Part 4
7 /4/ 2003:
The US attacks continued in its ferocity, and some witnesses told me that the US and Iraqi forces are engaging in fierce fighting in several areas in the center of Baghdad.
On the news, we heard that the US forces seized several presidential palaces in Baghdad.
On this day the US forces attacked the Palestine Hotel that was full of journalists, killing three journalists and injuring others.
We received the British journalist of Reuters Paul Pasquale. He was immediately rushed to the operation room despite the long waiting lists for the injured Iraqi civilians. Dr. Bashir dropped by to check on the hospital.
Mr. Pasquale received the best care and I frequently visited him to see his needs. Unfortunately, his eyes were bandaged all of the time he spent with us and I doubt if he could remember now any one of us.
8 /April/ 2003:
The US forces kept its steady advance against resistance from the Iraqi forces. The number of causalities steadily increased, we were receiving many civilians injuries as usual. I remember a brave dentist, Dr. Muhammed, who insisted on helping us in the ER, when we were managing the patients in our busy ER, he saw one of his neighbors, he was shocked, and Dr. Muhammed asked him what is the matter. He told him that their neighborhood was attacked by an air raid and that Dr. Muhammed's family suffered some injuries. He rushed to see his family, and there I stood alone in the ER. He was the last doctor to be with me.
Later this day, I took the permission of my consultant to take an ambulance and visit my family just to make sure that they are all right. I went to see my parents and they were fine. My father is a war veteran from the Iraqi Iranian war. I told him that everything is gone, and the US forces will enter Baghdad soon, he kept his silence, as he did not need to answer. It was the end.
During the night, I accompanied one patient in the ambulance to refer him to a nearby hospital. On my way, I saw no trace of any Iraqi forces, not even the Baath Party members. I asked the driver what happened to our forces. Who will defend the city? He could not answer me.
