Stories like this remind me how good life is for us in the USA and inspires me to give more to the others than I receive.  Paul

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byJeanne Dillner-  Richland, Washington Rotary Club

Dear Friends and Family,

There was a bombing at 7am today in Kabul. We are safe. The bombing was not anywhere near where we are staying or working. We drove over to the Emergency Hospital (this is the Italian NGO who has a hospital here) to meet with the SIGN surgeons working there. Five survivors of the blast were taken there for treatment. One victim had both legs amputated and one arm. His life and his family--drastically changed in an instant.

People in Kabul live on the edge. Can you imagine walking to work or to get groceries and because of someone's hatred, ending up in the emergency room instead? The suicide bomber missed his target, which was the Afghan military, and injured civilians instead. They say here that it is by the grace of Allah they live or they die. But what about living without the limbs that God gave you? I saw a 3 year old toddler today. Both her legs were amputated after playing around a non detonated bomb from a previous war. Fortunately, her beaming smile did not reflect her future. These type of casualties happen every week. The aftereffect of war is heartbreaking. I wonder how the medical personnel can withstand the human destruction.

Walking through the ICU in the hospital today reminded me that Kabul is no resort town. We had been invited by our host from the Military hospital to watch the kites tomorrow. I was keyed up to watch the kites because we read the Kite Runner in my book club. I thought it would be so cool to come home and tell my book club about the experience. I was actually looking forward to filming the kites. I could imagine the brightly colored kites fighting against the crystal clear blue sky. I have to admit, I was feeling quite smug about being the only one in my book group to have actually witnessed and filmed the Kite Runners. But as the target of today's bombing was a military bus, and filming kite runners are not our main mission, we declined the invitation. We are staying inside the compound for the rest of the trip.

SIGN is a global health NGO. We know from personal experience that every trauma incident affects at least 6 family members, and we estimate that every patient affects at least 4 medical personnel. From now on each bombing that I hear about in Afghanistan will bring back the deep grief and feeling of helplessness that I felt this afternoon when I saw the triple amputee and the little girl who will never walk with her own legs again. Please live in gratitude for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us.

Jeanne