Iraq's Burn Unit Working Miracles

Tough Volunteers At Military Base Have Helped Heal At Least 1,000 Iraqi Children

(CBS)  Sgt. Joe Barzeski is the closest thing in Central Iraq to a miracle worker.

And 11-year-old Ali is going to need a miracle to get over burns from a kerosene stove.

"(The skin) has to come off so that the medicine will work," Barzeski tells CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer as he starts treating the child. "Plus, this will get all crusty, and scab up and that will be an ugly scar."

The soldiers turn up the radio to drown out the crying. Conditions are primitive. But even so, the burn unit is filled to capacity.

It's tucked away on a U.S. base that's known as the biggest gas station in Iraq. It's where military convoys refuel - while on the far side, Iraqi families, as many as 80 a day, wait patiently to be admitted to a clinic that's more M.A.S.H. unit than E.R.

Barzeski had no medical training before he joined the Army - so he's been learning on the job.

Many of the volunteers are tough convoy security guards. They dish out tenderness and Tylenol, or painstakingly changing burn victims' dressings while their trucks are serviced.

Haider is on his 12th visit to the clinic after he was drenched in boiling tea. Cases like his led Barzeski to invent a treatment to prevent crippling keloid scars.

"There was a boy who came in my son's age, and he couldn't turn his waist because he had these painful keloids on his hips, and that's when I decided I was going to try and do something," Barzeski said.

He treats the patients with what he calls "mayo," a blend of steroids, antibiotics and something called medi-honey - spread on the bodies of little patients to help them re-grow healthy skin.

Drugs and bandages often run dangerously low. They have to be donated - as the clinic can't draw on Army stock.

"Its against the medical rules of engagement," Barzeski said. "Since we don't cause the injury, we can't treat them with our supplies."

Despite chronic shortages, the clinic has treated more than 1,000 children. Barzeski knows most of them by name. He's got a special soft spot for Fatima.

She was in such pain last week she refused to bend her arm or walk. This week, he's sweet-talked her into physiotherapy - disguised as fun.

"She likes the music that's in there. She kept on saying "dance, dance." And I said, 'I'm not going to dance, but if you walk and you can get your arm straightened out, I'll dance with you,'" he said. "I think I'll have to dance with her with this Friday."

Here at least, the battle for hearts over minds is over. Joe Barzeski and his volunteers have won.

---

If you'd like information about helping the burn unit continue its service, please send us an e-mail.

[smurfcrusher]

A miracle? This sounds more like compassion and science, rather than religion.

"Miracle" has got to be history''s most overused word.

Even a birth is called a "Miracle". Sorry, a wonderful event yes, a Miracle, no.

Ah, the Miracle of Life... for the ten billionth time.

[trulyterry]

Thank You finally iraq news worthy, those soliders are doing alot over there and it goes untold. More stories should be coming out like this one

[nordeck52]

What a wonderful story. Pity more good stories like this don''t make the news.

[tiny1pj]

Too bad previous commentors do not pay attention - the patients are victims of the terrorists and accidents, not US military action! And the war is a MULTINATIONAL, not a "US" war. It is about time we start seeing the "rest of the story" and the good that has come to Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Until the Islamic terrorists are stopped, things can only get worse around the world.

[concerned44]

Where can we donate medical supplies to help these victims?

[seltru]

How do we send supplies to Scania Base to help them out. When someone is doing good things with so little
it is a miracle and so are newborns. I am sorry for that person who doesn''t believe that birth is a miracle. Even the slightlest thing done without asking for anything in return is a miracle. Yes God does say to be charitable. God Bless You.

[Torilin]

It''s so funny that WE DROPPED THE BOMBs that burned these kids and now the military is Claiming Credit for HEALING these brunt kids. So American Citizens are the suckers that pays for burning the kids and healing them?

[voltaire333]

God, I hate the media. There are no miracles being worked there folks, move along, nothing but the results of cold hard science here. If you want to see a miracle, go visit fantasyland, you know, that special place in your mind where reality doesn''t matter.

