Four-year-old Daughter’s First Steps Cheers Military Mom

Fox news reported this heart-warming story on Christmas Eve.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. —  Little Cheyenne Leslie entered the Ocean Medical Center and ran into the arms of her physical therapist, to the cheers of smiling staff workers as the girl seemed unhindered by her arm and leg brace. It was a dress rehearsal of sorts. Read the rest of the story here.

All Gave Some

Our Memorial Garden at the Veterans Center features a brass plaque that reads “All Gave Some, Some Gave All.”  Here’s the Billy Ray Cyrus song that insipred it.  We thought our readers would like it, so we’re posting it here.

Christmas Cheer for a Marine

From Tampa Bay Online.

RIVERVIEW – Marine Lance Cpl. John T. Doody was recovering nicely from injuries sustained when a sniper attacked him in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2007.

Then another enemy struck. A staph infection broke off and headed to his brain, cutting off oxygen and leaving him comatose for four months. Doctors said the 25-year-old would likely never again have high-brain function.

Physicians at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego recommended Doody transfer to the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa. That was in February. Since then, Doody’s mother, Chris Ott, has seen considerable progress.

Although confined to a wheelchair and blind, the young retired Marine can talk and understand. But he needs lots of help.  Read the story here of how the community pulled together for this young Marine.