#207 11/26/2007






My husband is a former Marine who has been 
serving in Iraq as a security contractor for
the Department of Defense. Unortunately, while
in Iraq he was hit so many times by IED's and 
roadside bombs he recieved a temporary brain 
injury from the shockwaves. He has been home
for the past couple of months to heal and have
his short term memory return among other things
and will not be able to go back this time due 
to his injuries. This has been a very hard year
and due to his injuries and my needing to take
care of him we have lost pretty much everything.
It has been the hardest on our 5 year old daughter 
because when we lost our home we had to leave most
of her toys behind too. Despite everything that 
has happened to our family this year she has 
expemplified the Christmas spirit and never asked
for anything for her, but instead offered us her
piggy bank to help us buy food, pay bills, etc. 
While it has broken our hearts that she has even 
been put in the position to feel the need to offer,
 we are so proud of her for her giving, loving 
nature at such a young age. 
 
The only thing she wants for Christmas is for her
and mommy to make daddy something special for 
Christmas dinner because she said her wishes don't 
come true no matter how hard she wishes. Unfortunately,
she is right. Santa is passing by our house this year.
There won't be anything under the tree and we can't 
even afford to do the one thing she did ask for. Our
daughter has prayed everynight for so long for daddy 
to not be killed in Iraq and then prayed for daddy's
booboo on his brain to be healed that it would mean
the world to us to give her one special memory of 
Christmas after the year she has had and let her know
her wishes come true too. People do care her daddy was
hurt in Iraq! If there is anything you can do to help 
us we would be eternally grateful! We are so blessed 
that he is alive and almost completely healed and this 
is the first holiday season he will be home with us for. 
Happy holidays and for those with loved ones still 
deployed, you are in our heart, thoughts and prayers 
until they all come home.
 
Kind Regards,
Victoria Doody