Family and friends:
For the next little while, this site is going to be almost exclusively dedicated to updates on my brother, Lance Corporal Aaron Rice. For those of you who do not know, Aaron is a Marine Reservist and was serving in Iraq until last Friday, March 18, when he was injured by a roadside bomb as he was driving a Humvee in the Al-Anbar province. Aaron was severely injured in the blast and was flown to Germany, where the lower part of his left leg had to be amputated below the knee. He has other injuries, but they are not as severe, and Aaron’s condition has been consistently stable since the attack. On Sunday, he was flown to Bethesda Maryland, where he will stay until he is healed up enough to go to Walter Reed Memorial Hospital for rehabilitation. If all goes well, this will take at least two months.
Back home in Mississippi, my family has been deluged with phone calls from friends and family members wanting to know how Aaron is doing and what they can do for our family. Mom and Dad are leaving today to travel to Bethesda Naval Hospital to be with Aaron, and his wife Kelly, who flew to Maryland last night. While they are in Maryland, they need to be able to spend as much uninterrupted time with Aaron and Kelly as possible, so we need to take some of the pressure off their phone lines right now. I am going to act as the liason for the family and post updates here as often as there is new information to report. If you have a specific question or a message you would like to send to Mom, Dad, Aaron or Kelly, you may email me at haley@wachdorf.com or click on the “Comment” button on this site, leave a comment, and I will take care of it. For now, the most helpful thing for people to do is to pray for Aaron and spread the word that updates will be posted here.
We also have the following request to make of you: As of now, Ryan, Aaron’s twin brother, does not know about what has happened. Ryan is in the final stages of Marine basic training at Parris Island, South Carolina. This week, he has to go through the Crucible, a grueling several-day hike and endurance training exercise that is the last major hurdle of boot camp. The family has decided that it is best to wait until Ryan finishes with the Crucible sometime later this week before we tell him about Aaron. If anyone is in touch with Ryan through mail, as we know many of you have been since he has been in boot camp, please do not say anything to him about Aaron. We will decide what is the best time to tell him, and when he have, we will let you know. Please pray for Ryan.
As of 9 a.m. Monday morning, here is what we know about Aaron’s condition:
Aaron has arrived safely in Bethesda. Kelly also arrived after some major flight complications and has seen Aaron, although he is still sedated as he has been since the attack. She said he looks good. This morning, further surgery is being done on the area where Aaron’s leg was amputated, and if all goes well, he should be allowed to wake up from sedation sometime tonight or early tomorrow. We are thankful that Kelly will be able to be there when he wakes up. Aaron does not know what has happened, so please pray that God will prepare Aaron to hear this news. Pray also that his healing will not be hindered by infections or other complications and that he will experience as little pain as possible.
Please pray for Kelly. She is alone right now in a hospital that is, needless to say, not an uplifting place. Pray that people will treat her kindly in these anxious hours while Aaron is still unconscious, and pray that she will be encouraged in spite of the grim situation.
As I’ve said, Mom and Dad are flying to Maryland tonight. Please pray that their flights will go smoothly and they will arrive on schedule. They very much want to be with Kelly and Aaron soon, and a smooth flight schedule would help immensely.
I will post more when there is more to report. We thank you all so much for your love and support. Please continue to pray with us. God is both sovereign and merciful and he hears us. That is perhaps the most comforting thought we can find in all of this.
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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on March 21, 2005 12:00 PM.
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Comments (18)
I just wanted to let you know that I have been and will continue to pray for Aaron, Kelly, you, and the rest of your family. My heart goes out to all of you!
Posted by Hannah Wachdorf | March 21, 2005 1:38 PM
Posted on March 21, 2005 13:38
Thanks so much, Hannah. Ask the RUF group at A&M to pray also. What's that saying ... The prayers of the Aggies avail much? :) I want to hear about your trip to Peru as soon as things calm down a little bit.
Posted by Haley | March 21, 2005 2:49 PM
Posted on March 21, 2005 14:49
The Zion Church elders are praying as well...
Posted by Rebecca | March 21, 2005 3:28 PM
Posted on March 21, 2005 15:28
Thank you, Rebecca. We have been amazed at how many people we don't even know personally are praying for us thanks to friends and family all over the country and the world. Tell Zion we appreciate their prayers.
Posted by Haley | March 21, 2005 3:38 PM
Posted on March 21, 2005 15:38
You know our prayers are with all of you. If you need ANYTHING or just wanna hang out and talk, let me know. Also come by and have dinner with us if you have any meetings this week. You know our door is always open. "Be still, and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10.
Posted by Shanelle | March 21, 2005 4:43 PM
Posted on March 21, 2005 16:43
We, here on the left coast, are saying our prayers as well. Aunt Luigi is devastated and ready to get some payback but we'll settle for thinking positively about both the boys. Our friends are sending "white light" to surround the entire family during this time. Love to y'all.
