With only 72 hours till Christmas Day, We must reflect on our troopsfar away at this time of the year and in dangerous area of the worls. Of the coast of Somalia and in Afghanistan, the Sudan, Haiti many Canadians are serving their country to aid people less fortunate than we are. As an Afghan Medical Mentor Sgt Ian Mothus is a first class example of a Canadian still doing his job professionally even as thoughts of his loved ones and family are on his mind, Well done Sarge and may the Lord bless you and keep you safe to return home to your loved ones.
By Colin Perkel, The Canadian Press
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - The wounds, still weeping some seven months after Taliban bullets tore through the boy's hip and abdomen, are but one tiny example of the tragedy that is Afghanistan - and the small acts of kindness that sometimes ease its pain.
The boy came hobbling in to an Afghan military base in the heart of Kandahar city, his crutches crunching in the gravel, unsure how he would be received.
A day earlier, a chance encounter with a small group of Canadian soldiers showing a visitor around the area had led to an invitation to come see their medic. Now, Mohammad Wali, 15, was making good on that invitation.
His otherwise impassive face as he limped along broke into a brief beaming smile as he recognized the visitor from the day before.
Soon, he was sitting on a chair outside the Afghans' medic cubicle, while an Afghan soldier went to get a sweater for the boy, who was cold despite the wan winter sunshine.
Sgt. Ian Mothus, a Canadian medic and mentor for the Afghan army battalion at the base, led the boy inside the small facility, and gently laid him down on a bench.
The Taliban shooted him, the interpreter explained.
Mohammad had been walking to his compound in the Panjwaii district when insurgents attacked an Afghan police patrol. He was caught in the cross-fire.
When did this happen? Mothus asked. Seven months ago, came the reply.
Exposing a combination of horrific scars and mostly healed wounds, Mothus examined the teen, pressing gently around what were once gaping holes.
Does it hurt?
He says he is in a lot of pain, the translator said.
The boy thinks he received what must have been life-saving treatment at the time from Canadians, but his recollection is fuzzy. I was unconscious, he said, as Mothus prodded him for details.
Mothus recommends a certain antibiotic, but the Afghan medic's supplies are expired, so he runs back to his own area to retrieve some.
At this point, it's just infection; it happens a lot here because people can't stay clean, Mothus said. They really have to work at it - they don't have good living conditions.
Throughout his treatment, the boy remained stoically dry-eyed, letting out only a soft yelp as the Afghan medic squirted disinfectant from a syringe directly into his wounds.
Upon his return, Mothus handed the boy the drugs along with some painkillers, and patiently explained the finer points of taking the medications.
Don't give these away and don't let anyone else take them from you, he told the teen, brandishing a plastic bag with the medicine.
His clothes rearranged, Mohammad moved back out the door packing his medicine, his new wool sweater, and an instruction to come back in a week.
Unfortunately, you see a lot of it here, Mothus said of the boy's injuries.
People just get caught in the crossfire. It happens.
Merry Christmas to all our Serving Members, Veterans and their Families
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