[smurfcrusher]

"Thank You finally iraq news worthy, those soliders are doing alot over there and it goes untold. "

Posted by trulyterry


If it''s untold, how do you know they are doing a lot?

[smurfcrusher]

"Too bad previous commentors do not pay attention - the patients are victims of the terrorists and accidents, not US military action! And the war is a MULTINATIONAL, not a "US" war...."

posted by tiny1pj


I''m sure our bombs are completely harmless to civilians.

Oh, by the way - there were no terrorists nor terrorist bombings in Iraq until we invited them in by invading.

Bush''s war of choice. Worst president ever.

I wonder if the victims are asking, "are we free yet?"

[Torilin]

"Too bad previous commentors do not pay attention - the patients are victims of the terrorists and accidents, not US military action! And the war is a MULTINATIONAL, not a "US" war...."

posted by tiny1pj

One of the very few "Multinational" war waged without UN approval! And by Multinational it''s meant as US and UK. Terrorists use US bombs that didn''t go off to build their IED so it''s still US tax dollar that funded the terror ultimately.

[shoebox119]

Bush''s war of choice. Worst president ever.

I wonder if the victims are asking, "are we free yet?"

Posted by smurfcrusher

_______


I can just hear the soldier in the background telling the boy in the above picture, "Don''t worry, son, we''re sorry your family got blown up, but collateral damage just happens when we''re fighting to bring democracy to your land."

[hermitdave]

WHAT a great sob story. How about the fact that because of Bush and his SHOCK&AWE many kids in Iraq are not just burnt, but maimed and real dead. All this for GREED and the return of Western Oil companies to that poor innocent country.

[libsluv2spit]

have a liberal or a liberal organization ever HELP ED ANYBODY????

[jenny1233-2009]

All of you who believed in and voted for George Bush because the media convinced he would be a great president, please give a second thought to your judgment this time around. PLEASE watch a balanced serving of media sources.

Fox News and Rush (the drug addict) are biased reporting that leave out and twist a great deal of the information.

Please view "John Mc Cain''s youtube problem just became a nightmare" on YouTube. It is all John Mc Cain talking. Then ask yourself if you still want to vote for Mc Cain.

[smurfcrusher]

"have a liberal or a liberal organization ever HELP ED ANYBODY????"

Posted by libsluv2spit

Bill Clinton went into Bosnia / Herzegovina (perhaps misspelled) and provided air cover to stop the genocide.

I would say that constitutes help... and last I checked, Clinton is liberal.

When was the last time a Republican "helped"?

The first Iraq war doesn''t count, because the Grand Oil Party needed to free Kuwait''s oil. Freeing the people was a nice side effect but unintentional.

[wardoglrs]

America did this and America will Deny it. This is a result of the American voter''s. The most vicious dangerous people on the planet. 11 wars 11 different hell''s. For power & money. May you all rot in hell for ever.

[wogerwabbit]

Look at the picture. This young man is a victim of the neocon philosophy. This is what awaits us all if we allow it to happen. They, the right wing abberation of the Republican party by extension or inference, speak and kill in our name and shame us all. May God forgive them for their sins, and me also, for not forgiving them. I feel in my soul that justice will be done, or we''ll all die trying. It''s that important.

[pedeeite]

How can we contact Joe Barzeski to send him medical supplies he so desperately needs? [e-mail]

[Michael Arnold]

Great! We go in and bomb, rape and burn ''em, then "fix ''em up"!

America is such a "great guy"!

[sdpm31013]

I''ve never heard of a kerosene stove bomb or a boiling tea bomb,......listen up people this is not a clinic for war victims. These are children whom are hurt in their own homes. These guys are there to help out. The Sgt is not a DR. but atleast he is helping, the other guys are volunteers waiting for refuel at the base fuel station. Those of you who have decided to lash out at the war need to do it some place else beside this story.

