KABUL, Afghanistan - A Navy Forward Surgical Team provided medical treatment to an injured Afghan man at their base in Qalat District, Zabul province Sunday.
A severely injured and emaciated young Afghan man arrived, via a military aircraft Shinkay, where he was first brought for treatment.
The Navy's 20-person FST, which was assembled from 12 separate commands only three months ago, quickly responded and evaluated the man.
"It can get pretty hectic. There are a lot of numbers thrown at me," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Tommy Turtle, a hospital corpsman. "I act as the trauma director, going through my checklist, ensuring all of the vitals are recorded in a timely manner."
Cmdr. Henry Zeilimski, a general surgeon with 23 years of private practice, led his team's examination of the patient and found a severe infection resulting from a back surgery procedure.
"Ask him what happened," Zeilimski called to the Afghan interpreter.
More than a year ago, he was mountain climbing in Pakistan, when he fell and broke his back, he explained. His back was fused and he was sent back home, where medical treatment is limited. Over time, his injures had become infected.
"This is terrible. This is something we would not see [often] in the United States," said Zeilimski. "This is a young man, perhaps 18 or 19-years-old, with a devastating injury. He received appropriate initial care, but then was left. He received no on-going care after the emergent care."
The man was stabilized and transported to Qalat hospital for more intensive treatment.
"My heart goes out to him," said the 60-year-old Zeilimski. "We have done everything we could for something as debilitating as this. (his injuries), combined with malnutrition, could be fatal."