While I was browsing the nonfiction section at the library I saw this book on the shelf, thought about how long ago Jessica Lynch was rescued from an Iraqi hospital. Back in 2003 we had tv feed and remember when breaking news interrupted the broadcast to report the rescue.
From the book: "Medical records show what happened in the three hours missing from Jessie‘s memory. Her right arm was shattered between her shoulder and her elbow, a compound fracture, slivers of bone through muscles, nerves and skin, leaving her right hand useless. Her spine was fractured in two places causing nerve damage. This left her unable to control her kidneys and bowels. Her left leg was broken into pieces above and below the knee. Also compound fracture and splintered bone that made a mess of the nerves, and left her without feeling in the limb. "
And yet there was still more damage, both physically and mentally. It wasn't known if she suffered the beatings from rifle butts and kicking before or after she was raped, nor clear why she alone was not killed immediately. Theory is she was a blonde green eyed female which could be used for propaganda purposes.
At the hospital she was taken care of best they could with the equipment and supplies they possessed. She wouldn't eat anything but crackers and juice, and only if they opened it in front of her, for fear of being drugged and unable to fight to save her leg. At one point the doctors wanted to amputate a leg as it was so badly damaged.
Jessica Lynch weighed 76 pounds by the time she was rescued. Had she been left any longer she would have certainly died, despite the medical attention from kind medical staff.
Lynch did not know the narrative the government released to the news agencies.
This is a well written book and I'm glad I picked it up.
