Part 5
9/ 4/ 2003:
I tried to follow the news about the advancement of the US forces while I continued managing the acute cases we received every day.
Every mile the US forces March closer to Baghdad, the number of causalities increase. The nursing staff called me to see an unbelievable scene. Some people of different ages were looting the governmental buildings around the hospital.
I remembered the horrible news we used to hear about the looting and crimes that flourished during the uprising following the war in 1991. It was mainly in the other cities, and Baghdad was spared to a large extent.
However this time, we had to experience this dreadful situation.
Reacting to the event, Dr. Al Dori decided that we should move all our patients and equipments to the main building of Al-Wasiti Hospital. "We can not defend two hospitals at the same time" he said. Within hours, I rushed to transfer the patients and what has remained from our medical supply from Alwiya Hospital to Al-Wasiti Hospital. The nursing staff and the patients relatives also aided in the work with a great bravery.
I drove a truck and transferred all the medical supplies.
There was chaos outside, and the sounds of bullets never ceased throughout the day.
We listened to the shouts of the looters who were actively destructing the near by National Computer Center and the Court house.
We had one AK- 47 (Kalashnikov) gun to defend our hospital. The looters tried to raid the hospital several times during the day but we prevented them by shooting in the air.
The worst thing is that we had to treat some looters who were injured in clashed among the gangs to take control over the spoils.
I admitted a young man wearing military uniform. He was in mild shock as a result of a traumatic wound in his leg, and after a brief history and physical examination, I sent him to the in patients ward for treatment.
Shortly after that, I heard shouts from the ward; I hurried to see what was going on, I saw the patients running away from their beds in panic state.
When I asked them what was happening, they told me that the military man I have just admitted is carrying with him a grenade that is about to explode. I went directly to the room where he was admitted, and there I saw him sitting in his bed, and with a shallow voice called me and pointed his hands at me, with the grenade.
It was the first time I see a grenade in real life. I approached him to hear what was he bubbling about, he was confused and weak to speak, but managed to say,"Please doc., can you through this away?". He then added,"Be careful. It will explode if you dropped it out of your hand."
And without a moment of hesitation, I walked to his bed, took the grenade out of his hands, and then walked through the ward in front of the horrified patients. I did not have any idea about where to put this thing, I buried it outside the hospital and marked the spot with stones.
Later I told the marines who were to come next day about it and they dispose it properly.
We did not sleep that night as the nursing staffs spend the night on watch to protect the hospital from looters.