[roy214]

It''s impecable+incomparable this MCcain for the Presidency all fats negative of old''s for so long, yiet some are unable that''s maked me wonder but I know it''s hard but I stil recommend that some peoples try harder so they to can overcome it shouldnt be that way but it is MCcain have flip-flopping not to the french nor the german but to the Americans peoples evry day and evry ussues yiet? ... senator MCcain prove to be the wars foes in America yiet? ... john have used and abuse the Americans army base like it was His own and for achiving His own goal yiet? ... peoples of America thoses of you who feels withhell and fearful confuse because of impty rethoric of the pass or Ideology of incertity or orthodoxy of" irl " now then ever befor is your time to enough,say that I am ... of alls this "O"movement and make History fulfilment by supporting the one and only true hope for a bether America tommorrow for our selfves and for our children''s yes you can and it is your right for it is evry American right whites,Blacks,red,spanics and asians alls are American and must fight for whats right.Relax your mind and see the truth and impose it for what you believe is" change we can believe in" Have you been believe no so start now Obama for America "ONE ". God Bless America .

[hermitdave]

Nice job MANAGED NEWS, clever way you report a kid burned from a stove. I notice you say nothing of the children burned when Crusader George was saying "BRING IT ON" and "SHOCK&AWE". Why don''t you tell us how many burned kids were because of that illegal invasion.

[vader46]

For all of you that are posting comments, maybe it is time for a little education. I am here at CSC Scania. In fact 3 days a week myself and my men go outside the base to protect the medics that are triaging all of these children. We are not military and we are not Blackwater. When I came here because of shortage of personnel medics could not go outside the base without protection. After seeing the job these 18, 19, 20 year old US kids were doing we volunteered for the job. None and I repeat none! of these children that you see are victims of any military actions. Here in Iraq as most Third World countries cooking stoves are used with kerosene and gasoline and many of the children are burned from heating and cooking stoves. Some are victims of child abuse burned by parents or relatives and we deal with that.

[vader46]

The Iraqi hospitals now are sending adults and children here and many times we are overwhelmed by the amount of patients because the survivabilty rate here if treated at the clinic is about 80% - 90% compared with an Iraqi hospital which is only about 40%. In the last 3 weeks alone we had children burned over 86% of their bodis with 2nd an 3rd degree burns and they are still with us. If the clinic were not here their families would be morning them. So for all of you back home where it is so easy in the safety of your home to publish these comments shame on you! This clinic is not liberal or conservative. It is about who we are as Americans showing compassion, caring and showing the spirit of what Americans truly are. Come here in my place where you have to play the music so loud to drown out the screams of the kids we are treating or come where we are and see the smiles from the families and children we have saved. If you want to know more go to YouTube under CSC Scania Burn Clinic. We need donations of medical supplies, toys and kids items. For once stop! and do the right thing

[vader46]

Sorry if I misspelled some words I am in a hurry it is clinic day and we have to get ready to take care of some kids and make sure some go home today.

[vader46]

For donations please send to:

Scania Burn Clinic
CSC Scania
APO/AE 09304

We need medical supplies, toys, kids clothing, coloring books, hygiene items for both kids and adults.

A quote to think about told by a colleague "Real men leave memories, thanks for being a real man" This is for all the medics and volunteers men and women at Scania.

[crazyjoker05]

WOW!! I was very excited to see that the word was finally getting out about this clinic. Then I started reading all of the comments left by you, "obviously mislead people". I guess next I will see the Westboro Baptist Church standing outside with pickets signs saying how these kids are evil and deserve to be burned. I really dont understand the thought process that many of you are plagued with. How can you simply assume that these burns are caused by the war. If you spent a day here, you easily discover how quiet it is. This is because WE HELP THIER COMMUNITY!!!!