Posted by Unca Steve & Aunt Luigi | March 21, 2005 5:13 PM
Posted on March 21, 2005 17:13
Thanks so much Unca Steve and Aunt Luigi. As soon as Aaron is up and talking, I know he's going to want y'all to call and make him laugh. That is, once we all get done yelling at him for scaring us so much. Feel free to call and make me laugh while you're at it. We so appreciate all your friends taking such an interest in us even though they've never met us. It's really kind of them. Thank them for us, please. Love y'all.
Posted by Haley | March 21, 2005 5:22 PM
Posted on March 21, 2005 17:22
Haley, I am so proud of you for what you are doing for your family. I know how much family unity means at times like this. I admire all of your family and as you know, your trust in God is well founded. I also thank God that he was not ready for Aaron. I will be praying for you all and Aaron. All of the different State Police Units and Federal agencies I work with are praying also for you all. If there is anything I can do for any of you all either as as State Trooper or as a family member, please let me know. Take care and God Bless ! Uncle Steve
Posted by Uncle Steve J | March 22, 2005 9:34 AM
Posted on March 22, 2005 09:34
Haley, just wanted to let you know that Grant and I are praying for you and your family--Especially for Aaron and Kelly. Like Shanelle said, if you need anything, just let us know.
Posted by Kelly Spear | March 22, 2005 10:55 AM
Posted on March 22, 2005 10:55
Thanks, Uncle Steve. I really am just so glad to have something useful to way way out here. Thank you for asking everyone down there to pray for us. Keep it up. Kelly, I appreciate you and Grant so much and I know we can ask you for anything we need.
Posted by Haley | March 22, 2005 11:32 AM
Posted on March 22, 2005 11:32
Haley: I had the great pleasure of working with Aaron in the Governor's campaign in 2003 and we love Aaron so much and are so proud of him. You should know that all of us from the campaign and in the Governor's office are praying for Aaron, Kelly and all of your family. Along with a ton of people in Yazoo City...thank you for your updates - they really help.
Posted by Henry Barbour | March 22, 2005 1:03 PM
Posted on March 22, 2005 13:03
Thank you so much, Mr. Barbour. I know Aaron views working on the campaign as one of the greatest experiences of his life, and I am glad to know that it has also brought another group of friends to pray for him. Aaron will be so honored to know that so many people are pulling for him. I'm hoping to talk to him later today and I will tell him hello for all of you in Jackson and Yazoo City. We are so grateful to y'all.
Posted by Haley | March 22, 2005 1:16 PM
Posted on March 22, 2005 13:16
Haley- Everyone at Second Pres. is praying for Aaron, Kelly, and your whole family. Thank you for the web update- it will enable us to pray more specifically. I know you are having a hard time being so far away, but this web update is such a tangible way to help. We love all of you Rice's. Give our love to Randy and Debbie and Aaron and Kelly. In Christ, Hank and Elizabeth Remington
Posted by Elizabeth Remington | March 22, 2005 8:03 PM
Posted on March 22, 2005 20:03
Haley, As the dean of students at Mississippi State University I met with Aaron prior to his deployment. We discussed the values of honor, duty,and country - values that we both hold dear. He is a young man with a purpose and what a wonderful young man he is. Aaron is exactly the kind of student we want at MSU. My thoughts and prayers are with the Rice family. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance.
Posted by Mike White | March 23, 2005 5:00 PM
Posted on March 23, 2005 17:00
Halley! I just wanted to tell you that pretty much all of Louisiana is praying for Aaron and Kelley, and the rest of the family.Please tell everyone including Aaron and Kelley that I love them very much, and will continue to pray for them. I love you dearly and hope to see you soon! Love always, Lauren <><.
Posted by Lauren Jackson | March 26, 2005 10:44 AM
Posted on March 26, 2005 10:44
Haley,
I am, LaNita Douglas, your mother's 1st cousin. My mother is Lillian Smith, Aunt Merry's sister.
I am so sorry for the horrible tragedy.
I have already put Aaron on our church prayer list.We are praying for ya'll in Newton,Ms.Thank you so much for keeping us informed about Aaron. Tell your sweet mother and daddy I love them. Send Aunt Merry and Austin my love. I know you will feel the prayers around the world for your brothers. God Bless you and your family.
LaNita and Bob Douglas
Posted by LaNita Douglas | March 29, 2005 8:12 AM
Posted on March 29, 2005 08:12
The folks at Wesley Southern Methodist Church in Hattiesburg, MS (Rick and Tammy's church) are praying for Aaron, Kelly and the entire family.
Posted by Gale Pigott | March 30, 2005 9:31 PM
Posted on March 30, 2005 21:31
Hi Haley,
I wrote a message on March 29, and it came back saying their was a virus. I do not know if you got it or not. Please email me and give me an update on Aaron. I am sending this through my home email instead of school email.
Send my love and let me know if you receive this.
Love you!
LaNita
Posted by LaNita | April 2, 2005 11:33 AM
Posted on April 2, 2005 11:33