Welcome

The family and friends of Cpl. Daniel C. W. Riley, USMC, welcome you to join in as we celebrate and support the life of an incredible young man, friend, son, and brother. It is with great love and with many prayers we know that Daniel will move on to great and wonderful things. God has big plans for him! Daniel was born in Victoria, BC, Canada. In 1999 his family (Dad, Mum, brothers Tristan and Aaron, & sister Elizabeth, & cat) moved to Denver, Colorado, where his dad began working for the Episcopal Church in Colorado overseeing work with children, youth, and young adults. Daniel started high school in 1999 at Columbine High School. After three years at CHS he finished his high school at Brentwood College in Canada in 2004. After which he did some college and worked in the US and Canada. Daniel enlisted (still a Canadian citizen) in US Marine Corps in 2008 to serve his new country and to help pay for a future college education. On July 4, 2009 Daniel swore in as a US citizen before the Vice-President in Sadam Hussein's old palace in Bagdad, Iraq. In September 2010 he was sent as a combat replacement for the 2/6 Marines in Marjah, Afghanistan. On December 16, 2010, Daniel was severely wounded by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). He primarily suffered severe wounds to his legs, left arm, and left lung. There were many times he was close to not making it. He has since had both legs amputated above the knee and three fingers amputated on his left hand. His lung and other injuries are healing well. Before this event and for many years to come, we know Daniel to be a loving, caring, intellegent, humourous, giving, adventurous, and deep thinking person. Keep praying! And use this blog to share your thoughts and encouragement.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

An "Average" Day

It is hard to imagine an "average" day.  It is even harder to imagine a "normal" day.  We are constantly reminded throughout every day that what we see and experience is anything but "normal".  Daniel comments often how we are now in the midst of a new "normal".  Regardless, I thought it might be helpful for you all to have an example of an average day.

0545 - Dad wakes up
0600 - Daniel gets up and is given his first round of medications
0715 - Be at "formation" with the other marines here in the building (some are here from other bases with a variety of ills) to meet with the squad leader and getting any "word" on anything.
0830 - first appointment of the day (usually primary care doctors, nurse practitioners, etc.)
0900 - check in with Medical Case Manager
0930 - get a coffee (Dad gets his tea) at the outdoor coffee stand
1000 - appointment (perhaps with Occupational Therapy for 30-45 minutes)
1100 - appointment (could be prosthetics, wound care, otolaryngology)
1200-ish - lunch and hopefully a nap or go see the Recovery Care Coordinator
1330 - Physical Therapy appointment (working out in their gym - especially core exercises)
1500 - afternoon formation
1600 - doing errands, maybe napping, other meetings, or recreation therapy
1800 - dinner (Dad and Daniel will be sharing the cooking) then free time reading, computer, TV, or the Liberty Center
2100 - Evening Meds
2200 - final meds and bed time (exhausted!!)

Daniel generally get himself around in his powered wheelchair with dad trying to keep up behind him.  When we leave the base Daniel transfers to a manual wheelchair.  He hopes to get his own custom manual one in April.

We live in the "barracks" here at the facility.  It can be equated to college dorm rooms. The two of us have our own rooms and share a bathroom and common space with fridge, sink, cupboards, and microwave.

Dad
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