Growing bone to repair a big hole in a soldier's skull

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARMY! [Michael Ledeen]

"They're tough, and they're big. And here's an inspirational story about a guy we met when he was a Walter Reed. Eric Castillo is his name, and he's one of the true medical miracles of the war. The story above talks about his psychological courage and grit, but there's a medical dimension to it too, that warrants telling.

About half his skull was blown off by an IED. The doctors attached some bone to his hip, and it grew until they could carve it and then attach it to his head. This, I think, was a new technique, and it worked wonderfully. You have to look very carefully to see the fine scar that shows where the graft was fixed.

I keep saying that one of the really fascinating uncovered stories of our time is the amazing medical advances. When most of us hear "Walter Reed Hospital" we automatically think "hell hole," but it isn't so; it's a place where untold medical miracles have been performed, and Eric is one of them.

Somebody has to write that story, and the many others."

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