Letter from a Comfort Patient

Colombia, Tumaco 15 June 2009

Dear Members of the USNS Comfort:

To the Captain of the ship, chaplain, medical team, and specialists Dr. Kumar, Dr Diaz, Dr Janeth, military, personnel, translators and every single person that is part of the crew.

On behalf of Andres Camilo Lucano and Luis Eduardo Aquino Munoz who have received your support: we don't want you to leave without expressing to you our endless gratitude for the opportunities both kids have had while on this ship. This experience has helped them overcome some of the pain they have been through despite their age. Thanks for the opportunity of letting us know you, sharing with you and getting the support of such special people. While we were here our day started with love and kind smiles, with warm hugs filled with affection and not just sympathy, with people who would cheer us up and make us forget our difficulties; it was all indeed a gift from God. Your endless demonstrations of affection towards them made them feel unique and important as they have always wished. I hope God repays your kindness and blesses every single moment of your lives and spread it to all of your families.

Thanks for being part of this mission, for your time, patience, love and giving spirit. We will always remember you and keep you in our hearts.

A thousand times, thank you, your friends, forever farewell.

Maria Jesus Montenegro Berna
Special Worker

Note: The two boys she is referring to were orphans. I heard a rumor that one of them might be adopted by someone from the Navy, and the other from a family in Colombia.

Kirsten Aboard the Comfort #9: Juanes Concert

Juanes

Juanes is one of the best-selling Colombian musicians, having sold more than ten million albums, and won 17 Latin Grammys (more than any other artist). He is well-known for his humanitarian work, especially with aid for Colombian victims of anti-personnel mines. He was in our area visiting victims of the underground industry and he performed a benefit concert for the cause. In 2005, he was named by Time as one of the world's 100 most influential people. He's like a hero to Colombians.

Juanes welcomed our ship the other night by giving us a concert on the flight deck; he was thanking us for the work we are doing for his country. He sang reggae, blues, country, and spanish.

Juanes PerformingJuanes Taking Photos with Fans

Air Force South Band
They started the concert, then they played some with Juanes.
The band singer's name is Keisha Gwin-Goodin.
Keisha did some background vocals for Juanes.

Happy Birthday today to my wonderful husband Gary!

Kirsten Aboard the Comfort #8: The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal has several webcams set up at landmarks along the way so you can see ships as they pass through. Our ship went through the canal yesterday, and Michelle was able to capture some images of us from a webcam!

A Diagram of the Canal
We were heading SouthEast, going downThe webcam Michelle watched was on the Miraflores Locks.
The webcam updated every 2 minutes; the pictures have timestamps.
I believe the Centennial Bridge is visible in the distance.

Approaching the Miraflores Locks

Passing through the Locks Can you see the mules?

Leaving the Locks

Here is a wikipedia link to an article on the Panama Canal locks explaining the history and function of the locks and what a mule is.

Kirsten Aboard the Comfort #7: Work in Panama

At the Clinic in Panama

I spent 2 days at a clinic onshore in Panama. It is a baseball field, about a 5 minute bus ride from the ship. By time we are there at 6:45 am there is already a huge line. I was taking people's temperatures and watch for signs and symptoms of flu.

After the people passed through us they went to a table where their information was taken and what they were being seen for. Luckily we had several Panamanians that were able to help us with this. They are then sent to the bleachers and sit in sections according to the service they are waiting for. The first day we saw 1037 people and the second day we saw about 950.

There must have been a dozen Missionaries from the Church helping everyday. Some can translate as they speak both languages; others help us to take temperatures or keep the patients organized. It has been so nice to see them working! Most of them are from Utah.

I got an MRE for lunch both days onshore. First I had spaghetti again, and then I got the cheese tortellini. I even had tootsie rolls!
I think I got caught up on all my sunshine while I was onshore. I can go days without seeing the sun! One night my roommates and I all went out to the pier for a hamburger and fries. It was delicious!
We had 2 special visitors from our Church this week. Sister Julie Beck was here; she's our Relief Society General President (meaning she's head of our women's organization).

Me with Sister Beck Sister Beck with the Helicopter

And Bishop Richard Edgley was also here; he is the first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric.

Bishop Edgley and Captian Bob Lineberry

We are having serious water issues here. While we are at the pier we are not able to make our own water. We have water trucks bring us our water on a daily basis, nearly 24/7. I am learning all about Navy Showers. By the way, the Army, Air Force and the Marines all have to take Navy Showers as well!!

