourished they too will slowly rot away.

At this time I would like to express my gratitude for Emily. She has stood by me through 6 years of marriage and has borne 2 children and is carrying a 3rd. When this life is over the relationship that I have with Emily, Caleb, Charlotte, and the new one will be what I take into the next life. What we do here and now will help determine how these relationships last and whether the promise of eternity with each other will be realized.

So again: I love my family, especially Emily. Let us pray that through the trials of this life that this relationship will continue to grow throughout eternity.

We've been tagged!

This is Emily and Sam in their true form.

It would seem that we have been tagged by Kara and Katie. This is the bloggospheres version of the of the chain letter. We have never been good at replying to this stuff and so I must apologize for not sending our favorite recipe to all of you who have attempted that. I also haven't sent any money. Believe it or not I did not fall off of a cliff, drown or go bankrupt and I have broken the chain every time. However; I can at least post the 6 habits of a highly successful me. (Or at least 6 things that are unique to me.) The first set will be Sam and the second set will be Emily's.

1. I have the ability to wake up extremely early in the morning, go to the hospital, and wake up sick patients, perform physical exams, write notes, and read on pertinent topics, all before rounds at eight o'clock in the morning.


2. I have been in the army for over 3 years and I still haven't had anyone tell me to drop and give me 50. (Though I may have deserved it sometimes.)


3. I am the father of a rambunctious pair of Caleb and Charlotte. I have developed the uncanny ability to change from a calm voice to my "Daddy" voice in less then a nano-second.


4. I make a mean orange onion sauce. (A marinara sauce with onions.)


5. I can give a fabulous discourse on Tithing: just the right amount of upliftment and guilt. (I just gave one and it was the same topic as the last time I talked in church.)


6. I have the uncanny ability to make money disappear. If you don't believe me just give me some of yours and I will show you how I can personally make it disappear. (Just leave a note on where and when I can pick up your cash and I will get on it.)

1. I secretly love the warmer weather in November. I complain because my clothes, specifically the maternity ones are winter clothes. I really don't like being cold.


2. I gave in this year and played Christmas songs, on the piano, before Thanksgiving. I broke one of my own cardinal rules. Generally the only Christmas thing that can be done is Christmas shopping. It was after Halloween.


3. I love that my little girl can hold her own with all of the neighbor boys and even match Caleb, then turn around and talk about all things princesses.


4. I only like to go shopping if I can buy stuff or have something to scout out.


5. Sam and I discovered we have an affinity for square plates, we don't like to conform. We just got a new set of dishes and even the cups and bowls have a square shape.


6. I feel much more comfortable introducing myself to kids than adults. I feel I relate to them much better, I still can't believe I'm a grown up.

Halloween 2007

Here are some pictures of our little Cinderella and Cowboy.

Sea World

We had the opportunity to experience Sea World San Antonio yesterday. We were blessed to be able to go for free because I am in the military. We had a great time seeing killer whales, dolphins, water skiers and going on rides. I hope you all enjoy the pictures.

Choices

The world around us is a great and wonderful place. It is full of magic and wonder. It is also full of intrigue and danger. In the face of all this we have the ability to choose for ourselves what we will do. The first choice we make in a day is to wake up and the last is when to go to sleep. In between we make hundreds of choices and in the midst of all these decisions we live our life.

In the great free countries of this world we have the ability to make choices for ourselves to guide our life. Freedom to make our own decisions and think for ourselves is God given. In the Declaration of Independence it says that “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The freedom that we have gives us the ability to pursue happiness. The decisions that we make on a day to day basis are for the sole purpose to bring us happiness. By and large we don’t wake up and say I am going to do such and such today so that I will be miserable. We wake up and do things to help make us happy, though in so doing we inadvertently do things that reach to the other end. That is we do things to make us happy but in the end these very things make us miserable.

