Her Way

American Trilogy

2012-05-08T14:24:30Z

Since I am back to "The Homefront" I have renamed my blog. Naming a blog is daunting, so when I reached out to my colleagues I received all kinds of input.

]]> I am a huge fan of Elvis, Sinatra, and the Rat Pack; so when "Her Way" was suggested, a spin on "My Way," I had to go with it. From this day forward the title of this blog is Her Way and you all know its roots now. Both Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra made the song famous.

So this particular blog entry is titled after another number from the King; American Trilogy, and I want to tell you about the Fiesta Days parade theme. Last year the NorthBay family and friends participated in the Fiesta Days parade with the Pink Heals theme supporting breast cancer patients and survivors and all those affected by breast cancer. This year we are marching in the parade to support the men and women of the Armed Forces; which is perfect since the Fiesta Days' parade falls on Memorial Day weekend.

I want to formally ask you all to attend the parade and wear red, white, and blue to show your support for those who are, and have, served in this great country's Armed Forces. You are also welcome to jump into our "Formation" and walk with us. It is about time that we all come together and support America, the greatest country in the world. By the way, every home in Solano County should proudly be flying the Stars and Stripes over this holiday weekend.

Next blog I will step down from my patriotic soap box and discuss women's health. Have a great week and weekend.

A Woman for the Job

2012-05-01T13:40:48Z

Last month I promised to tell you what my plans are and now it is official. Clearly I'm not one for short and simple titles so I have gone from Deputy Commander for Medical Task Force East (Afghanistan) to Director of Service Line Development for Women's Health, Orthopedics, and Neurovascular Services. That is a mouthful and I am not sure what I'll abbreviate it to.

]]> A colleague asked me how I would manage three completely different service lines and my answer was "How separate are they really?" Keep in mind that I can rationalize almost any shoe purchase so connecting these three services is a piece of cake. Women make 80 percent of the healthcare decisions for their families hence they must be making the decisions concerning orthopedic services. And orthopedics includes fractures and osteoporosis, and women make up a large portion of our Joint Replacement population.

Many of us suffer frequent headaches and stroke is the number one killer of women over the age of 50, therefore the neurovascular connection. Viola! I don't see much separation of these service lines.

I am very excited to start working on these programs and can't wait to show you more ways that NorthBay excels in providing advanced medicine and compassionate care to the residents of Solano County. I am working with the trauma team and the stroke team and am absolutely dedicated to developing the best orthopedic services in the area, since after four knee surgeries (mostly by the Army), I am a future joint replacement patient myself. More to come!

Mini Me and Buster

2012-04-18T14:29:23Z

After working 16-hour days, seven days a week for over 52 weeks, I can't believe how fast the work weeks and weekends fly by now that I'm home. Sunday night comes and I can't believe the weekend is over and I have to go to work on Monday, and then before I know it it's Friday and I face a long to-do list.

Finally, a sunny weekend and I was able to get out into the garden and fix the irrigation and mulch the ground that grew plush green-tree-sized weeds all last year. I am so excited to plant things that will grow and become green. My son, however, was not so thrilled by the digging of holes, fixing the drip system, and planting blackberries.

]]> What stark contrast to the groundscape of Bagram, Afghanistan and my weekend routine last year. We had a dozen gray trees along Disney Drive (the main road on Bagram Airfield). I initially thought how ironic to name this drab, depressing road after Disneyland and then I found out the first soldier killed there was named Disney. The trees of Bagram were laden with the gray color of the air and dust, so you can imagine how excited I am to see the lush green of the Solano County hills.

Adjusting to civilian life has proven challenging. There are many reasons why our fighting men and women are young and strong; body armor is just one of those. My husband was told to stop running for a while and switch to a low impact exercise so he bought a weight vest to increase his workout intensity. He came home after his first hour on the treadmill wearing the 40 pound vest and asked me if I knew how heavy his weight vest was. I explained that my body armor, laughingly named "Mini me," which I sported for a year in Afghanistan weighed approximately 40 pounds so I was well aware of the load.