[crazyjoker05]

WOW!! I was very excited to see that the word was finally getting out about this clinic. Then I started reading all of the comments left by you, "obviously mislead people". I guess next I will see the Westboro Baptist Church standing outside with pickets signs saying how these kids are evil and deserve to be burned. I really dont understand the thought process that many of you are plagued with. How can you simply assume that these burns are caused by the war. If you spent a day here, you easily discover how quiet it is. This is because WE HELP THIER COMMUNITY!!!!

[smurfcrusher]

Sounds like an honorable effort, Vader46.
But the assertion that it has nothing to do with the war is simply wrong. Iraq used to have fine hospitals, instead of doctors targeted for murder or fleeing the country for their lives.
Families used to live in a stable society. In fact, literacy rates were extremely high, and women were treated with respect, could hold high level jobs, and earn advanced degrees.

Now families are broken and scattered, live in continued fear of sectarian violence, and their world is upside down. It''s no wonder there''s a steady stream of injured and hurt kids - and likely far more who are emotionally and intellectually damaged. How many years of schooling have they missed because of the invasion, and violence that followed?

You''re doing good tactical work for these kids, but this is far from a complete picture.

People need to be held accountable so there is no future "cowboy diplomacy" and shattered innocence in other countries as Bush et. al. would otherwise have it.

[crazyjoker05]

I am not a soldier. I am a civilian working in Iraq. I have the up most respect for the men and women in uniform as I am a third generation combat veteran. This is obviously something I could talk about for hours. But many of you are probably so close minded that it would be like talking to rock. So, I will drive on with doing what I know is RIGHT! I am on my way to the clinic to help out some more children. I hope you all sleep peaceful tonight while an under paid American soldier keeps you safe.

[smurfcrusher]

You can rest assured there are MANY kids that were burned, maimed, or killed as a direct result of the war. Do a quick Google if you doubt it - which you probably don''t.
They are handled through more professional channels; as the article implies, if we wound them, the Rules Of Engagement allow us to treat them with our resources.

No such exemption for the ones only indirectly harmed by our actions; even though we are responsible under the Geneva Conventions since we are the occupying power.

Obviously the many, in fact, officially countless dead are beyond our help, and I expect the relatives chafe at the ~ $2,000 compensation that is given to them for the live we took.

It''s no wonder our enemies can recruit even suicide bombers. How would you feel, if some foreign power invaded America and heaped the abuses we''ve committed, on you?

No, we need to learn from this disaster and work hard to undo the destruction this president chose to wreak.

Mr. Bush and his henchmen need to be held accountable by the world political body, and tried for war crimes committed willfully and knowingly.

[vader46]

I don''t have to Google anything because I am here. I see these kids everyday, I talk to the parents and everyday. Last month a family of 6 came in on non-clinic day severely burned so I and two others went outside the base and stabalized them until they could be transported to a hospital. I do not live in front of a computer or need to use one to research anything I have lived it for the past 15 years in too many places I would like forget.

[crazyjoker05]

Smurfcrusher, do you honestly think that Iraq would be a better place had we not invaded? You would only be referring the part that was owned by Saddam, right? because the rest of the country was suffering. Not to mention the northern part that were victims of genocide because certain people in the Iraqi government weren''t sure if thier chemical weapons worked properly or not. Is that what you would consider a high literacy rate and respect?

[vader46]

This is my second tour here. I was last here in Iraq in 2004. I drove through Baghdad on a daily basis with my Iraqi or Kurdish driver. I listened as he told me how Uday would take women off the street torture and rape them, then kill them. I listened and drove by the rape camps that Saddam had in the North for his Republican Guard Soldiers. I am been to the museum in Halabjah where Saddam gassed the Kurds and went to the graves or the 100,000 they just call "The Missing" Please don''t try educate me from a computer. I have and will continue to live it each and every day.

[chyenna-2009]

Soldiers, you are in my prayers every night. May God Bless and keep you all.

[smurfcrusher]

It matters little if -I- feel Iraquis were better off under Saddam. It''s their country.

Check out this poll of the Iraqis themselves:

Polling Data
Do you feel the situation in the country is better today or better before the U.S.-led invasion?