Petty Officer Jasey is a member of the flight crew. He opened up the helicopter door for us and let us take some pictures inside. This is probably the closest I will get to riding in a helicopter.

Here is the June Crew

We've been doing surgeries this week. I'm working 5 days on swing shift, then I switch to the day shift.

Here I am with a few of my Panamanian patients.

SH3 Marcus Williams (from Houston, Texas) came down and taught some of the children in the ward all about rhythm. He didn't speak Spanish, but they communicated. He taught them to tap their legs with a rhythm and then try it with the drum sticks.


I had one patient that was having some issues with anxiety; every time she got up to walk she almost passed out. He went over and sat with her and made her laugh. From then on my patient was completely different. He made a tremendous difference in her care.
The Discovery Channel has been here all week taping the experience of life here onboard the USNS Comfort.

Kirsten Aboard the Comfort #6: Arrived in Panama

We just arrived in Panama. We had to wait to cross the Panama Canal as there was a lot of traffic there. It is amazing how the ships can stop and wait their turn and then move on. They have to know when it is their turn to cross. When we leave here for Colombia next week we will be going through the canal.

Here is a picture of the tugboats pushing us into place at the pier. We get close and then they take over and push us against the dock.

The May Group at the Dominican Republic Airport
Sorry for the scary eyes- Michelle was supposed to fix the picture!

Today they will be unloading supplies and getting set up for clinics. Monday and Tuesday will be pre-op day and Wednesdays we start surgeries. I will be working the swing shift again which I am glad for.

I am scheduled to go ashore two days, Tuesday and Wednesday. On Wednesday we will try another COMREL. I don't know what we will be doing yet, but since I was part of the last group that didn't happen we will get priority to be on this one.

Even though we are at a pier we stilll need to be on a manifest to go ashore. Apparently we are at a pier where a lot of cruise ships come in. At night we can go shop in the duty free stores. Of course they won't be cheap but it will be nice to go ashore.

I am volunteering today to help the Navy Reservists serve lunch. They were short some people and since I room with 3 of them I said I would help. I get to wear one of those great paper hats. Lt. Montebon said she would put Honorary Reservist on mine.

It is exciting to be in a new country and to see what the people from Panama are like. It is very hot here, 110 degrees with the humidity. I have to make sure I keep taking my Malaria medicine.

Me by our Ship's Helicopter

Kirsten Aboard the Comfort #5: Arrived in Colombia

We just arrived in Cartegena Colombia. We are not seeing patients while we are here; this stop is a liberty. We have had briefings from NCIS (No, not Mark Harmon although that would be great) and every person that knows anything. Colombia has been working on its crime and drug issues. It is relatively safe here, although we have to be aware all the time.

I looked outside and it is so hazy here, worse than LA. With the heat index we are going to be at 110 degrees while we are here. I am supposed to drink 1 liter of water per hour when I'm off the boat!
I am going ashore tomorrow to help the Chaplain paint a school. I am not interested in partying and spending the night; I have a few friends that will do some shopping and sight-seeing with me on Friday. I'm not sure what to do with all of my time off!

We are on water rations because we cannot dump pure sewage. They have to bring a barge out 1-2 times a day to pump it out. When the sewage fills our water shuts off.

We leave on Friday or Saturday for Panama. That will only take one day to get there.

I am not buying souvenirs for my kids anymore. Dayton and Daphne are getting all of them. I got Dayton a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, and Daphne gets a halter top and a skirt to tie around her swimsuit. Now she just needs a swimsuit!

Kirsten Aboard the Comfort #4: Things I Miss Most

As I was laying in bed today I made a list of things I miss the most while I am here.

#1- Gary snuggling up to me at night
(I found this old picture on the internet!)

The rest in no particular order:

Picking up the phone to call someone whenever I want

Sleeping until I want to get up

1% Milk
We have milk here but it is in boxes,
the kind you don't have to refrigerate

String cheese

Getting in the car and driving somewhere, whenever I want

Getting mail, even junk mail!

My sewing machine and all my fabric & quilting stuff

My queen size bed with fitted sheets
When I got here there was bedding sitting on my bed
for me to make up. I asked where the fitted sheets were
and the women from the navy laughed

Q-tips
(mine were "lost")

Eyeglass cleaner
(also "lost")

Hearing Dayton & Daphne on the phone,
especially hearing Dayton say "Nana"

My jetted bath tub and laying in it for 20 minutes

Murray the Amazing Wonder Cat

The smell of Dayton & Daphne after a bath (Mustela)

Homemade chocolate chip cookies