GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Polish Soldiers found a 2-day-old infant on the side of the road while conducting a security patrol in Waghez District here, Sept. 19, 2012.

The Soldiers were patrolling down Highway 1 when they noticed a small bundle lying on the side of the road. They stopped and discovered the tiny female baby. There wasn’t a soul or building anywhere within two kilometres of the area. 

“At first, we were afraid the bundle was an [improvised explosive device],” said Polish Lt. Krzysztof Kałwak, patrol commander. “After examining it turned out that it was a newborn girl wrapped up in a towel instead of IED. We were very surprised.”

A paramedic with the patrol immediately began checking over the little baby before she was taken to the field hospital at Forward Operating Base Ghazni. 

At the Polish field hospital the entire staff waited in full readiness for the small patient. It was the first such an event in the history of the hospital.

We were prepared for the baby to be in very poor health, said Polish Major Waldemar Machala, a doctor at the field hospital. But after examining it, it turned out the girl was healthy. Machala said she was probably born about two days earlier.

The child quickly stole the hearts of the entire hospital staff.  After several minutes they named the girl Pola, after Poland. Since the field hospital isn’t configured for neonatal care, one of the platoons was called on for a special task.

“I was called to the [Tactical Operations Center] for an urgent task; buy milk, a bottle and a teat, said Polish Master Cpl. Mirosław Myszka. “At first I thought that they were joking, but they told me briefly a history of the child so I conducted this task as quickly as I could.  It is my fourth tour but I have not had such a task, yet.”

Later on, the Polish Task Force informed the local authorities and the Chief of the Provincial Hospital in Ghazni about the baby; and then Pola was given to the local Afghan doctors to continue care.