During the nearly two years USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) spent in Norfolk Naval Shipyard, medical's operating room was utilized as storage for items considered in the way of the rejuvenation of Ike, but all that changed recently.

Although a tiny space filling frames 105-109, it is where some of the most important work on board Ike is done and where a Sailor's life was recently saved.

That life belongs to Aviation Boatswain's Mate, Equipment Airman Robert Steinel, who a week ago found himself very sick at sea with no idea of what was wrong.

"I was manned up on one of the sheave dampers when I felt a sharp pain shoot through my stomach," said Steinel. "I had felt this kind of pain before, but it would usually slowly go away. This time it progressively got worse and was accompanied with nausea."

After a brief examination in medical, Steinel was diagnosed with appendicitis.

"I thought it was just a stomach ache or that I needed to eat something," said Steinel. "I knew something was wrong when I couldn't even fasten my belt due to the pressure on my abdomen causing so much pain."

When a patient displays symptoms of appendicitis the doctor must choose the proper course of treatment, and that decision can mean the difference in life or death, depending on how serious the case is.

"In some cases it's possible to treat with antibiotics," said Lt. Cmdr. Jamie Fitch, general surgeon aboard Ike. "However, in emergency situations we go ahead with the appendectomy."

When surgery is being considered it is already a serious matter. But when the challenge of holding a scalpel just centimeters over someone's stomach while on a rolling ship at sea is added, it can have an effect on even the most seasoned surgeon.

"We're always a little nervous going into a procedure," said Fitch. "Being at sea adds to the nerves. It's a little harder to call for help. We're a surgery team all on our own out here."

Even though the ship was hugging the shore at the time of this procedure and patients can be flown to a hospital on shore in emergency situations, that won't always be an option.

"Largely we're here for emergent procedures," said Lt. Cmdr. Shawn Pyle, certified registered nurse anesthetist aboard Ike. "As we get closer and closer to deployment, we'll have more squadrons on board and we'll still have the ability to fly patients to land for treatment. However, when we get overseas and out of helicopter range, the things we routinely fly people off for we'll be taking care of ourselves."

On Oct. 2 at approximately 7:52 p.m., Steinel entered the operating room and trusted his shipmates with his life.

"I was a bit nervous going in," said Steinel, "But as the pain got to the point I couldn't walk, the more anxious I was to get it over with. The staff had already instilled faith that they would take great care of me, and they did just that."

After adequate recuperation time in medical, Steinel has rejoined his shipmates on the deckplates as Ike's first surgery patient in over two years.

For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit www.navy.mil/.