Case in point: We go to the mall and find that magical pair of shoes or the new electronic gadget that has just been released on the market. These items cost more then we can reasonably spend now, but a wonderful bank has given us the means to our happiness and the pursuit thereof. In the consumer nature of our society we make the decision to consume and pay over time for these blessed luxuries that will bring us happiness. We take the bait and 6 months later are still paying for the shoes that were worn once or for the gadget that we never really learned to use. The credit card bills make it even harder to achieve what you want. What you want is happiness, and what you wanted was happiness. A decision was made to pursue happiness, which is your God given right, but the decision that was made in the name of happiness is now the very reason you are miserable today. A myriad of other examples can be made. These include many of the guilty pleasures in this life including food, drugs, sex, and gambling. These items promise happiness, but often lead to misery.

It is also true that we have obstacles to our own happiness. The very fact that we are alive means that we not only have the freedom to act but that others are free to act upon us. In the end; however, we are the ones who can control our own destiny. We must therefore learn how to control ourselves and by so doing be able to make those choices that will lead to true happiness. Happiness is the goal in life. Let us then take a deeper look into ourselves to find out how we tick. By uncovering why we make the choices that we make we can take control of our lives so that we can achieve what we really want: to be happy.

Life Goes On

Life is a strange beast that roles on with time as long as my heart is beating and my lungs are breathing. It has brought me from the small town of Lehi Utah to the great state of Maryland and over again to Texas. I remember how exited I was to get out of Ephraim and go on my mission to Rochester New York.

Plans have come and plans have gone. Once upon a time I was going to be a firefighter, then a paleontologist. As I grew up I changed my mind to other things like an accountant, a football player, or a doctor. Then I decided to become a pharmacist. During this journey I was undecided through most of it. It wasn't until after my mission that my goal to become a doctor was solidified.

I had other goals as well. Soon after my mission I met and fell in love with Emily and soon after we were married in the Manti Temple. A little more then a year later I became a father when Caleb was born. These were two of my biggest goals. Our little family expanded again with the birth of Charlotte.

Over this same period of time I graduated twice, joined the army, and started medical school. It was about two years ago that we felt like we needed another one in our family. It took a long time for the little one to come.

This past week I got to go in and see our new little one on ultrasound for the first time. I saw the little ones mouth and nose and eyes. I could see all the fingers and toes. The heart was beating, and the stomach was waiting for deposits. Finally we found out that our new addition is going to be a girl.

Life is going forward again. My little ones have aspirations just as I did. I don't know where they will be in 20 years, and I don't know where I will be. What I do know is that we will always be a family, and that's what is really important.

Labor Day

Our house was invaded by more people then we could count on our hands. (I took off my shoes and I think I just about got it (10 of Chelle's + Mom, Dad, and the 4 at home and 4 of us that call this place home.) The floor was hard. But everyone survived. In the end we went to the Alamo and River Walk and called it a weekend.

Caleb's 1st Lost Tooth (and other pictures)

States that I have Visited

We have traveled alot and so I have decided to post the map of the United States with all of the states I have been highlighted. I hope you like it. Hawaii is not on the map because the website I used to generate it was for RVers and it is hard to go RVing to Hawaii.

Family Reunion

Sandra's Trip

We have enjoyed having Sandra with us for the past week. We have put her to work scrubbing crayon off of our walls, as well as packing up boxes. As a little diversion we went to the Mall in Washington and spent an afternoon at the zoo. Some of the pictures are above.

Bushmaster

The time was 01:00 and our platoon had just completed our first day of operation bushmaster. After the 4th 4 hour block was over we were all exhausted and looking at each other with eyes glazed over. One of our instructors gave us a little pep talk. "Who are we" he said, and no one answered. He yelled louder "Who are we" and someone squeaked out "MBAS" (Marine Battalion Aid Station). After several iterations we yelled "MBAS" together. This was indeed fained enthusiasm because that yell was the only thing between us and our cots.

Over the course of the day we had seen many patients between combat casualties and sick call. In one particular instance as surgeon we had a Pandakari woman who was pregnant who was allowed into camp. She came in and we started to work on her. She was bleeding and within 2 minutes of being on the table she died. The wind was taken out of the camp as we realized that we had a potential international incident on our hands. This information was leaked to the media and we had reporters from ZNN news come into our camp on day two trying to find out what happened in this incident.

