Story Market Day

O

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
When bird flu was a thing there was a local table top showing all local hospitals would be totally overwhelmed in three days. All the facilities had the same agreements with the same providers that they'd get first dibs. That didn't work out like they anticipated.

I went and talked to the local vets and checked out their facilities. Today a definite medical NO NO. SHTF? Maybe not. There were local vets I trusted way more than some of the local medical doctors. They are also better setup, staffed and supplied to handle a lot of different medical emergencies than the local doctors offices. They also have continual hands on experience, just not on humans. Only making an observation not a suggestion.
 
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ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
As far as vets working on people, they have to know a lot more anatomy , physiology and a broader skillset. If starting an IV on a 3 year old is tough, think about starting one on a hamster. Med dose calculations for things from 3 oz up to 2800 lbs. Much more comfortable saying 'i don't know but let me find out' and hitting the books for answers. Poking around surgically in a human has a lot more room and leeway physically than surgical repair of a bowel obstruction in a cat, or C-Section on a French Bulldog.
 
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ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Sabine went farther back in the building. She came to what had been a small lounge. It now had been converted to a makeshift hospital recovery room. She saw The deputy on a couch, IV bags hanging on a hook from the ceiling. The Vet Tech was standing beside the couch checking vital signs. When Sabine walked in, the Tech looked up.

“Who are you and what are you doing back here?” The woman was startled but not distressed. Sabine figured she better start off with the medical angle from the beginning.

“I’m here to follow up on my patient. I was the medic on scene. How is she doing” Sabine thought this was pretty straight forward. The woman’s reaction wasn’t.

“Holy Cow! It’s you! Debbie isn’t going to believe I got the chance to meet you! She tried finding you after she recovered but she couldn’t!” The Tech was full of energy and admiration now.

Sabine wasn’t sure what this was all about. “Debbie? I’m confused. I just came here to see how my patient there,” Sabine pointed at the deputy on the couch. “is doing after her surgery. What is all this other stuff you are talking about?”

The tech seemed to get a handle on herself before she explained. “My friend Debbie, we went through dog handler school together. When she was deployed, her and her dog got blown up. Later, after she recovered, she told me the story and showed me your signature. She had it re-inked in red with her ‘alive day’ date in the bottom one. Five blood red crosses down the left side of her chest. She kept telling me about it and how she could never find you later to thank you. Now, I’m out, and working here as a vet tech, and the doc’s niece comes in and when we go to work on her, I see the same crosses, but in purple, that my friend has. Holy Shit!”

“A female Dog handler and her dog?” Some memories were lining up for Sabine now. “Did the dog make it?”

“Yeah, the big guy made it. He got a medical retirement and lived with her for another five years until he passed away. You would never know he was short one eye. She put an eye patch on him for Halloween. They both went as pirates, her with her peg leg on instead of her bionic leg replacement and him with the patch.” She paused before she continued. “Debbie kept talking about the blast and smoke and dust, then some tall ass chick that looked like olive Oil and acted like Popeye came charging out while stuff was still flying. You got between her and the bullets, and started treating her and the dog. She was sure you must have been hit a time or two, but you got up and dragged both of them behind some cover, then she passed out.”
 
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C

Chapulin

Veteran Member
Thanks CCG I was expecting a turn off into a hospital and personnel there recognizing the signature. This works! If our patient is already sitting after surgery my earlier timeline is suspect, again.
 
2T2-Crash

2T2-Crash

Contributing Member
Wow that feeling must be awesome!
Many times since 06 I’ve wished I could know how the wounded I loaded were doing. The looks in their eyes and the empty spot under the blanket where a limb should have been ****ed me up for a long time. Thank God for a good VA Shrink that approached me.
 
ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Sabine stood there, looking down at the deputy lying unconscious on the couch but she wasn’t seeing her. Instead, she was seeing herself, laying in the hospital bed, smiling up at her Master Chief after he pinned her latest Purple Heart onto her pillow. She probably had the picture they took somewhere. She was skinny as a rail, or as he put it, all skin and bones. He scolded her severely. He was worried about her. She didn’t eat. She lived on energy drinks. She was always going out on patrols, convoys and anything else she could.

He finally laid into her about everything.

“Sabine, you take too many chances. You don’t take care of yourself. Everyone keep telling me about how brave you are out in the field. That’s why you keep getting all the praise and medals. You and I both know it’s all bullshit! You and I know it’s easy to be brave if you don’t give a **** if you get killed! Fourteen shrapnel holes in you because you ran into the middle of the fight to get to the casualty! The team leader said you were lucky even then! One of the RPGs missed you by maybe a foot! I don’t know what you are running away from, but you need to get a handle on it before I ship you home for your own safety!”

She remembered the combination of fatigue, pain killers and strain finally causing her to break down at his threat. She told him a little then. At least enough for him to understand that home was more stressful than deploying. That was when they started connecting more. She started talking, just a little to him. He started trying to make some things better for her. When she started to get too wild, or not take care of herself, he would call her ‘Audie’. He had to explain it to her after the first time.

