Airman, medical response save Korean leukemia patient

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angela Ruiz
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea (AFNS) --  It took less than 24 hours for one Kunsan Airman and several base medical providers to respond to the needs of a 24-year-old Korean leukemia patient; ultimately saving her life.

After finishing a 14-hour shift defending the base, Airman Tamarias Pope, 8th Security Forces Squadron, was alerted that he was thought to be the only person on base with the AB negative blood type. He was also informed that he had the opportunity to potentially save the life of a leukemia patient by donating.

Dr. Sung Kwang, Park a medical provider from the Chonbuk University Hospital in Jeonju, Republic of Korea, contacted the 8th Medical Group Oct. 8 and stated that his facility was in emergent need of the blood donation for a patient with acute myeloid leukemia that had just undergone a bone morrow transplant.

"I didn't have to think about it," said Airman Pope. "If I needed blood I would want somebody to do the same for me too."

Within a few hours, the Airman, who has been serving in the Air Force for less than a year, traveled to the university hospital with base medical providers to donate the rare blood type.

This was the 19-year-old Newark, Del., native's first time donating blood, however 'Service before Self' is not a new concept for him.

"This is what we were taught in basic [military] training," said Airman Pope. "I feel special for being able to lend a helping hand and be a good neighbor here."

For the 8th Medical Group, this short notice request helped to test overall medical readiness and work with neighboring Korean medical facilities.

"This incident did test our readiness," said Col. (Dr.) Charles Tedder, 8th Medical Group commander. "It demonstrated our ability to quickly and specifically identify an individual with a very rare blood type, notify him and gain consent and assist a local hospital with obtaining that blood within hours of being asked."

Capt. (Dr.) Kevin Blackney, 8th Medical Group flight surgeon, received the initial call from the hospital and was amazed with the number of Kunsan Airmen that were willing to lend a helping hand after receiving a base-wide e-mail.

"It's a real testament to the character of the Wolf Pack how many people responded for a complete stranger in need," said Doctor Blackney.

"This incident has also provided us with the opportunity to form bonds with another world-class medical facility," said Doctor Tedder. "It demonstrated the trust that the Korean medical facilities have in us and our ability to provide a safe, screened source of blood for their patients."

According to Doctor Tedder, this incident and the relationships that we continue to build can do nothing but strengthen the U.S. military relationship and alliance with host nation partners.

According to medical providers, the patient has been discharged from the university hospital.


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