Friday, July 23, 2010 at 1136

Good Morning,

I'm sorry for not writing yesterday, but it was a very busy day and I just didn't have it left in me to go over it again in my head.

Yesterday was a tough day emotionally. David is part of an incredible brotherhood, as I have previously explained. The thought pattern, in David's mind, is that if he would have found the bomb that hit him and not been injured, then his friend would not have replaced him and he would still be alive. We all know that there is no fault to be assessed and I believe David now knows that as well. Every EOD Tech willingly takes the safety and well being of their brothers-in-arms to be their responsibility. I pray that all families will feel the same about their brothers and sisters, parent, grandparents, children, grandchildren, etc. etc. etc. Can we all imagine how this world would improve if we also extended those same caring feelings to our neighbors and strangers we come in contact with.

Yesterday David found out that he had two more friends injured. One has a serious concussion and the other damaged both of his hands but it sounds like both of them are well enough to stay in Afghanistan for the time being. It is hard not to feel some anger, to feel the hurt that is hitting David right now. These are friends, fellow soldiers, and team mates. I can't help but sit here and cry just thinking about this whole mess.

Through all these last couple days, we are finding out more and more that David remembers very very little about the entire time at Bethesda. He is coming to the harsh reality of the loss of large portions of his body. He is extremely strong, both physically and mentally, and I have no doubt that he will get through it all, and be a better man, but it is still a very harsh reality.

Yesterday he received a care package from a great friend Steve Gouak, (I'm sure I spelled that wrong) but he just laughed and appreciated his great friend even more as each gift came out of the box. Right now he is a little miffed at his main doctor - one of the gifts that he received was a Nerf Gun. David has determined that he is going to lick the tips and shoot the doctor right in the head when he comes in. His doctor talked him into trying acupuncture in the ear to help with his phantom pains - he told David that is was just going to be a little sting. David said it felt like he pushed as hard as he could and then shot the thing in the side of his head - he received 4 of them in the ear so it looks like he is wearing four cute silver studs in his left ear. So, David wants to shoot him in the head and say, "Now that didn't hurt did it? - It was just a little sting!"

We have been trying to get David permission to go to San Diego for the Funeral of his friend but there is absolutely no way of getting it done. He is extremely disappointed. Hopefully his wife is reading this blog and knows how much David loves them and wants to be there for her.

Today he is in a surprise surgery. They have decided to make another close evaluation of his X-fix on his pelvis. It is really causing some problems in his Physical Therapy and they are looking at making some adjustments to it so he can continue to build his core strength at the same time he is healing. Since it wore a hole in his leg, he has been wearing a strap across his legs to pull his legs together and get them past the point of being pinched by the X-fix. Always a new and wonderful problem to work through.

I've got to give up the computer to another soldier for a few minutes so I'll look at this later and see if there is some extra information you'll be interested in.

My Love Always,

Gordon

It's now 1445 and there is new you'll definitely be interested in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THEY TOOK IT OFF - THE PELVIC X-FIX IS GONE ! ! !

Do you realize that is 1 month early. It is absolutely fantastic. It is so nice to have something great happen after 2 days of huge disappointments. None of us had any idea this was going to happen. David woke up and there was a big bundle of loosely place sheets across his waist and so he was very careful to keep his hands away from the area. He asked the nurse what alterations they made and she looked in the computer to see what the surgical notes would tell her. She read, "Removal of X-fix!", so David slowly lowered his hand and it was GONE.

That is so fantastic. Even in his drugged state, he is extremely happy. That puts him one month closer to standing on his own two feet again. You can't imagine what emotions that brings out - I can't see the screen. Thank you for all your prayers - I know they are being answered.

The x-fix is on the hand still but I'm very confident that it will be off by this time next week.

I need to head to the airport soon as David's brother, JJ, his wife Katie, and baby Nash will be landing with a couple hours.

Your Love and Friendship Means The World To Me,

Gordon and Dad