“Audie Murphy was able to do all the brave things he did because he knew he was worth more to his brothers and sisters dead than alive. In some ways he had almost a death wish. Not that he wanted to die specifically. He just knew he would help his family, so it freed the worries and restrictions in his mind from the worry about their futures.”

It became their inside joke back on home station later. It also was a warning from him during later deployments. She missed his smiling face and caring eyes. Sabine, caught in the memories realized Henrik reminded her of a younger version of the Master Chief.

Sabine was snapped back to the here and now by the Vet Tech speaking.

“Yeah, my eyes about bugged out when I unwrapped her and saw the crosses. I’m sorry, I’m babbling like a boy band fan.” She gestured to the sleeping deputy beside her. “Tracey should be fine. She is a tough nut and the doc is great at his work. You got her out of the crash and packaged great, doc put the pieces back together. We should probably let her rest some. I have some coffee started up at the receptions desk. You want a cup?”
 
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Cohickman

Veteran Member
Not to cause drift or a big discussion, but I hear stories about service members families that are destitute after the member gets KIA. I know SGLI is still in play and was bumped up to $200,000 back in 2001. Just makes me wonder.
 
ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Cohickman said:
Not to cause drift or a big discussion, but I hear stories about service members families that are destitute after the member gets KIA. I know SGLI is still in play and was bumped up to $200,000 back in 2001. Just makes me wonder.
Click to expand...

a lot of it can be if they choose to pay for SGLI and who they designated as their beneficiary, then the benefits don’t last forever as well. It depends on so many things
 
Griz3752

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Sportsman said:
I had a feeling we'd read something like this.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
if you have enough unfinished little threads, they can morph into a dust bunny big enough to de-rail the whole thing; they don't all need to finish like this but ......

BTW: well done on this latest bit and your recert..
G.
 
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ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Henrik, Amber, the Doc , the Tech and the deputy were all in the front room talking and getting to know one another. Turns out the male deputy was named Terrence ‘just call me Ren’. Tracey and Terrance moved here when their parents died. The Doc introduced himself as ‘Chance’. He gave them the nickel tour.

“You guys can slide the exam tables out of the way and use the exam rooms to sleep in tonight. There are a couple bathrooms with showers in the back. I’d take you up to the house, but with Tracey here, I’m not leaving and she is still too critical to move from where all my equipment is.”

Everyone got a laugh when he was telling about how he should have carried through on his threat from Tracey’s youth and put her in one of the recovery cages instead of the couch in the lounge. He always told his niece he was going put her in a cage if she did not calm down. She was such a wild child growing up.

The group was fairly laid back, everyone joking and kidding around, the earlier tension from the start long gone. The only problem now was Paige and Sabine weren’t in the group right now. They were out back.

Paige had paced a hole in the snow. “I can’t do this! What the hell is wrong with me! God! I was ready to shoot that kid! I came charging in like a crazy woman! If he had moved, I would have killed him right there! Over what?! He was bringing his sister to the right person to fix her and I was going to murder him for it! How the **** did I become Frickel?!”

Sabine was worried. Paige was truly manic now. She didn’t know what had started the rage when the episode started and wasn’t sure what to do about it now, but she had to think of something.

“Paige, you were trying to think about the patient. You were looking to defend her…..” Sabine started slow, trying to make headway. She didn’t

“If I had killed him, it would make me no better than Frickel. If you or Henrik or Andrea get hurt during this whole boondoggle of going north, it’s my fault. It’s all my crackpot idea and if anything happens, it will all be because of me!” Tears were streaming down her cheeks now. “What the hell do I know about being a leader? I’m a repair monkey! I work in a little shop and fix shit! I don’t know how to lead. I’m not cut out for it! I have no idea what I’m doing and either way, it’s all my fault!”

Sabine stepped in and tried to hold Paige still, to try and calm her down, but Paige pushed away, a terrified look in her eyes now. “”You better stay back! I’m not safe to be around! You’ll end up getting hurt! What if you’re sitting on a couch and I decide I’ll kill you if you move! What the **** is wrong with me?” Paige was backing up now. Her boot caught on something and she went down.

Sabine was on her in flash. “Paige, it’s OK. This whole situation, the whole world has everyone on edge. You were trying to do the right thing. You didn’t shoot him. He’s good, and we’re all good.” Sabine kept saying variations of this as she held Paige as she sobbed.

Once the sobs had slowed, Sabine held her away from her shoulder for a moment. “You are worn out. We should go in and get some food, then you need to go to sleep.”

Paige started shaking her head side to side. “I can’t Id be mortified. How can I face the kid I almost killed, for nothing?”

“By remembering you were trying to protect his sister, which is what Henrik has been reminding Ren about. Let’s get you in, get some hot food in you and get you to bed for some rest.” It took a bit more prodding but finally Sabine was able to lead Paige inside.
 
L

Landcruiser

Contributing Member
I don't understand why the whole time that Paige and the Deputy were up by the vehicles there wasn't any discussion going on during the recovery, where the sibling issue came up. I understand focus and dedication to the task at hand, but there is always nervous chatter if nothing else.

