Miracles in the MATC

Every weekday, Seth visits the Military Athletic Training Center (MATC) for physical and occupational therapy.We see miracles every visit--guys with every imaginable combination of amputations walking, running, lifting weights, etc. On Wednesday, we saw Bryan try out his new legs. Most guys start with short legs to help learn balance. Not Bryan. He got the 6-foot legs right off the bat.





We also got to see our "boots on the ground"--Tom and El who used to bring cookies, hugs and friendship every Tuesday and Thursday at the old Walter Reed Medical Center. The new WRNMMC is a little stringent in vetting volunteers, so Tom and El haven't been able to visit the wards, but they found that they can show up in the MATC without a problem. Tom lost both legs in 1952 in the Korean War. El was his physical therapist--and the rest is history.



Another small miracle happened today after Seth's appointment in the MATC. The wound care nurse Leslie came to dress his wounds. As we visited with her, she told us that her brother is a double amputee who was injured two years ago today. He had internal injuries very similar to Seth's. She told Seth how they all resolved--in one way or another--and that he now skis almost full time for the para-Olympic cross-country team. I think it did Seth good to hear about the similarities in their injuries; I know it did me good.

It is still a fight. We learned yesterday that some issues that we thought would be resolved in a few weeks will probably take months. Seth is again receiving huge doses of antibiotics to fight off nasty infections that are common in Afghanistan vets and hospital patients in general.

Grandma and Grandpa Newman arrived today; aunt Linda leaves tomorrow. We are so grateful for familiar faces!