Yes, I also named my weapon, Buster, just because it sounded good with Mini me. I thought it might make a children's book titled "Mini me and Buster see Southwest Asia." The children of Afghanistan wore such brightly colored clothing, much like you might picture worn in Central America. And they wore flip flops or sandals on their feet in the winter. We contemplated shoe drives from back home to provide them with adequate footwear but the more we provide to them; the more dependant this once fiercely independent people will become. What a shame it was that we couldn't photograph the beautiful children but that might put them in danger of the Taliban punishing them for seeking care from United States and coalition forces. Such a foreign and strange life I led for a year, and one that thousands of others are leading now.

My Transition to Pink Begins

2012-03-29T20:03:48Z

In February the PR department asked me how I would like to close my deployment blog since my return from Afghanistan and my answer was "Not." I proposed that I transition my blog from Green to Pink. Let's call this one the transitional piece. After 15 months of walking around in uniform, armed and vigilant, my transition to civilian life has been very interesting.

]]> I can see how the War Fighter Soldiers have a hard time transitioning back and I wasn't really in harm's way; not the way they were. Watching doors, waking up because of noises and evaluating the environment for threats are just some of the post-deployment behaviors I see in myself.

After 26 years of service in the Army Reserve it is time to turn in my retirement request and "Hang up my boots." This last deployment was tough on me and my family, so after missing all of those birthdays and anniversaries, I will finally have my weekends off and can schedule family vacations in lieu of "camping with 300 close friends." That is how I responded to my co-workers after annual training every year when they asked how my summer vacation was. This will also give me some needed additional time and energy to devote to my civilian career.

So now that I am home and wearing pumps and suits again, what is a girl to do? That will have to wait until next month. I am still learning about all the NorthBay growth that has occurred over the past year. The Spirit of Women Partners List has changed dramatically due to the economy and Lynne's hard work and I have missed the second annual Girls' Night Out and Day of Dance. In my absence, NorthBay Medical Center was declared the county's first trauma center and the Heart & Vascular Center is thriving. Several new specialists and primary care physicians have joined the NorthBay team and I'm anxious to meet them all.

Wow, I have a lot to catch up on.

Privileged to Serve, Happy to be Home

2012-03-20T14:08:42Z

I am finally home and have closed my personal chapter on Afghanistan just in time. It was a very productive year, the best job in the world supporting our nation's brightest members who continue to sacrifice everything for our country. But the location left a lot to be desired and of course I missed my freedom, family, friends, and colleagues. Amazingly, less then 1 percent of the U.S. population serves in the all volunteer U.S. Armed Forces and I feel privileged to have done so.

]]> I am extremely thankful to be home and safe since it appears that this summer will be particularly violent in Afghanistan. I have mentioned in my past blog the incredible network of care that we have in Afghanistan. American surgical care is available within one hour, the "Golden Hour," of any U.S. service members' traumatic injury anywhere in the country. Medical evacuation can happen as quickly as 12 hours and the average is about 24 hours from that first "MASH" type surgery to the U.S. hospital in Landstule, Germany. This is a gold standard practice perfected over the past 10 years of war in Southwest Asia. This network will continue to provide the life-saving medical care of our service members over there.

My homecoming was very low key and uneventful, notwithstanding the limousine which picked me up at the Sacramento Airport courtesy of my wonderful colleagues at NorthBay Healthcare. After a couple of weeks of rest I am back at work facing an exciting wealth of opportunity; new projects, services and programs. The future is so bright, not only for women's health at NorthBay but also for all categories of patients at NorthBay Medical Center and VacaValley Hospital. The highest caliber of physicians, surgeons, nurses, and allied healthcare professionals are migrating to NorthBay to participate in this quality culture.

Thank you for all of your support during the year I served in Afghanistan. As a lifelong student I have studied everything from world history to healthcare and a common theme permeates almost all disciplines; support. Across the ages it has and remains critical that we continue to support our war fighters. A nation that forgets its defenders will itself soon be forgotten. Many of our service members are still in harms way and whether you are a supporter of the War on Terror or not, it is our service members who defend our rights to approve or disapprove of war, politics, economics, and freedom of speech. They remain around the world defending peace thru deterrence and strength. Please continue to support them as you all supported me and my family.