Better today 5%

Better before 90%

Not sure 5%

Source: Iraq Centre for Research and Strategic Studies / Gulf Research Center
Methodology: Face-to-face interviews with 2,000 Iraqi adults in Baghdad, Anbar and Najaf, conducted in late November 2006. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/14282


~~~~ and no, THIS is what I mean when I describe Iraqi literacy under Saddam:
"War and economic decline have taken their toll on Iraq''s once-admired education system. Literacy levels are lower among 15-year-olds than among 35-year-olds."

"Unicef says 75% of children are not attending school in Baghdad. Between 30% and 70% of schools have closed due to insecurity, targeting of teachers, bombings, kidnappings."

Includes startling chart
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/in_depth/post_saddam_iraq/html/7.stm

What I think is that we should have rejected Bush''s bogus WMD scare tactics and went after Afghanistan, which unlike Iraq was directly responsible for 9/11.

Because we diverted our attention, Osama Bin Laden escaped, and now Afghanistan is becoming a narco-state and rapidly spinning out of control.

[smurfcrusher]

Vader46: of course Kurds despise Saddam, he gassed them in the North in the 80s. I found a famous picture of Donald Rumsfeld shaking Saddam''s hand when I did research for that story.

I too have heard that Uday and his brother were serial rapists, just as we have serial rapists in this country. Granted, they aren''t protected by the government as Uday and brother was.

But George Bush''s policies essentially raped the country. Or do you believe everyone behaved themselves after we invaded? The evidence speaks otherwise.

''50,000 Iraqi refugees'' forced into prostitution

Women and girls, many alarmingly young, who fled the chaos at home are being further betrayed after reaching ''safety'' in Syria

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/50000-iraqi-refugees-forced-into-prostitution-454424.html

Or perhaps you believe those 50,000 would still have fled to Syria if we didn''t invade?

Sorry, I don''t care how lustful or ruthless Uday was, he wouldn''t have had this impact. Perhaps if you asked one of these 50,000 poor wretches if they were better off when Saddam was in power, you might have a more impactful answer.

[crazyjoker05]

Smurfcrusher, have you ever been to Iraq?

[biobird]

I would like to know how you donate supplies to the burn unit. I have been through surgery and chemotherapy and the overkill in what was given to me by my insurance is just sitting here. How do I get this stuff (dressings and unused prescriptions) to this place???????? [e-mail] Sub:Up to the minute

[sfcschenk]

I am the current NCOIC of the burn clinic thanks for your support In helping these children, none of which are burnt as a result of Military action just simple home accidents and such Please send donations to:
Scania Burn Clinic
CSC SCANIA
APO-AE 09034

[tiny1pj]

I was 14 when I was rushed to Childrens Hospital in Madison, Wisc. I spent 6 weeks getting wet to dry dressings on a wound that covered my entire anterior lower left leg, with debriedment and graafting operations every 5 days for about 2 months. My entire foot was crushed (except toes) with the distal ends of the tibia and fibula, wheich were scraped by the auger that I fell into. I believe I know the pain these unfortunates are feeling. There is NOTHING short of unconciousness that will stop the pain of debriedement. Watching the RNs who cared for me for the 2 years that I was in and out of there is why I became a RN.
Just before my 18th birthday I enlisted in the Army Reserve, and I spent almost 21 years in the Reserve components, from 1978-1999. I tried to get active duty many times, but was not able to because we were fortunate that we did not need as many soldiers then.
Now I am totaly disabled, in part due to a training accident when on active duty for traing.
Thank you to ALL our service men and women for what you are doing. I know the sacrifice you are making, and what a hardship it is on your families.
Unfortuately people like hermitdave and smurfcrusher will only understand what Veterans have done for them is when we fail.

Vader46, please contact me re: supplies. [e-mail]

God Bless you and this great work

[vader46]

smurfcrusher, you are right, there is so much to be learned from the internet, polls and research groups. Sorry that my education or lack of as you state was only from living among them, sharing meals with them, drinking tea, holding their kids and protecting them when I had too for 2 1/2 years to present (in this country, been in to many others that everyone seems to blame someone else for, doing the same thing and again not as a soldier). So your computer research and education does outshine my real life experiences with them. I will mention that to the families this afternoon at the clinic.

