Dr.: Lynch to Be Hospitalized for Weeks

AP | 4/13/03 | LARRY MARGASAK

[kattracks]

Dr.: Lynch to Be Hospitalized for Weeks

By LARRY MARGASAK .c The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rescued POW Jessica Lynch will stay at the Army's premier medical facility for at least a few weeks and, like others there who were wounded in Iraq, will have mental and emotional evaluations, the medical center chief said Sunday.

``She seems to be in good spirits,'' said Major Gen. Kevin Kiley, a physician, commander of Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The 19-year-old private first class and some four dozen other wounded soldiers arrived Saturday in the United States after leaving a hospital in Germany. She was admitted to the Washington medical facility in satisfactory condition.

Kiley said that when he told Lynch that he was glad to have her at Walter Reed, she said: ``I'm glad to be here, too, sir.''

Lynch, from Palestine, W.Va., was rescued from an Iraqi hospital by U.S. forces in a daring commando raid April 1. She was treated at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for a head wound, a spinal injury, fractures to her right arm, both legs, and her right foot and ankle. Gunshots may have caused open fractures on her upper right arm and lower left leg, according to the hospital.

Kiley would not elaborate on her injuries or how they occurred. Asked when she might be released, Kiley said, ``I will assume that it will at least be a few weeks.''

Lynch is staying in the same ward as almost all the other soldiers injured in Iraq who are recuperating at Walter Reed. Kiley said 46 service members wounded in Iraq are being treated at Walter Reed.

He would not say whether Lynch is aware of the media attention surrounding her capture and rescue. He said she has a television set by her bed, but he was not sure if she has watched any television coverage of the war.

He said there are specific procedures for treating prisoners of war, and Lynch along with other POWs would go through the standard decompression process to speed their recovery.

All soldiers admitted into the medical center for battle wounds have an initial evaluation for their emotional and mental states. ``Private Lynch is undergoing the same evaluation,'' Kline said.

Seven missing U.S. troops were found Sunday in Iraq, said Army Gen. Tommy Franks, commander of the war effort, and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. The rescued personnel were said to be in good shape, but two had gunshot wounds, military officials said.

Lynch and her family said in a statement that they were ``rejoicing over the news of the safe return of seven brave heroes.''

``To the families of these great troops, we'd like to offer you our assurances that they will receive the best care imaginable. To the media, we hope you'll be as supportive and respectful to these GIs' privacy as you have to ours.

``And, most of all, to America's great sons and daughters who continue the fight around the world, we'd like you to know your country's support for you will not waver.''

Lynch, an Army supply clerk, was captured March 23 after her 507th Maintenance Company convoy was ambushed in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah. She was rescued from an Iraqi hospital in that city by U.S. commandos, reportedly after a tip from an Iraqi lawyer.

When U.S. commandos staged their daring rescue in Nasiriyah, they found a frightened woman who hid under a sheet when they stormed into her hospital room.

Nine other members of the 507th Maintenance Company were killed in the ambush and were posthumously awarded Purple Hearts.

04/13/03 11:10 EDT

[Conservababe]

Her family seems to be very stoic. I doubt Pvt Lynch will need much counseling, if she is anything like them.

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[areafiftyone]

Thank god she is back home though. Her family can visit her more often and that will help her recovery all the more. God Bless her and the other POW's that were returned today!

[rabidralph]

I'm sure we won't be hearing about the full extent of hers or any other POW's injuries because we want to build a case against the perpetrators for the war crimes trials.

[Anamensis]

Boy, Lynch's rescue really took the heat off of Elizabeth Smart, didn't it? LOL!

[Enterprise]

A broken bone is generally a six-week healing process although it is something that doesn't necessarily need hospitalization. The back surgery is worrisome though.

I would request that the Doctor put in the chart notes: "Steady diet of FOX news. Absolutely NO CNN."

[homeschool mama]

**Her family seems to be very stoic. I doubt Pvt Lynch will need much counseling, if she is anything like them. **

Not sure I'm following you here, c.

PFC Lynch's family seems to be warmhearted and I noticed they (the father and son) have a very dry sense of humor. Hopefully Jessica is the type to sort things out logically which would speed up her emotional recovery.