I'm back in the U.S. of A.!

2012-02-07T15:12:53Z

By the time you read this I will be back in the U.S. of A.! I'm on my way to the post office one last time to decrease my baggage. After all, I believe that if you can't carry it; you shouldn't bring it (so I'll mail it!).

We will get locked down in Customs in two days at 1:30 a.m., (yes that is in the morning) before flying to Kyrgyzstan and then on to Ft. Lewis, Wash. I have spent a good part of this week saying goodbye to friends I have met over the past year. We are truly a joint force here and I have fostered partnerships and friendships with soldiers and civilians from Poland, Korea, Egypt, Malaysia, and Canada, as well as with airmen, Marines, and sailors. Some are acquaintances and some have become trusted friends and colleagues.

Between meetings, briefings, and transition training, I have made my rounds and said goodbyes. It's amazing how fast bonds form when you are sharing common goals, missions, threats, losses and disasters.

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Good Bye Bagram Air Field!

No Rest for the Weary

2012-01-24T15:13:55Z

1st Cavalry Division Commander MG Allen with Col. Jane Prather and some of her staff inside Craig Joint Theatre Hospital. They were each presented the Commanding General's Coin for Excellence.

I was hoping my last two weeks here would be quiet and uneventful. No such luck. Last week we received seven French coalition soldiers from the tragic Afghan National Army shooting outside of Kabul.

These casualties were brought in directly from the point of injury compared to the usual casualties this hospital receives from other smaller forward surgical teams (FSTs). This means that they were bloody and still traumatized. The hospital staff here showed their true colors; providing the best healthcare in the world! The French Ambassador, the French Minister of Defense and many General Officers came to the hospital over the past several days to visit the survivors of this tragedy. I am the Task Force Commander for my last two weeks here, so no rest for the weary.

]]> The physical aspects of readying to leave are many. Packing, saving files, cleaning up offices and living spaces and moving into transient housing. We were authorized two duffle bags and a ruck sack to come over here and are authorized four duffle bags, a back pack and the ruck sack to carry home. I can't carry four duffle bags myself so I am shipping a lot home. It is astounding how much you can accumulate over a year, even over here.

We have a two-week overlap with our replacements; that is too long but we are not allowed to leave early. We'll be stepping over one another, but it is a necessary step before coming home. I will excel at this step. It will take about two weeks to get home and out process from active duty. I'm sure these two weeks will provide lots of down time in which to catch up on some badly needed sleep. See you all soon!

Education and Reformation

2012-01-10T15:03:21Z

They say there are only four things to do here in theatre: work, work out, eat, and sleep. I propose a fifth: education.

]]> As you can tell from my previous blogs, the Army finds running fun. Hmmm. The Armed Forces all place great emphasis on physical fitness, so you will find an abundance of gyms and recreation activities on military bases. Afghanistan is no different and, although the gyms here are dusty and a little run down, the membership fees are waived.

Many U.S. service members take advantage of their deployment time to get into shape or better shape. I have a few soldiers over here who have lost 40+ pounds! The average weight loss is 10 pounds. We all lose a lot when we first arrive and then start eating candy and cookies and junk food, particularly during the holidays.

I propose that you can add education to that personal reformation. University of Maryland, Embry- Riddle, Central Texas College, University of Phoenix, and Oklahoma University all have offices here and offer classes to our service members.

I inquired about the number of service members enrolled in courses here and was told that it is impossible to determine, since many of us come into theatre already enrolled in academic programs. During one of my Battle Field Circulation trips I was discussing my many challenges with my doctoral program and learned that one of my colleagues was also enrolled in a doctorate program; and we were both at about the same stage of the "journey." You see, when you pursue a doctorate in philosophy you are "experiencing" the "journey" of learning. I believed that the first three years, now I just want the journey to end.

I have arrived! Finally, I heard the magical word "approved" regarding my dissertation. I have been working on my doctorate for the past eight years and am very excited to say that my dissertation was finally accepted and I will come home as Dr. Jane! So no more text books, no more homework, no more school stress. Hopefully, next week I will defend it and then I will be finished. They say defending your dissertation is like facing a firing squad but those who say this are not stationed in the combat zone.

