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An MUSC Hero Military mom regarded for dedication to job, family, country by Cindy Abole Public Relations More than 150 MUSC staff, students, and employees serve part-time in defense of our nation’s freedom. So what happens when America’s corps of weekend warriors transform into full-time soldiers in support of the nation’s effort with Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle? Critical Care and Emergency Services’ Quantella Rivers-Bradley can tell you. Rivers-Bradley was among more than 35,000 military reservists called away from their full-time jobs and civilian lives last year and activated as part of a mobilization of the nation’s reserve troops responding to the Sept. 11 attacks.  Critical Care and Emergency Services Sgt. Quantella Rivers-Bradley sent these customized postcards from Kuwait during her deployment. At MUSC, Rivers-Bradley has an essential role managing information for  the medical center’s trauma patients. Processing an estimated 1,400 patients annually, Rivers-Bradley coordinates and maintains information in the hospital’s trauma registry and linking data to local, state, and national databases.  She is also one of thousands of women who play the dual role of military soldier and mother separated from their families. Today, more than half of the U.S. military’s women are mothers. In February, Rivers-Bradley received activation orders to report to her unit, the Army Reserve’s 596th Transportation Detachment. By May, she learned that her unit was being mobilized to Kuwait for an eight-month deployment.  Like many citizen-soldiers called to duty, her departure prompted careful planning and preparation both at home and at her job. Her absence would test her and the family’s patience and create some challenges for husband, Alonzo and son, Jhamar, then age 2. She was able to enlist the help of her aunt, Judy Grimball, an administrative assistant to the nurse manager in MUSC’s Critical Care and Emergency Services, and other loved ones and friends during her absence. “Having Quantella away from our family and the Charleston area was just awful,” said Grimball, who served as Rivers-Bradley’s “mom” since  her birth mother's untimely death in 1989. Both aunt and niece were used to seeing each other at work almost daily. Despite distance, Grimball and her family, co-workers, and friends, found inventive ways to stay close. Grimball wrote cards, letters and e-mails daily to her niece. She sent care packages filled with a mix of small necessities and comforts like magazines, a Bible, personal items, Kool-Aid, and samples of Jhamar’s school work. In her absence of more than 240 days-plus, Rivers-Bradley made her own sacrifices, working the night shift at Camp Arifjan in an attempt to gain better access to telephone lines and computer e-mail during the day. Emergency Services supervisor Deb Couillard has high regards for her co-worker.  “Quantella is a dedicated, conscientious, organized and flexible team player within our group,” said Couillard, who hired and trained two temporary workers to fill for Rivers-Bradley last year. “She has full ownership with the trauma registry and knows the program very well. Throughout her deployment, Quantella has been very supportive and flexible helping others learn her job and even troubleshooting during her absence.” At work, people missed her smile and spirited personality within her department and throughout the medical center. Emergency Medicine co-worker Jerri Stanley and the Heart Center’s Cassandra Poole both echoed worry and concern for their dear friend and fellow soldier.  “Quantella’s absence affected everyone in some way,” said Stanley. She and her daughter, Kirsten, connected with Rivers-Bradley through cards, letters, and e-mail.  Rivers-Bradley may have missed family gatherings for holidays and other celebrations, but she was there for her son’s third birthday June 2003 via telephone.  More than 7,000 miles away, the military mom spoke to her son every day during her absence. Co-worker and Army Reserve sergeant first-class Cassandra Poole has known Rivers-Bradley since their early days in the reserves. Both drilled in the same unit and remained close friends as they maintained their careers and advanced in rank. “Quantella is a responsible, caring individual who happens to be a good wife, mother, and solider”  Poole said. “When we joined the Army Reserves following high school, we swore to protect and defend our country at peace and at times of war. What Quantella has accomplished in Kuwait is her service time and commitment to her country. I know she’s satisfied knowing that she took her turn and completed her duty. I’m proud of her.” By mid-December, Rivers-Bradley was safely home along with her unit. She was thrilled to reunite with her husband and son. With her reservist work completed, she returned to work in January. Despite some minor office changes and upgrades to the trauma system, she’s adjusted and remains happy. Editor’s note: At MUSC, heroes abound. They exist in the form of caregivers, faculty, students, and staff. The Catalyst's MUSC Heroes is a column that offers employees and staff the opportunity to recognize  MUSC's everyday heroes. Send an e-mail about your MUSC hero along with your name and office phone number to catalyst@musc.edu.    Friday, April 9, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.