VOV Backpack Trip and Outing 05.28.08

Wow. After getting back from Bethesda Medical Center and Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. today, we are all ready to rock! Just seeing the honor, integrity, determination, and positive attitude of these men and women who have put their lives on the line and paid a high price for it…that is what we, at VOV, go to work for everyday; to support them and get them the things they need to get through the tough times of recovery they have ahead of them.

To start off the day we got to have lunch with the Marine Moms organization and some of the Marine laisons working at Bethesda. It was so great to be able to talk about the needs and problems that they saw needing to be addressed with the wounded soldiers. It was also great to catch up with the people we had been corresponding with to put our events for the day together. So after lunch we got to do what we came to do! We got to do, yet another, successful visit to D.C. where we got to meet with the wounded soldiers recovering at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda (NNMC) and at Walter Reed Medical Center (WRMC). There, the most severe and in-need of those wounded recieved a packback with their choice of an ipod or PSP. So here is a brief overview of those who recieved one of the backpacks from Sgt. South, personally, sponsored by Veterans of Valor:

LCpl Keith was hit by an Rocket Propelled Grenade while patrolling in his humvee.  He had severe leg wounds and a rod in his glute area.  He was excited to received a backpack with an IPOD.

LCpl Robert & Pfc Daniel were buddies on dismounted foot patrol.  A land mine was detonated, severely injuring Robert.   Daniel pulled Robert out losing his own leg in the rescue mission.  Daniel had recently graduated from Marine training and was in Iraq for 2 months.  They both received backpacks with their choice of IPOD or PSP.

1st Lt. David was hit by an IED, leaving him critically wounded. With an amputated leg, every limb wounded, a significant abdominal injury, and a broken back, he lived to tell his story and we had the awesome opportunity to meet him and give him a backpack with an IPOD.  Just the week before, VoV overnighted him a PSP, games & movies, as a part of our Hero Wish program.

Cpl Christopher lost both of his legs during an attack.  He received a backpack too.  

Another young soldier in the army was flying down the hall in his reved up wheels.  The mid-thigh double amputee with a hand missing was not slowed down by his new condition.  He flashed a broad, bright smile when Klay told him about the backpack.  He was thrilled at he idea of receiving a backpack and since he already had a PSP & IPOD, he asked us to pass his on to another wounded guy.  He asked Klay to hook the back on the back of his wheelchair as he grinned and demonstrated how fast his “ride” could go. As a note, he is happy to report that he will soon be recieving an even faster electric wheel chair, so we ask those of you at the hospital to duck for cover.

These are just a FEW of the recipients of our backpacks.
Klay and the VoV team visited with many wounded service members and family members.  One family had arrived the night before our visit and was still trying to process everything.  It is difficult to enter unfamiliar surroundings apart from familiar family support, learn to navigate hallways, comprehend the medical needs for one’s loved one, and get settled in.  They appreciated the encouragement to give practical tips to help.

We also visited with a service member & his family who was being discharged after recovering from a head wound.  They were happy & excited to go home for more recovery.  Other families had been there a while and were looking forward to the trip home.  Some of the events missed were proms, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, baby births, etc.  National Navy Medical Center and Walter Reed Medical Center are great places to put wounds back together and help start the transition for new life changes, but there is no place like home!

To see all of our photos from the event, go to our site on Flickr, keyword: OCP247, or just click on the icon for Flickr on our blog Home Page