Bring it on.

Christmas Gifts from Home

2011-12-20T15:36:10Z

Tuesday I received three care packages in the mail. The first package I received was from Ms. Karen Harris and the NorthBay Management Team. I mentioned to Karen that although the hospital received hundreds of donated Christmas stockings for the staff here; none were available to my Army Task Force staff.

]]> Karen et al. volunteered to send Christmas stockings and all the stuffing to me. This charity will allow me to spread a little Christmas Cheer to my soldiers who have worked so hard for the past 12 months and will not be home with their families until February. Thank you to all of my NorthBay Family.

The second box I received was from a business that I have never heard of in Fairfax, VA. This business must have gotten my name from a military website and sent a box of goodies to me. Several of my soldiers also received packages from this same business which means that this organization purchased all of these items for soldiers that they do not know; merino wool socks, books, coffee, candy and snacks, and a Christmas DVD and microwave popcorn in each box. The sentiment and action was incredibly moving and much appreciated. We have decided to hold a Christmas Eve movie marathon here in our conference room with all of the movies that were sent to us.

The last box I received was from the Wounded Warrior Project and erroneously had my name on it. This very large box contained the travel packages that we provide to the "Wounded Warriors" that come into the hospital. Many of the casualties that arrive here have had their uniforms cut off them during their treatment, or just cannot get back into a uniform because of dressings or IV lines, or casts and hardware. This standard package contains the wounded warrior cloths, toiletries, and footwear for them to be evacuated in. Certainly not a disappointment because that is why we are here, to provide the best care in the world to our warriors that have sacrificed so much for their country, the box just wasn't for me.

The bottom line is that I want to thank all of you for providing some Christmas Spirit all the way over here. It is difficult to be away from home and loved ones for this long and the Holidays are particularly hard. Your packages, prayers, and wishes mean a lot to us.

Enjoy your Christmas and New Years spent with family and friends; we will, thanks to the love and care sent to us and those treasured calls home.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all

The Replacements

2011-12-06T15:06:58Z


	Bagram cityscapes outside Entry Control Point 3 (ECP3)

One of my favorite movies of all time is called "The Replacements," starring Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman. It's the story of a bunch of "scab" football players that fill in for an NFL team during a professional football player strike. It is a comedy. A few weeks ago a team from the 94th Combat Support Hospital - they are some of our replacements - were here in Afghanistan for a Pre-Deployment Site Survey.

This is a reconnaissance mission to determine what additional learning and training they need to attain in the next few months before they arrive for their 10 month deployment. It took them six days to get here from Texas and they were visibly tired and frustrated when they arrived in the middle of the night.

]]> "Eyes Wide Shut" is another appropriate movie title. They were overwhelmed trying to absorb the magnitude of our mission. We felt very prepared to orient them and the consensus was that our team is insufficiently staffed for the work we do and that the future of medical operations in this theatre is fluid and changing constantly.

It was bittersweet to see them leave, knowing that they won't be back for another two months. They have a three-week exercise at Ft. Lewis, Wash., just like we did, and then it will take them about a week to travel back to Afghanistan. They will end up leaving their families just before Christmas.

Now they have left theatre and I'm hoping they will return with some excitement and a lot of energy. The job is stressful and the hours long, and the months even longer. However, compared to the average fighting man and woman here, our life is rather easy. We are warm, dry, and well fed, which is better than many.

My replacement decided that he isn't the right Colonel for the job. I think I changed his mind; I get to leave on time regardless.

Photos: Bagram cityscape outside Entry Control Point 3 (ECP3)

Presenting the Purple Heart

2011-11-21T18:50:32Z

The Purple Heart pulled me out of the Blues

I had the privilege of presenting two Purple Hearts last week. These two young warriors were scheduled for an earlier than usual flight to the hospital in Germany and we try to present their Purple Heart medals before they leave country.

]]> The Purple Heart is the most unique of all United States military awards. Though low in the order of precedence on the Pyramid of Honor (it ranks below the Bronze star), it is one of the most widely recognized and respected medals. It can not be earned by courage or by exceptional service or achievement. The Purple Heart signifies one thing...SACRIFICE. Whenever you see the Purple Heart, know that it represents either a combat death or a combat wound. It represents the blood that has been shed in defense of liberty.