On day three of the exercise I took over as CO. The JTF commander radioed in for me and my XO to go to him because one of my medics treated an enemy combatant before 3 wounded U.S. soldiers. This would have taken three valuable assets from our small medical unit and would compromise our mission. When the medic involved was questioned it was determined that the enemy soldier was the most immediate patient. According to the Geneva Convention enemy soldiers get triaged and treated as any American soldier would. I explained this to the JTF commander and we were able to maintain our operation.

After my run as CO we were hit with a mass casualty incident. We had 44 patients that we processed in 2 hours. Unfortunately 4 patients were killed when an FLA (ambulance) rolled backward over some of our patients. Our platoon quickly reacted and we were able to have a successful event.

In the end I graduated from Bushmaster. I worked for over 48 hours over 3 days and now I am home. I appreciate a shower, food that is not MRE's, and a soft bed.

National Zoo

We just spent a fabulous day at the zoo. The adventure began early as we drove to the metro and rolled into the national zoo. Caleb's favorite animals were the monkey's and Charlotte's was everything she could remember (the panda, bear, lion, tiger, elephants, snakes, turtles, cockroaches, etc.) My favorite animals were the lions and tigers. Emily toughed it out even though she was sick for most of it.

Pandakar

In a few weeks I will be traveling to the imaginary country of Pandakar to participate in Operation Bushmaster. This is an extremely intense field exercize where I will learn how to operate in a field environment. The following link goes to an article that talks about the exercize. This is from last year and is pretty accurate.

http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/reporter/sept06/military.htm

Caleb and Charlotte in Their Internet Video Debut

Lake Needwood Hike

We spent last Saturday exploring the woods around Lake Needwood. It was a fun little diversion for us. Emily missed the adventure due to sickness, unfortunately.

Our Hawaii Trip

And So It Ends

This year has been a roller coaster of emotion and adventure.  I have traveled across our great nation.  I have been in the hospital in the middle of the night assisting in an emergency open heart surgery.  I have delivered 2 babies.  I have performed several vasectomies.  I have interviewed hundreds of patients. Now I am a fourth year medical student.  A senior yet again, and for the last time.  

Medical school is a terribly difficult proposition.  It involves stressing your mind and your body to the limits of fatigue.  It does take a toll and there are those that don't make it.  Here I am at the cusp of the fourth year of medical school.   In addition to school life also moves on.  Emily and I will introduce a new member into our family in February of next year. 

There is a part of me who wants to be done.   It is tough to persevere, but in the end it will be worth it.  I will be able to look back on my medical school experience and wonder how I made it through.  I look back at what I have already done and think the same thing.  For all the budding doctors out there, buckle down and get to work.  It's not easy, but when you finally have a patient who tells you that you made a difference it makes it worth it.

So ends the third year of medical school.

Samuel Grindstaff

It has been a fun trip. It was definitely worth it. This is probably our only chance to be in Hawaii unless we get lucky enough to get stationed here later on.

As a side note I saw some of the newly graduated doctors from USU getting ready for the start of their internship year. That will be me next year. Come July 1st if you need to go to the hospital that young doctor taking care of you will most likely by a brand new intern. Make them feel good and say "hey newbie, congratulations on completing medical school." Then it is time to pray that the new doctor won't hurt you. (The best time to get sick is in May or early June because the interns have learned the system, they are battle hardened and they have learned from their early 'mistakes.')

Paradise Cove

Emily left and I had the opportunity to go to Paradise Cove for a luau. It was a lot of fun. THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF A HULA AND WAS ORIGINALLY GOING TO BE A SHORT VIDEO BUT THE DOWNLOAD DIDN'T WORK SO I ONLY HAVE THE FIRST FRAME. If I can get a video to upload I will quickly post it to the blog.

Surprise

As all of you now know we are expecting another little one. Congratulations to Kara to be the first one to find out and to Chelle for being the first one to call.

And I Thought I was Crazy

The alarm goes off and it is another day of dealing with the endless problems of others. Part of psychiatry is finding out why people are crazy. Usually it is because sometime in the past the individual had an inner conflict where they hated their father and loved their mother and so they fixated on that said event subconsciously and if they cannot overcome the said conflict they will be stuck in a state of dysforia forever. This kind of logic works because no one really knows what it means, but it sounds smart.

It is nice that I have been able to be in Hawaii for this rotation. It has taken my mind off of other peoples minds. I have learned that people can be really crazy. I thought I knew what crazy was by growing up in the Grindstaff household. We had a bunch of star players like Chelle, Scott, Matthew, Amy, Sandra, Isaac, Aarron and Anita (quite the bunch). Looking back, we were definitely crazy, but we weren't wild crazies. The people I deal with make us look as sane as the Pope on Sunday (extra points for using a Pontiff cliche).

Now we have a new bunch of kids growing up in families across the United States. Hopefully they have fun with their not so wild but still crazy parents (the inlaws may be crazier then the rest of the bunch because they chose to come into our nutty family). As it is I will send my therapy bills to Mom and Dad. Don't worry, I will still have to pay, when my kids get old and realize they grew up with a bunch of crazies.

Samuel Grindstaff

Guess What?

I don't think that many people out there read this blog, but those of you who do are in for a treat today. You see there is a surprise found in this particular writing.

Now we have been enjoying a wonderful time , especially playing at the beach and staring at coconut trees. This has been particularly enjoyable. There is a coconut tree that is right outside of our hotel room that we can see by the balcony. There are three of them together and we have watched the little coconuts get bigger, and now they are turning yellow. Next they will turn brown (most likely when we are gone) and then they will be ready to harvest. This will probably be done by an ambitious medical student who will climb the tree, fall and then spend the rest of medical school in a full body cast. We are an adventurous bunch.

Emily and I will leave this place with happy memories of the islands of Hawaii. Even though I am ready to go I will miss this place. We have gotten a lot of souvenirs. We got a bowl made of the hardwood trees of Hawaii (though it was made in the Philippines), we got a dancing hula doll, a small drum, a ukulele, and another timeless gift.

I told you that reading this would be worth it. I hope you have enjoyed my blathering. As for the surprise, call me and see if you guessed right.

Samuel Grindstaff

Here we are at the dole plantation. The highlight was seeing what a pineapple looks like when it is still on the plant.


















Here are some pictures at an old volcanic crater. Notice the brown backgrounds with Grandma and Grandpa Hilton. There has been a drought this year.

We managed to find ourselves at the Hawai'i temple and the Polynesian cultural center. This is where I got this stellar tattoo. Of course it was ink (injected into the subcutaneous tissue with a small hypodermic needle.) The kids got them too.

This is more from our trip. On memorial day we went to pearl harbor and saw the USS Arizona memorial. This is where WWII started for the United States. We were also able to go on the USS Missouri, where the surrender was signed by Japan ending WWII.

In Paradise and I want to go HOME!

Here I am on the verge of being a senior for the third time and what do I do? I take a well deserved vacation in the halls of Tripler Army Medical Center.

OK, technically this is not a vacation. I go to work every day. I write notes. I see a patient or two. I do see crazy people. I am also in Hawaii. I have been here for almost 4 weeks and it it has been fun. We have gone to the Polynesian Cultural Center, visited the Temple, walked to a waterfall, gone to the beach, spent a lot of money on souvenirs, and even tried poi. Ah!

Well, now I want to go home. Homesickness is part and parsel of life in the military. I am tired of sleeping in a hotel bed. I am sick of lean cuisine frozen entrees. Even though Emily and the kids are here I still want to be home. It wouldn't be so bad, except that I was at Fort Bragg before this. My bed is calling me, and I want to go home.

By Sam Grindstaff

This is us at Maunawili Falls

Our Family in Hawai'i

This is our little trip to Oahu Hawai'i. The following pictures are from Waikiki Beach and the Pali Lookout. The one of Sam is of him rescueing Charlottes hat which resulted in a 2 inch laceration on his heel.

Everything is Realitive

Each of us has the perception of what life is. To some life is a battle to overcome challenges. For others life is full of pain and sorrow. Still others have in their hearts blackness. Perspective in itself is a self centered action that leads us to how we perceive the world around us. Everyone sees something different, and even those that see the same object will describe it differently.

Einstein made great discoveries in the world of physics by looking at things from different perspectives. He put himself on the wave of light. He put himself into different situations and then he took the two different perspectives and turned them into one reality. The question of who is moving, is it me or is it you, is based on perspective. In this way we each have our own reality. Each of us has a piece of the puzzle that is unique to our own situation, but nobody (in this life anyway) can see all the different perspectives and merge them into a single reality, which is the world as it really is.

I look at people differently now then I did a year ago. I look into the faces of strangers on the street and I notice the look of pain in their eyes. I see the little limp. I notice that the man in the elevator next to me has lateral collateral ligament instability just by watching the way he walks. I see the face of a child with puffy eyes and a runny nose and instantly think of mast cells degranulating due to antigens from the pollens in the air binding the IgE on their surfaces. My reality has changed due to what I have learned.

Each of us each day lives constantly in our own reality. Our perspectives change through our experiences. Sometimes we wish we could undo our past transgressions. A good old fashioned do over would be nice every once in a while. But these experiences are the very things that make us who we are. They sculpted us. We avoid tragedy by remembering our past failings, and sometimes we dig a pit and sit in it. In the pit our perspective is a narrowed.

I pray that we climb out of our pits of despair and stand tall with our mistakes and misgivings and all. Only by accepting defeat and moving on can we gain the greater victory. If you need help I will lend you a hand. After all I should be able to help, at least from my perspective.

Samuel Grindstaff

Of Mormonism

When most people first here of Mormonism thoughts of polygamy and 30 kids run through their mind, though this is not true at all. I am a proud member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I neither have 3 wives or 30 kids.

Last night PBS aired a piece about the church. They explored topics such as the Temple, missionary work, gays, excommunication, and so on. I thought for a moment and wondered what others really think of us. In the end it doesn't really matter. I have faith. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. I also know he wasn't a perfect man, but I do know he was a prophet. He was an instrument in the hand of God. His story, without the confirmation of the spirit, is outlandish. The power in the story is in the spirit that surrounds it.

In the final moments of the program experts kept saying that the Mormons need to move past our beginning like other religions have. Saying this as if our history is holding us back. In reality the history is what is holding us up.

Physicians work in a world of uncertainty. It is hard to speak definitively about anything. With the church and my faith I do speak in absolutes, not because I understand it all but because of my hope, my faith and the confirmation I have felt. In the woods of Palmyra New York I have prayed and felt the spirit. God the Father and His Son did come to Joseph Smith.

In the end it happened or it didn't. There really isn't any neutral ground. Just like being pregnant, either you are or your not, there isn't a middle ground. I can't prove it happened, but that doesn't change the fact that I know it did. And this is my testimony. Let it follow me to the grave.

Family Medicine at Fort Bragg

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the background at the busy clinic you go to visit. Frustration abounds with long waiting times, and rushed care. Welcome to the world of the most under appreciated doctors on the planet, the Family Medicine doctor. They deal with the common cold, a hurt knee, and high blood pressure in a single hour. (Sometimes in one 20 minute appointment.)

The doc doesn't get a break. He or she sits in the office in front of the computer writing notes as fast as possible before the next patient walks through the door. They cringe at the patient with diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipedemia, avascular necrosis of the right hip, and peripheral neuropathy. The patient pulls out the bag with 15 medication in it saying I need them refilled. The 20 minute appointment passes and drags on as a history of chest pain and dyspnea is uncovered. Miraculously after 35 minutes the patient is out the door, meds refilled, and tests set up to save the poor soul from an early demise. Then another patient comes in frustrated at having to wait. No matter, drive on. The cracking whip is sounding behind them, as the double booked patients roll through the door.

I have heard specialists complain about the consults they receive from these overworked doctors. They complain that they can't take care of this problem as well as they can; however when all you see is BPH or breast lumps all day you do get pretty good at that. So it is. Be thankful for your family doc.

This is a smattering of pictures depicting two wonderful children on their respective birthdays. I hope you all enjoy these pictures of our wonderful 3 and 5 year old.

A change of Pace

Throughout life we go through changes that tax our senses and help to keep our eyes clear and our perspective fixed. The process of changing; however, is often difficult even if the change is for the better and in the long run is the proper choice.

This week I went from being a zombie of general surgery to a well rested student of family medicine. The change was somewhat painful. You see, this week was full of lectures and workshops designed to help us over the upcoming weeks. It also included lectures about the art and practice of a caring physician. This may sound stimulating but under most circumstances these lectures are a cure for insomnia. Even under the heavy influence of caffeine my eyes droop and my head bobs.

In changing circumstances the bad of one situation is replaced by good; unfortunately the reverse is equally true. As life changes and we ponder their meaning may we hope that good will eventually come of all of it.

By Samuel Grindstaff

Exhaustion

"Beep, beep, beep." It's 4:15 am and my alarm is arousing me for another day. I get up, showered and dressed. Then it is off to the National Naval Medical Center. I arrive around 5:00, change into scrubs and then it is time to work.

I start the day by looking up the vitals and labs of my patients, then I go and wake up my patients and see how their night is going. Then I write notes on my patients and prepare to round. By 7:00 rounding is done and it is time for morning report. Then it is off to the operating room or clinic to work until ~4:00pm. Then it is time to round on our patients again, and if we are lucky I get to leave the hospital at 5:00. I change, walk to the car, and drive home and arrive home at about 5:45.

Once I am home I spend time with Caleb and Charlotte, have dinner, put the kids to bed. I have a few moments to decompress and if I am lucky I am asleep by 10:30. I often fall asleep in front of the television.

I think I should be able to function on almost 6 hours of sleep per day, but unfortunately I find myself dragging earlier and earlier every day. On Sunday I slept in till 6:30 and just couldn't sleep anymore. I feel as if I work in a dream. So for the rest of you out there who are sleep deprived, here's to us and a good night sleep.

This is Caleb showing off his excellent balance on the beam.

We are the Partiots.

In the events that unfold in the world daily there is much of pain, suffering, tyranny and death. Much of war and too little of peace. Over the past few weeks I have worked on the trauma team at the National Naval Medical Center and participated in the care of the brave men and women who have been wounded in Iraq.

The scenes are disturbing, and worse then any movie gore that is used to portray what is the tragedy of war. These brave men and women suffer through months in the hospital, being left different then what they were before. The psychological damage, done, the physical recovery just beginning.

I enter the OR and see who will be our patient for today. After moving him to the operating table he is positioned and prepared to be irrigated and debreded. His wounds are washed out with a hand tool that shoots saline into the wound and sucks up the debris. After this is completed silver impregnated foam is cut to fit over the still open wounds, and are held in place with a wound vac. War is an ugly thing. I have seen the results first hand.

The blood of these brave men and women have washed the soils of Iraq and Afghanistan. In so doing they have helped liberate those who were under tyrannical reigns of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban. In so doing they have moved the fight against terrorism off our soil. They have given their all for our freedom. The failures and setbacks aside we should never forget those who have served us so bravely. Some have given their lives. Others will never live a day without the memory of their service written in the scars on their bodies.

Let us all be grateful. Whenever you hear someone complain about the way things are, or stand on the mall in Washington in defiance of the war, remember a soldier, sailor, and marine has given their all to let them do it. That is what makes America so great. Let it be that way always.

By Samuel Grindstaff

A Little Snow

A Little Snow and Cancelled Church

So it is in this world that some things are inevitable. For instance death and taxes. One more may be added to the list in our little community, and that is if there is snow then everything will get cancelled.

In the morning it was clear. A little sleet was starting to fall as we made our way to church. Then it turned to snow. Well that was it. After sacrament meeting we were sent home. This was much to the chagrin of Charlotte who was devastated by the lack of nursery (nursery for the uninitiated is the study of molded plastic artifacts, simple gospel principles, sociology of and psychology of toddlers, and of course the consumption of health food items all rolled into one.) In my increasing knowledge of the toddler mind I was able to observe and recognize the response of devastation and disappointment by her emotional reaction. Nursery is a well earned reward after an hour of reverence in sacrament meeting. After wrestling her into the van we meandered home.

By Samuel Grindstaff

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