An Opportunity to Help Our Wounded Servicemen and Women

Self | April 21, 2004 | Brad's Gramma

[Brad’s Gramma]

Freepers, I have been sent an email from someone stationed in Iraq regarding an urgent need by our wounded servicemen/women. For security reasons, the whole email can NOT be posted here. Read on, please.



Today I went to visit the military hospital here in the Green Zone. Yesterday my boss (a Marine) had gone to visit some of the Marines brought here from the Fallujah fighting. When he asked one of the wounded Marines if there was anything he could get for him, the Marine requested a razor so he could shave and be within standards again before he was discharged from the hospital. My boss also found that the hospital basically was lacking phones for the patients to be able to call home and talk with their loved ones. I think they only had one that the chaplain carried with him and let the patients use when visiting them. We were able to scrounge up a few razors and got a couple of our cell phones signed over to the ward. I took the items back today along with some candy folks gave me and spent some time talking with the patients.

Afterwards, I talked with the ward personnel and they gave me a list of items they can always use. Our hospital is the largest surgical hospital here in Iraq so most of the patients are evac'd here for their initial care until they can be stabilized and evac'd to Germany or returned to duty (although it is not a big hospital-more like a clinic sized unit).

Of course most of the wounded come in with only what they were wearing in most cases. As such, they don't have things like toothbrushes, etc. A lot of you are always asking if there is anything you can send me. There really isn't anything I need, but these folks could use some things for the wounded. It really is humbling when you think about these young men and women who have been wounded, some of them terribly, and they are really excited about getting a razor or some chocolate candy. So, following is the list of things the ward personnel said they could really use for their patients.

On the hygiene items (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.), they are interested in the travel size products because the wounded are normally only here for a short period of time before they are transferred out to bigger hospitals that have better supplies of these items, or back to their units where they have access to their stuff. If you would like to donate any of these things (or start a drive for these things) just mail them to me. My office will sort the items and make sure they get to the hospital. If you would like to send food items, we'll need individually wrapped or single serving items. And, chocolate is okay if it's mailed soon before it gets too hot (but to tell the truth, we've been known to lick it off the wrapper when we want it bad enough!).

Razors
Shaving Cream
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Mouthwash
Soap
Shampoo
Feminine Hygiene Products
Underclothes (male and female)-okay this may sound like a strange item, but remember they normally only come in with the stuff they are wearing and normally those are ruined
Slippers/FlipFlop type of things (in large sizes-apparently the things on the local economy are pretty small)
Hospital PJs
Candy
Crackers
Snack Items
Anything else you can think of

Additionally, we like to go out and give our young Marines pulling post duty candy/cookies, so we can always use that type of stuff. We had a great time delivering our Easter candy stash Sunday and we left a lot of Marines grinning from ear to ear.

* * * * * * *

MoJo20001's husband's division is going to be collecting the items and sending them via transport to the hospital in Iraq. IF you feel so inclined, and the need IS urgent...please let one of us know.

We also are coming across names...MANY MANY names of servicemen who need care packages, a letter, sometimes depending upon the branch of service, an email. If you can commit to being faithful with the correspondence, PLEASE let us know about that, too.

[MoJo2001]

An item that is on the WISH LIST from Senior Chief is Hospital PJs. So? If you know anyone that might be able to help out, please let us know.

Thank you!!

[MoJo2001]

Oh Wow!!

Who gets the Partridge in a Pear Tree??

Can it be Me?? Please?? Please?? Please??

I've never had one of those. LOL!!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

You can have the Partridge.


I, Super Gramma, get the pear tree.

[patriciaruth]

Ah, ha! 32 pairs of "slippers"--the medical supply house must have come through. They called back Friday to say they were mistaken and only had 16 each large and extra large in stock, not 19 each.

And 6 sports bras means the package of underwear must have come, too.

Yippee!

[glock rocks]

Dibs on the pears.

I'll be back to bump the thread in a few hours. Thanks for all you're doing.

[MoJo2001]

Move over Gramma!

I'm having a Veruca Salt moment. (Remember Willy Wonka??)

I WANT IT ALL! LOL!

It's mine! Mine! Mine!

LAY OFF MY PEAR TREE!! Hey! Where's my Partridge gonna hang out.

[MoJo2001]

Awwww...I got it now.

(Mental note to self: Do you see that white piece of paper underneath the plastic on the box? Why yes Mojo! Yep! That would have important information like WHO IT WAS FROM! Ohhhhh..Sheesh! LOL!)

Thank you so much!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Dibs on the pears.

Sigh. I KNEW I should've been more specific. Fine. You may have a pear or TWO. :-)

[patriciaruth]

Don't worry, I'll know when the toiletries and snacks arrive because I was the only one stupid enough to send combs. LOL!!!

[glock rocks]

Where's my Partridge gonna hang out?

[MoJo2001]

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!

And to think I was gonna name him after ya.

Oh the humanity.

Where's my chocolate?

I'm getting ready for a meltdown.

Oh the abuse!

Hehehe!

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Freepmail me some info ill pass this around at work and maybe i can get some stuff going

[patriciaruth]

64 razors, 48 trail mixes, 24 bars of soap, 18 pairs of skivvies, t-shirts and sox, 12 tubes of toothpaste and a partridge in a pear tree. ;-}

Impressive, yes. But I'm still the only one who sent sport's bras! Na-na-na! :-P

LOL!!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Comin' right up! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[patriciaruth]

Do you mean hospital gowns that are tied in the back or traditional pyjamas?

I sent nine pairs of boxer shorts as my best shot at pj's as pj's cost even more than bras.

If you need hospital gowns, let me know, and we'll rustle some up.

[MoJo2001]

Hi patricia!

Just got off the phone with Senior Chief and they need the pants/tops not the hospital gown types.

I've never gotten to wear the pants and tops ones. I've always had those beautiful HUGE GOWNS that tie in the back or front or wherever. LOL!

[patriciaruth]

Is she talking about surgical scrub outfits???

Please call and clarify exactly what these "hospital pyjamas" would be called at a medical supply house, because this stateside M.D., former hospital staff member hasn't a clue.

[potlatch]

That was great news in post 287!

I mailed a check out to you this [Monday] morning, patriciaruth. No need for a reply, Carol.

[patriciaruth]

Also need to know how many it what sizes...

I definitely am not getting the garden arbor for my birthday...However, due to the generosity of DrDeb, I-be-tc, kayak, Mo1, etc, I could pay the sprinkler repair man today....

[patriciaruth]

Check out post 323 and 344. Two of our boxes got there today. Whoopee!