A Typical Day

Seth's surgery has been postponed until Friday--really quite amazing after the intensity of last week and the early predictions of the surgeons. He is eating now--not quite enough calories yet for the feeding tube to be removed, but he's getting there.

Today was very busy. Here are some highlights:

• visit from the trauma team
• visit from the infectious disease team
• visit from the Battle Buddy blood follow-up team*
• visit from the chaplain
• visit from the psychologist
• visit from the hand surgeon
• work with the physical therapist
• work with the occupational therapist
• arrival of his custom temporary wheelchair
• arrival of his new bed and transfer to the new bed
• arrival of a trapeze for above his bed
• placement of a PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) in his right arm
• removal of his hand bandages; replaced with a plastic splint

It takes a village to rebuild a soldier.

Today Seth was pondering his options when he is fully recovered. When I told him he had the choice to remain in the Army, he said, "What can I do in the Army with only one leg?" I told him, "You will have two legs. One will just be different than the other."

*When Seth was injured, he received so much blood that he may not even have his own blood type currently running through his veins. He received several more transfusions between Kandahar and Walter Reed. He also received what is called Battle-Buddy blood, which is used when the regular blood supply is exhausted. Soldiers on site are asked to donate. This blood is screened, but not to FDA standards. Therefore, this team is assigned to follow up with all soldiers who receive it to make sure that there are no infectious diseases, etc. According to the woman we talked to, over 2000 soldiers since 2001 have received BBB, have been tested and tracked, and no one has had a problem--but they continue their vigilance.