Letter from an injured SEAL

Hello to All,

Sorry it has been so long since we have provided an update, aside from climbing Mt. Everest (No Oxygen), exploring the Marianas Trench (Breath hold of course), and training for the Ironman (with a ruck), I have not been doing much.:) All kidding aside, we have been busy traveling and sorting out the best plan for the future.

Most of you know we traveled to Chicago and met with Dr. Gary Burget and Dr. Robert Walton, unquestionably, two of the world's best nasal reconstruction surgeons (Just ask Google). Dr. Walton, a micro-vascular surgeon, felt there were more advanced procedures that could be done to my face that would lend themselves to results that would last a lifetime and enable me to dive.

The Bethesda surgeons have done a great job of putting me back together (Humpty Dumpty??) initially, but they acknowledged that the procedures that Dr. Walton spoke of were cutting edge medical technology that they did not have the ability to do, so were referred out through Tricare.

Then came the waiting game. Both Doctors from Chicago were out of town for two weeks so had to wait until they got back. Once they did, Dr. Walton felt that the level of damage to my sinuses and facial bones required someone with more expertise in that specific field, so last week we called and met with a facial reconstruction surgeon and dental surgeon out of John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He specializes in facial gun shot wounds and was able to show us many other cases he had worked on in the past very similar to my injuries. He has even treated two Army Special Operations guys who got shot in the face also. He also addressed that my jaw was still messed up and would need to be fixed. So, after discussing his schedule, he had an opening on Dec. 21 or February 20. Well, Erica and I discussed it, and no need to add two montns to already a two year process. So, we head to Baltimore tomorrow for the Pre-Op and then surgery first thing Friday morning, then seven days inpatient to monitor and heal. So, Christmas in the hospital this year...Oh, well we're ready to get this train moving. The kids are going home to Louisville to spend Christmas with Erica's family and we will have ours after we get back home.

As for my arm, it is still fused until we do the surgery. January 9'h we head back to Bethesda, to X-ray and evaluate the rate of bone growth so hopefully the Doctors can determine when they can remove the excess bone and do the bone graft on the head of my humerus. I figure only about two weeks after that, I'11 be back 100%. That's about it.

Oh, well there is one more thing... Those of you that were able to come to the Bethesda hospital remember the sign that I had on my door. I've included a picture for those of you who did not see it. Well, apparently, a doctor took a picture of that sign and e-mailed it out to his friend and it took off from there being sent all over the intemet. It made it into the hands of a CNN news repofter who called the command in charge of all SEALs and asked to interview me. I said no (I mean, C'mon CNtr{, why not FOX? ). Any.wayi, a Fox news military analyst apparently came to receive it, and happened to know our current SEAL Admiral and called him about it. well, long story short, the command thinks it is a good idea (no last names or locations, ofcourse). I am not sold yet, but I have agreed to sit down and talk to him to hear what he wants to do and express my concems. So, we will see on that one. Last week, I received a Bronze Star with Valor for my actions on June 21 and the night of the firefight where I was wounded. well, I have rambled on enough for now. I hope all of you are good and ready for Christmas. Happy Holidays to everyone and look forward to seeing all of you sometime in the near future. Keep us in your prayers. I included a Christmas poem that a good man sent me. It is very appropriate for this time of year and recognizes the sacrifices that soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen make for America's freedom. I hope vou all take the time to read it.

Happy Holidays,

Jay, Erica, Austin, Sierra, and Aspen

Here is the letter that hung outside of my hospital room: