Marissa 2

You are very welcome Dawn, I quess we feel a little less helpless, this way, just sharing a little bit

big hug, and stay strong

Els

Dawn , no words can help ,, just be strong mirjam

Marissa is fighting, it amazing how far she has come. The doc and nurses are in awe as am I.

Dawn

for more background are two article citations.

This young lady was on her job, risking her life, trying to help iraqi citizens when her accident happened,

Truly a brave young woman with a future still ahead of her.. in a place of real danger, with her life on the line for others....

all such phrases ... just suddendly seem to fit.

A new battle for hurt soldier> Injured in Iraq, Lansingburgh private has long recovery ahead>

I was at Walter Reed today for an appointment and then went to ward 57 where Marissa is now staying in the orthopedics.

Since I was not a friend of family or relative or somebody famous, the desk people properly went back and asked if I could come in and visit. Her mother was there overseeing things [very well too I might add.]

Marissa was dressed in sports cloths and gave me a hand to shake as i introduced myself as a weaver and that I had read Dawn's posts here. My gift for her was a number bib from the Vasaloppet 90k cross country ski race in Sweden with the statement that I hoped in a year or so to see her there in the tracks. I told her there was a large and active ski association there of people with physical handicaps and they even had special skiies and poles for that.

We chatted a bit more and I thanked her for her service in Iraq and our country.... couldn't say it without choking up look at this attractive and otherwise vivacious young lady with part of one leg missing and the lower part of the other in a brace for a bad break.

And as I left, she was getting ready to go the rolling chair so she could go with her company commander and first sergeant from Iraq to visit Arlington Cemetery.

clearly a young lady who still has a future! And our country owes her gratitude and thanks for her sacrifice on our behalf

Kenneth in VA

Kenneth,

What a great story and I'm thrilled that you were able to visit Marissa. Yes, she does deserve our thanks and will be getting another afghan from this group very soon. If you get to see her again, tell her that her friends from RCTY are praying for her even though she doesn't know any of us.

Hugs,

Nora

Thanks for posting this, Kenneth.

Higs, Katherine

Kenneth,

Thank you for passing such good news about Marissa.

Tell we have been keeping her in our prayers.

Hugs & God bless, Dennis & Gail

"My gift for her was a number bib from the Vasaloppet 90k cross country ski race in Sweden with the statement that I hoped in a year or so to see her there in the tracks. I told her there was a large and active ski association there of people with physical handicaps and they even had special skiies and poles for that. "

There was a fellow who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail (2200 miles) a few years ago with a prosthetic leg. The first amputee who hiked the entire trail (sections at a time, not straight through) was a few years before that. It amazes me to see people bounce back when they really want to.

-Amanda