And I'm loving the story...
 
ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Landcruiser said:
I don't understand why the whole time that Paige and the Deputy were up by the vehicles there wasn't any discussion going on during the recovery, where the sibling issue came up. I understand focus and dedication to the task at hand, but there is always nervous chatter if nothing else.

And I'm loving the story...
Click to expand...

Ren didn't want to give away it was his sister and was also keeping something else secret (to be explained soon) and with rope rescue and such, idol chatter is discouraged, especially when its spread out over difficult terrain.
 
ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
As they walked , Sabine continued talking.

“Paige, it’s OK. Not all people are born leaders others find their strength to lead from the adversity they face. We are all here to support you and share the load. Each taking turns when our strengths best suit the situation. You do not have to bear the burden alone. Henrik is a Yeti, strong as ox, protective and a good planner: Andrea is a Care Bear, biggest heart you will find and keeps us human and me, well I am kind of a Pooh, there when you need me for what you need, keeping the body going. You know where we are going, how to keep things going, how things work. You got the best team behind you We are all there for you and yes all of us will make mistakes but we keep each other in check.”

Along the way, all Sabine could think is ‘Amber I hope I brought her back from the edge. The rabbit hole is deep. ‘
 
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ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
The meal was kind of awkward. The food was simple but great. It was the people. Paige’s embarrassment, coupled with Ren’s intimidation, and to be honest, fear, made the conversation almost impossible. Paige knew she was part of the problem. Henrik could feel her discomfort and embarrassment. He quickly set up one of the exam rooms with their bedrolls. Paige and Henrik excused themselves and went to their room.

Ren and the vet tech, who’s name it turns out is Savannah, both left to go to sleep as well. This left Sabine, Andrea and Chance at the table.

“So, now the other kids have gone to bed, Chance, you want to explain some more of what’s going on?” Andrea broached the subject avoided at the table during the meal.

Chance pushed back his plate and picked up his coffee cup before he spoke.

“So, where do you want me to start?”

“How about why Tracey had duffle bags of clothes when she was out chasing bad guys according to Ren?” Sabine replied.

Chance chuckled. “Well, Ren is loyal to a fault to his sister, but lying was never one of his strong suits. That’s not a bad thing but…..” He took a sip of his coffee and continued. “So, they weren’t chasing bad guys. They were coming here. It seems the Sherriff’s department they both worked for has disbanded or dissolved or whatever you want to call it when no one is showing up, paying them, providing fuel and so forth. They were headed home.”

“They grew up here with me and my sister after my brother and wife died. Tracey joined the sheriff’s department out of college and as soon as he was old enough, Ren had to be like his big sister and join as well. They were doing fine. She was doing great there, and he wanted to be just like her. She is his idol and his Achilles heel. When she crashed into that ravine, I’m sure he came completely unglued because he didn’t know what to do.”

“They sound real close.” Andrea was intrigued and wanted to know more. “How young were they when their parents died?”

“Tracey was seven and Ren was three.” Chance’s voice was quieter now.

Sabine’s turn. “That’s a hard age to lose your parents. What happened?”

Chance’s face got hard; his jaw tightened. “They were murdered. That’s not what the papers said, and not what the official story was, but they were murdered.”

“I’m sorry I brought it up, sir.” Sabine apologized.

“It’s ok, it was years ago. My brother was a deputy. He was supposed to testify in a particular case against some fairly nasty people. They weren’t some powerful cartels or something, just some people who really didn’t give a crap who they hurt or what they did. As the trial got close, they sent Tracey and Ren up here to stay with me and our baby sister. He was mainly worried about the publicity and stress. He should have worried about more.”
 
ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Chance paused his story telling. He stood up and went over to a cabinet. Reaching inside, he pulled out a bottle. He added three fingers of Irish whiskey to his coffee cup. He held the bottle to Andrea and Sabine. Both declined politely. Chance sat back down, took a sip from his cup and continued.

“They broke in and staged it as a murder suicide. But they made a few mistakes. My brother was left-handed and the gun was found in his right hand. There were others, but the investigators didn’t care. Our baby sister Jean had just finished high school and was still living here as she went to college. She helped me raise them. Jean is a research scientist now studying the migratory patterns of Alaskan mosquitos or some such nonsense now up in Fairbanks.” Chance took another drink. “So, Sabine, what’s the deal with the high-strung gunslinger chick?”
 
ComCamGuy

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Chance took another drink. “So, I told our story”

“You guys seem like the good guys like the military people should be. But….”

He built up his courage, “ it quid pro quo time ladies, what’s the deal with the high-strung gunslinger chick?”

“Did something happen her? I am a doctor maybe I can help? Sometimes you have to treat people like animals; they can’t tell you what is wrong so you just have to look, listen, feel, and observe. People talk too much and don’t let the doc listen to the body talk like with animals. I can tell you a lot about her already if you want to know.”

Sabine thought hard. Where to start and how much to tell? She was also curious about what he had already determined in the few short hours they were there. Sabine came to a decision.



“I don’t see any HIPAA lawyers here, so, let’s talk.”
 
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