[IronJack]

Am I alone in thinking that Pvt. Lynch is a victim of media overkill? I mean, she's a cute little thing, and the rescue was impressive, and her courage is certainly admirable. But there are a few hundred thousand other stories in this war, and maybe it's time we heard some of them.

[homeschool mama]

Your point?

[HairOfTheDog]

There is a lot of good news today. Go find it! - It isn't that hard to find a story more in tune with your interests!

[homeschool mama]

Well, at the time PFC Lynch was the only POW rescued so it's natural, imo, to make a deal out of it. Her gender makes no difference to me...if she were a he I'd be every bit as thrilled and willing to *make* a deal out of it. :o)

I'm SO thrilled other POW's have been found! Wow!

[The Other Harry]

Boy, Lynch's rescue really took the heat off of Elizabeth Smart, didn't it? LOL!

Laughing out loud?

If you can explain where you find the humor in any of that, please let me know. It escapes me.

[Sacajaweau]

Smart is old news now. I believe I read that the first book is out already. Do we care or are we money-grubbing "senstionalists"?? Dumb question, don't you think??

[not_apathetic_anymore]

I wondered the same thing. They sure seem to be talking about needing a lot of rehab. Early on in one report (may or may not have been true, and I only heard it once)there was something about numbness in her (foot)feet - not completely a surprise with untreated fractures. Then doc today on the TV dropped in something about a ward that is world class at treating those who have had amuptations.

I hope the two things are unrelated and I'm adding 2+2 to get 5.

[homeschool mama]

**there was something about numbness in her (foot)feet - not completely a surprise with untreated fractures. **

This could also be because of her spine injury. Surgeons did spine surgery before other surgeries for her broken bones.

[MEG33]

Medical privacy..

[MEG33]

Medical privacy..

[FITZ]

But there are a few hundred thousand other stories in this war, and maybe it's time we heard some of them.

The Lynch family doesn't seem to be seeking publicity ---I wonder if they'd rather be just left alone. People sometimes act like celebrity status is some kind of privilege ---I know for myself, I wouldn't want it. The lucky ones are those who don't have cameras going after them all the time.

[MEG33]

HUH?

[Anamensis]

I'm just saying the media seems to have laid off the "was Smart raped" because they now all want to know "was Lynch raped."

[FITZ]

The Smart family was supposedly going to make a movie ---so maybe they'll get back in the limelight. Jessica's father never strikes me as the kind who really likes having the cameras there.

[VOYAGER]

The 19-year-old private first class and some four dozen other wounded soldiers arrived Saturday in the United States after leaving a hospital in...

Hell, I thought Lynch was the only patient on the aircraft from Germany, that's from listening to Fox News' fair haired(Katy Couric wannabe)Rita(chatterbox)Cosby.

[Anamensis]

I agree.

[SarahW]

I did. (put 2 and two together) I think she probably lost a foot.

[JZoback]

When U.S. commandos staged their daring rescue in Nasiriyah, they found a frightened woman who hid under a sheet when they stormed into her hospital room.

The AP can't help themselves can they?.

They had to get one dig in.

[LadyDoc]

Private lynch is the first POW rescued since WW II. So there will be lots of rejoicing. The guys who did the rescue, including the Iraqi who told the US where she was, should be honored.

Scott O'Grady still is well known after surviving behind enemy lines for 7 days.

Winston Churchill made a career after his escape in the Boer wars.

when all the stories of war are terrible, it's nice to have a postive story of heroism with a happy ending.

[cardinal4]

Boy, Lynch's rescue really took the heat off of Elizabeth Smart, didn't it? LOL!

Off Mr Petersen, as well....

[Enterprise]

I hadn't heard about numbness. I hope there won't be any amputation either.

[cubreporter]

Why would someone say something like that? Why?

[FITZ]

Didn't the lawyer who told the marines where she was stop the Iraqi doctors from amputating her leg? I read somewhere they were planning to do that.

[The Other Harry]

I know for myself, I wouldn't want it.

They don't want it. Her brother has said that. It was something to the effect that they don't want to get anything, and they don't want to give anything.

As far I'm concerned, that's fair enough.

