Tuesday’s CBS Evening News included an update on correspondent Kimberly Dozier‘s condition. CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar, who saw Dozier in the intensive care unit shortly after the injured reporter arrived at Landstuhl, told Bob Schieffer: “It’s a difficult time. It’s a terrible time for all of us. But if there’s comfort to be had, I took some in seeing that she looked pretty good given that everything that she has been through.”
Baghdad producer Kate Rydell was with Dozier on the flight to Germany. In MacVicar’s package, she said: “I put my hand on her shoulder, and I said, ‘Kimberly, we’re on our way to Germany.’ She blinked her eyes and nodded her head in — very slightly, and then I knew that she, you know, received what I was trying to tell her and there was something going on inside, which I took to be a very good sign.”
Click continued for the full transcript of the report…
TIME: 6:30-7:00 PM
NETWORK: CBS
PROGRAM: CBS EVENING NEWS WITH BOB SCHIEFFER
BOB SCHIEFFER, anchor:
Kimberly Dozier was flown overnight from Iraq to an American military hospital
in Germany. She is now receiving more treatment for her injuries to her head
and legs. CBS News correspondent Sheila MacVicar was there to meet her.
SHEILA MacVICAR reporting:
Less than 24 hour after the vicious bomb blast in Baghdad which killed four,
including a CBS News camera team, correspondent Kimberly Dozier arrived in
Germany this morning, her condition critical but stable. She was on board a
US military C-17 equipped as a flying intensive care unit. Also on the
flight, a US soldier critically wounded in the same blast. Baghdad producer
Kate Rydell was with Kimberly on the flight and talked to her as she briefly
regained consciousness.
Ms. KATE RYDELL (CBS News Producer): I put my hand on her shoulder, and I
said, `Kimberly, we’re on our way to Germany.’ She blinked her eyes and nodded
her head in–very slightly, and then I knew that she, you know, received what
I was trying to tell her and there was something going on inside, which I took
to be a very good sign.
MacVICAR: At the US regional medical center in Landstuhl, Kimberly is in
intensive care. She had surgery twice yesterday on injuries to her legs and
on her head to remove shrapnel from her skull. She was able to wiggle her
toes as she was admitted. Tonight she remains sedated and faces more surgery.
Colonel BRYAN GAMBLE (Commander Landstuhl Regional Medical Center): They
typically will go back every 24 to 48 hours for what we call wash outs,
unviable tissue or an infection or any debris that might be remaining in
there, to clean that out.
MacVICAR: Kimberly, CBS News cameraman Paul Douglas and sound recordist James
Brolan were embedded with the US patrol in Baghdad yesterday, reporting a
Memorial Day story on soldiers’ lives. They had left their armored humvee
when the car bomb exploded. Investigators believe it may have been triggered
by remote control. All three were wearing the protective vests, helmets and
goggles that are now essential items for journalists working in conflict
zones. In Kimberly’s case, that made the difference.
Bob, I was in the intensive care unit earlier today shortly after Kimberly
arrived here at Landstuhl. I was able to see her. At that time there were
teams of doctors, a crowd of people around her bed, working on her, assessing
her, trying to see what she needed next. It’s a difficult time. It’s a
terrible time for all of us. But if there’s comfort to be had, I took some in
seeing that she looked pretty good given that everything that she has been
through.
SCHIEFFER: Sheila, I guess if there’s any one thing we can take some comfort
in, it is that the people who are treating her are absolutely the best in the
world at this sort of thing.
MacVICAR: Absolutely, all of the teams that have cared for Kimberly all the
way along, the people in Baghdad who literally saved her life, who got her in
shape to get on that plane, the people who looked after her on the plane, the
people here, the specialist teams that are caring for her here and now, these
are the best at their jobs. And I know that her family and her boyfriend will
take some comfort from knowing that she is getting the best care that she can
under these circumstances.
SCHIEFFER: All right. Well, thank you very much, Sheila.