MY STORY... |
Patient care delivered during my time spent in Iraq as a medic. |
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Balad ab, iraq ~ 332 casf How I came to realize my dream... After graduating from high school without any true goals, and after
a few years and a little advice from my father, I enlisted into the Air Force at 21
years old. I knew the military would not only supply me with money for
my education but also with drive and discipline. I never realized that
the military would also supply me with my dream. I became a medical
technician in the Air Force and served honorably for eight years. After
every year completed I fell more in love with my job. I found that I
loved to take care of people, even if it was only to hold a hand or
hang a grandchild’s picture on the wall for a sick grandmother. After a
few years in the job I found myself thinking I was somewhat selfish, I
loved this job because of the way it made me feel. I would have such a
great sense of joy and pride after hearing a patient say a simple
“thank you”. Although I loved my job with tremendous passion it wasn’t
until I deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom that I
realized I needed to become a nurse. Spending three months taking care
of our wounded solders made me aware of the fact that I needed to do
more. As a medical technician in the military during combat you are
forced to wear many hats. You are not only a technician you are a
counselor, and most importantly a friend. I could share countless
stories of the heroes who touched my life, the men and women I will
never forget. It is because of them that I realized my dream. It is
because of them that I am here today. I was put into situations that
made me see my potential and I will always be thankful to them (our
soldiers) for that. You see a medical technician in the military,
during combat, has many more liberties with the skills they are allowed
to perform than a civilian technician in a hospital. I was able to
complete tasks and skills that a nurse would have done in a civilian
facility. Being able to perform these tasks made me realize my own
potential as a nurse. I made the choice to do the only thing I knew was
right for me, I needed an education, I needed to become a nurse. |
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The Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility Balad AB, Iraq ~ May-Aug 04