[FITZ]

I took it as an ironic laugh more on the way the media works. All the interest in certain "details".

[FITZ]

They don't want it.

I hope those who complain about Jessica getting more celebrity than all the others and who proclaim how unfair it is will realize that this family and probably Jessica herself don't even want it. The others probably don't either. Celebrity can be the biggest curse.

[Enterprise]

Dang. I hadn't heard THAT either. I can only remember that the lawyer saw an Iraqi officer slapping her and he was upset at this. If it is true, then this rescue story is all the more profound! I am still hoping that this Nation is doing all it can to help that lawyer and his wife for their courage.

[not_apathetic_anymore]

I hadn't seen that before, but I googled and You're right

Sadly I'm thinking it makes my addition a little more likely.

[The Other Harry]

Celebrity can be the biggest curse.

I agree.

On the other hand, in times of war we do need our heros. Jessica may not deserve that distinction any more than any of the others -- especially not more than those who rescued her. But, like it or not, she has captured the hearts of many of us. Mine, for sure.

[Iwo Jima]

That part of the story about the slap is the most intriguing thing of all to me. It was the slap that propelled the lawyer to do what he did which led to Pfc Lynch's recovery. In retrospect, that slap was just about the luckiest thing that could have happened to her.

[The Other Harry]

Make that "Pfc Lynch", by the way.

As others have pointed out, it is demeaning to call her by her first name. She is Pfc Lynch. Soon to be Corporal Lynch.

[Sacajaweau]

The back surgery (disc problem) was done to correct the numbness in her legs/feet.

[Sacajaweau]

I certainly have a lot of respect for the Lynch family. The father shows real concern for the others involved in the war. He's much more than a father. He's a real caring, compassionate American.

[IronJack]

I'm not saying this isn't good news. But were there any OTHER POWs beside Pvt. Lynch? Are there any other stories of heroism and bravery from this war? I suspect there are. So why the endless parade of Jessica Lynch stories?

[IronJack]

I wonder the same thing. They didn't strike me as presumptuous media-seeker types. I'm wondering if it's time to let this quiet family return to some semblance of normality.

[IronJack]

I don't disagree with a thing you said. But I also think enough is enough.

[altura]

If I pray very hard, do you think we could possibly have a thread about Jessica without someone saying the story is overkill/takes away from stories about other equally deserving people, blah, blah, blah.

And then there is always someone (or more) who wants to start a debate about women in the military.

I hate to call these people the 2-inch crowd, but I wish they would just stay off the Jessica threads if that's the way they feel.

[IronJack]

Your wisdom is noted. I resign from the Saint Jessica nominating committee.

[Enterprise]

That makes sense. Probably, a disk in her lower back was impinging on a nerve. It may mean the end of her military career though. And that would be too bad. There is always a need for people who have been through the ringer to be available to counsel/advise others who might go through the same thing. The military has its way of bringing a person to full adulthood quickly, (and I an not being critical here). I wish her the best.

[surelyclintonsbaddream]

I tend to agree with you. I am very happy for her & her family, BUT my heart went out to the families of the loved ones who were on the plane with her when she arrived in the USA. I was very disappointed with Fox. They didn't even have the names of the other 49. It was all about Jessica. I realize she was a POW and they were not, but how hurtful for them & their families that it was "Jessica & the others." They could have at least had the names of the others if they had the information that she would be 4th to come out of the plane. My heart broke for them. They had wounds too. The 1st on off looked like he was in serious condition.

[IronJack]

Take care, lest ye be accused of blasphemy.

[cubreporter]

No details required. The American soldier is home and healing from her wounds. Whatever she experienced is between her and her maker. Except for what the military needs regarding evidence, etc....everyone should just leave her and the rest of the rescued POWS alone. The media will be crawling all over themselves to delve into hers and the others lives. It's news yes, but...after a while, drop it and move on. It's disgusting. I heard that one lady on MSNBC this morning ask one of the parents something about their son becoming a STAR. Excuse me?? He was a POW for God's sake...what the heck is all that about being a STAR all about. Journalist sometimes are so silly and ask such assinine questions it's beyond belief. Perhaps they've never heard that sometimes it's better to keep one's mouth quiet for a change instead of all the chatter over and over and over again!