The Purple Heart is the most difficult medal to create. It is a 14-step process that includes casting the metal and layering on the enamel design. The Purple Heart is also the oldest of the United States military awards. General Washington's Executive Order of Aug. 7, 1782 included records of a purple Badge of Military Merit. On Oct.10, 1927, General Charles P. Summerall, Army Chief of Staff, asked Congress to revive the Badge of Military Merit. The Purple Heart medal was reintroduced on Feb. 22, 1932, the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth. The Purple Heart medal bears the profile of George Washington on its face.

The Air Force personnel are rotating out of the hospital here in Afghanistan again; they only have a six month deployment while we are here for a year. I was feeling pretty blue sending out Christmas cards and watching these folks leave, knowing I still have almost three months left. It was truly an honor presenting these two Purple Hearts. Hearing the stories of these two brave young men really knocked me out of my rut.

So I have over two months left before I can start the three week journey home. My team here will all get through this and be better off for it. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We'll be well fed and spend the holiday with our military family. Hopefully we'll never again overlook the joy of spending the holidays with family and friends.

Airport Security is Not Like Home

2011-11-11T15:54:25Z

I mentioned in an earlier blog that I have subordinate units positioned around the Northeast half of the country. I have the distinct pleasure of traveling around the battlefield visiting them.

All in all, I enjoy the opportunity to visit these outlying Forward Operating Bases (FOBs); and the soldiers and airmen are honored that I take the time out of my busy schedule to visit them. I would have never thought that soldiers felt privileged to talk with me.

]]> Some of these FOBs are nicer than others, and the degree of amenities varies considerably from site to site. A Forward Surgical Team (FST) site may be a mere 100 meters or less from the perimeter fence. Typically, I stay in Distinguished Visitor's housing, however, dependent on the location, that is often a bunk bed or cot in a crowded tent.

I must share with you our modes of travel. I have never been a fan of Southwest Airlines' free-for-all seating, regardless the price break, and admittedly, I too was inconvenienced to arrive at an airport two hours prior to a domestic flight to make it thru the increased airport security. Well, two hours isn't so much of an inconvenience compared to flying around Afghanistan.

A carryon bag has an entirely new meaning with 45 pounds of body armor and weapons inside. The important point is that we are safe, which is quite a feat given the enemy is looking for every opportunity to shoot us out of the sky.

I am hoping that my experience over here has helped me develop some patience. Here in Afghanistan, we have to arrive at the terminal three hours prior to our flights. And even then, we often get bumped off the flights for higher priority travelers, or the flight is cancelled altogether because of the security situation in the particular area of the war zone.

I can't wait to get home and just slip out of my shoes and walk through a metal detector. I did have to go thru a metal detector in Kabul and it took about 10 minutes to unload all of my weapons, metal objects, etc., and then, ironically, reload on the other side of the metal detector before boarding the aircraft. Sometimes you just wonder why.

Enjoy Veteran's Day - we are!

Advanced Medicine Far From Home

2011-10-25T14:08:42Z

Yesterday I had the honor of being the guest speaker at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the MRI at Bagram Airfield. We took delivery of our mobile Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine just 10 days ago after a four-month-long procurement and delivery process. I don't know of any hospital that could procure and install MRI capability within that short a time period, much less accomplishing that in a War Zone.

We received the MRI trailer at about 4 a.m. on a Thursday and it is ready for the first patient today, complete with a civilian technician to operate and maintain it.

]]> Our shiny new MRI looks a little out of place parked next to our dusty, sand colored hospital, but it will provide advanced diagnostic capability close to our warriors' points of injury.

The primary purpose of the MRI is for diagnosis and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) here in theatre. The protective vehicles used here in Afghanistan protect our service members' bodies from mechanical injury much better than the HUMVEES used in the past. But service members often get bounced around and injured inside the vehicles when they hit Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The MRI will better determine the extent of TBI experienced by our warriors closer to the time of injury and possibly help guide future clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of TBI.

