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, April 13, 2011

Surgery #21 scheduled

Surgery #21 has been scheduled.  FYI - Daniel numbers the surgeries by how many times he was in surgery under general anesthetic.  Not by individual procedures - that would be too hard to keep track of since some of his "surgeries" have had many different procedures, doctors, etc..

He goes into the hospital on Sunday May 1st for surgery the next day.  The main surgery will be the reversal of the colostomy.  Yahoo!!!  We are very grateful that he is a candidate for it - there are many guys who keep it for life.  He is likely to be in the hospital for all week and leave with a wound-vac and catheter. Yuck!  They will "piggy back" a couple other procedures while he is out under the anesthetic.

He has had to do a few procedures and tests before this next time "under the knife."  One of these yesterday was VERY unpleasant.  He had a bad reaction to some medication and it caused him to be in a great deal of pain.  Daniel described his pain level at a 7 or 8 out of 10!  That was the worst pain since back at Bethesda Naval Hospital.  Doing okay now, but it took a lot out of him.  Resting today.

He is already looking forward to his next leave which is planned for the end of May for a couple weeks for Aaron's graduation (May 28th) and the Danielathlon (June 4th).
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)