For everyone else donations can be sent to:

Scania Burn Clinic
CSC Scania
APO/AE 09304

[vader46]

Also if anyone wants to view a current video of the clinic made by a member of my team go to YouTube under: CSC Scania Burn Clinic.

Thanks from the kids!

[smurfcrusher]

Vader46, I''m sure you didn%u2019t have tea and crumpets with the 300,000 Iraqis dead because of the war.

Apparently you don''t realize that some of these people who "have tea" with you are possibly insurgents, or know them.

You''re obviously not interested in the reason you were brought there, nor in all the surveys that contradict your highly biased beliefs.

That''s why there is this thing called science - to correct wrong impressions in the hopes of moving forward.

I''m sure it''s easier for you to dismiss the millions of refugees who have fled from their homes; they have no voice for your authoritative ears to hear.

Nor do you address the tens of thousands that are serving as prostitutes in Syria. I suppose because you don''t see them either, they don''t exist as well.

My point is that you are there in the first place because of a lie. Only by exposing that lie, and holding those accountable for that lie, can we prevent much more suffering that is happening in Iraq, and Syria, every day.

[smurfcrusher]

tiny1pj: "Unfortuately people like hermitdave and smurfcrusher will only understand what Veterans have done for them is when we fail."

Wrong! president Bush has failed, by sending our military there under false pretenses. Without his lies, none of this would have happened.

THAT is the point I am making. The fact that our military and others are serving so valiantly in Iraq does not mean the dead should be forgotten, it does not mean that this administration should go scot-free for torture and for pressing this war of choice.

Or perhaps you feel it should?

THAT would be the greater injustice. Because it does nothing to protect other innocent children that may experience the same horrors that this administration feels is justified through pre-emptive war.

[smurfcrusher]

"Smurfcrusher, have you ever been to Iraq?"

Posted by crazyjoker05

HELL no. (just in case that was censored: "H E L L no.")

Why on Earth would I support a war criminal?

[vader46]

Whoever you are you really do live in a bubble don''t you. As I was told once, the US really does not understand our culture we have been trading a fighting each other for centuries. I am really not an authority on anything and I fully comprehend how I arrived here. You are probably right about Syria and you know what if I could or my team could we would be right there trying to bring them back home. That is just who we are. But that is not how the world works. I just look at things differently by experiencing what you quote in your statistics by being there in real life and not just here in Iraq. We could trade barbs all day and I have better things to do and a job to get back too. The real point of this story is to make people aware of the clinic and what folks can do to help. That is why CBS was contacted and for no other reason. I should know, my team contacted them. So Smurfcrusher don''t berate us for when the call comes we step up and I don''t mean the government or military call. Just the call. Good luck in what you are doing and maybe one day this will be a perfect world, just not today or in my or your lifetime and I will be out of a job. I hope so. Out here from Iraq.

[vader46]

One more thing, tea is the national drink here called "Chai" and is served in a sign of friendship and respect and we don''t have crumpets.

[smurfcrusher]

Vader46: again, you misunderstand me. In my very first post on the topic I say,

"A miracle? This sounds more like compassion and science, rather than religion."

Addressing you by ID, I say:
"Sounds like an honorable effort, Vader46. "

I''m not berating you, I repeat, what you are doing is honorable.

The issues I''m addressing were caused on this side of the Atlantic, and that''s where my beef lies.

Actions like those you and other brave volunteers are taking is what will make a difference in Iraq.

Of course Bush et. al. will take credit for it, since in their mind the ends justifies the means.

I disagree with that philosophy and I sincerely hope they are hauled before a war crimes tribunal for their misdeeds.

But for you - I wish you and those who work with you all the best.