I am acting Commander of the Medical Task Force for two more weeks because the Commander is on R&R leave in the States. As such I had the honor of hosting the MRI Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Armed Forces Network (AFN) news and the Air Force public affairs office attended the ceremony to my surprise so perhaps this was also my 15 minutes of fame.

The ceremony went off flawlessly. It is a privilege to take part in providing world class healthcare to America's finest over here. As much as I can't wait to get home and back to my normal life, I couldn't ask for a more rewarding combat experience.

Religious Support in Theatre

2011-10-11T14:43:50Z

I'm sure you have all seen the famous photo of a group of soldiers with their heads bowed, arms interlocked, saying a prayer together. The photo has traveled the globe via the internet many times over and caused much controversy. After all, public prayer is outlawed across the U.S.

Well, each of the Armed Forces deploys with their chaplains and chaplain assistants. Chaplains are routinely stationed in hospitals, chapels are built on every post stateside and over here, and chaplains perform battlefield circulation to help meet the religious needs of our service members out in the more remote areas.

]]> The Geneva Conventions are silent on whether chaplains may bear arms. However, the Conventions do state (Protocol I, 8 June 1977, Art 43.2) that chaplains are noncombatants: they do not have the right to participate directly in hostilities. In recent years both the UK and U.S. have required chaplains, but not medical personnel, to be unarmed in combat.

My friend, the chaplain here at Craig Joint Theatre Hospital, reminded anyone who asked that "although she could not carry a weapon; her chaplain's assistant was a crack shot."

If Congress did not establish an Army chaplaincy, it would deny soldiers the right to exercise their religion freely, particularly given the mobile and deployable nature of the nation's armed forces. Chaplains have been going to war with our service members since the Revolutionary War; they participated in the Civil War, War of 1812, the Korean and Vietnam wars, World Wars I and II, and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The hospital chaplain has a very specific mission for patient care. Hospital chaplains administer last rights, console patients who may have lost their best friends or comrades in the accidents that sent them to the hospital as patients, or just may need someone to talk to as they adjust to their injuries and incapacitations. Chaplains perform a variety of services, ceremonies, and vital functions, including baptisms in the field; or in my case, just inside Entry Control Point One. Who else but a combat chaplain would carry a bottle of holy water in their cargo pocket?

Skyped and Counting Down

2011-09-29T14:50:23Z

We have passed our 180 days in theatre, Afghanistan, and I have taken my R&R so I won't be home again until this is over. My soldiers are rotating through their R&Rs and have chosen their dates for various reasons.

You all know I attended my son's high school graduation, which seems like years ago now. I have five soldiers who went home to see the births of their children, others for anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, etc. Seeing my soldiers come and go means that we are getting closer to the end of this.

]]> When we arrived, the officer that I replaced said they "Didn't count the days; they made the days count." Well, I'm sure you can guess how I felt about that comment! Everyone here counts their time by some unit of measurement - months, holidays, full moons, weeks - and those who are close to the end count days. We are still on months and weeks.

If you have seen the movie "Clash of the Titans" I feel like Zeus has picked me up by my shirt collar in Vacaville and dropped me here in Afghanistan. I am so looking forward to that pinching of my shirt collar when I return to my previous life. I can't complain though since so many here have it so much worse than we do. We have soldiers in the field at more remote sites without any sort of laundry support, who are living in tents and sleeping on the ground, and lucky to get one warm meal a day. I meet them in the hospital and hear their stories when they receive their Purple Hearts; and they want to go back to the fight and support their brothers-in-arms.

I have no doubt that the person who invented the Master Bathroom had been deployed; I also have no doubt that technology has made deployments more comfortable. Specifically Skype/video calling is a wonderful thing. The Air Force personnel here have free Wi-Fi which isn't available to us, however, a commercial service is available. With a whole lot of technical support from my communication section I was able to download and access Skype. I started Skyping with my family about a month ago and it is so nice to see them when I talk with them. I can see that they are healthy and eating well, that the dogs are all alive, and I can see my home with all its amenities in the background. I can see their funny little gestures and I even enjoy the rolling eyes, but I'll never admit that to them.