My First Trip to the Hospital

I made it down to the hospital this morning for my platelet pre-screening. I filled out the proper paperwork and then they took some sample from me to make sure my body was healthy enough to donate. I have been turned away a couple of times in the past at the Red Cross in Savannah, once to a low-grade fever and twice to low iron levels. While my iron was on the low side, the medic said I would be okay to donate. He got very excited about the results of my platelet count. From what he told me, the average count is around 250 and I had "300-something." The rest of the tests they are doing on my blood take a few days. They're going to send me an email when the results come in, so I can make an appoinment to donate.

While I was there, I also met with an Air Force Captain about my interest in volunteer work. He gave me a tour, which didn't take very long; the hospital is not much more than several connecting tents. The TV show MASH is slightly before my time, and I've never seen it, but I imagine it looks something like that. It was slightly jarring to see all the casualties there. I saw someone that had gotten his legs blown off, probably by an I.E.D. (improvised explosive device) and while I was there, a helicopter came in with some more casualties. Most of the injured people I saw there were local Iraqis, actually. I know this sounds bad, but it made it easier to be there. If I saw dying American soldiers, I think it would be harder to handle. It would remind me too much of people in my own unit. But, we'll see how it goes; I only have one day off a week, so I don't know how much good I'll be.

Other than that, things have been business as usual. Work is work, and every day that passes is one closer to the day I can leave this country. Next month is Mark's birthday, so I am looking on the Internet for things to order for him. He has decided to take R&R afterall, and he will actually get to be home for his birthday.

This picture is one that I took on our flight line, just as the sun was coming up. The strange looking planes you see are called Sherpas. We share our hangar with quite a few different type of aircrafts.