Hi,
Joey needs your prayers; he is scheduled for surgery next Wed., 19th, for an aneurisim on his left wrist. The doctors are doing a full body scan to check for any others. They will either take a vessel from his leg and insert or place a stint; I don't which they will do yet.
Today, Thursday the 13th, he and Jayme moved into the Mologne House to room 266 just a few doors down from me at 254. This will make it easy for me to help in the mornings with his preparation to the hospital for therapy. The Mologne House is behind the hospital and is an 8 minute walk. Of course, Joey will be riding his electric wheel chair. The walking is doing great for my health. I did hear today from TIME magazine and they are doing the article on Joey alone, instead of 3 soldiers, as they liked his story and interview best. The interview is scheduled for next Wed., but of course this has to be re-scheduled because of the surgery. I will let you know more. Also, CBS emailed me this week to say that they may soon be having the interview on the air. I'll also keep you informed. I also heard today from Matt at Blackfive that the chaplain in Germany was an Air Force chaplain named Joel Warren who sat with Joey for 3 days and 3 nights in Germany. Matt also sent me Captain Warren's email address and I will be contacting him. Yesterday, Joey and I were at the Family Affairs office getting Jayme on his orders when a lady my age approached Joey and said that her son had just arrived from Iraq and had lost eyesight in one eye and lost his right arm. Joey asked if he could visit her son and she replied with tears, "NO, he will not let me in his room and he will not let me love him; his wife will not let anyone come in because of his attitude." Joey replied, "You can love me!" She immediately bent over and hugged him with tears streaming down her face. So many of the soldiers turn away from their mothers during these trying times and I have talked with several mothers who have cried about the depression and the negative attitude of their sons. I told Joey that he had never treated me like that and that I had gained my strength from him. Again, today at lunch, Joey and I were sitting beside an elderly,WAVE, woman at the handicap table. She was in a wheelchair with oxygen trying to eat when she got choked and scared us both. Joey looked at her and said, "Are you alright?" She replied, "I am ok." Joey left to get more soda and she looked at me and said, "What a nice young man; in his condition he was concerned about me. He touched my heart." I replied, "That is my son, Joey." This is the God given gift that Joey has to touch people's hearts. The pic below is Dr. Hampton, Joey's orthopedic surgeron here at Walter Reed. He did the surgeries on Joey's legs and arm. Another dr. did the hand. Joey and I have come to love and respect Dr. Hampton through these many surgeries. Dr. Hampton reconstructed a kneecap for Joey by using the calf of Joey's leg. The whole side of Joey's leg was gone and the kneecap was severed and destroyed. He said he wanted to save as much of the stump as possible to make it easier to fit a prosthetic. Pray about this left leg and knee that it will heal well for Joey to bend and walk. The leg pic was taken yesterday. Thanks for your love and support.
Gail, Joey and Jayme