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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe story of Taylor Morris (PHOTOS)
Last edited Thu May 31, 2012, 04:21 PM - Edit history (1)
Taylor Morris learned at an early age he was hooked on the outdoors, adventurous, the middle of 4 children and always the last one inside for dinner at his home in Cedar Falls, Iowa. His mother Juli recalled, "Our family took a camping trip from Niagra Falls down the East Coast one summer. Taylor set up the tents every night, started the fires, cooked the meals. Taylor was only 8 years old." As Taylor grew older and took to extreme water sports and rock climbing, Taylor discovered he was also very calm under extreme pressure. This quality would later make him the perfect candidate for the Navy's EOD, Explosive Ordinance Disposal.
Leading a team of Army Special forces to a classified location, Taylor stepped on an IED. It exploded underneath him and blew off all four of his limbs. Taylor recalled the moment to me over the phone, "As soon as I stepped on it, I knew. There was a moment, then I heard the blast. I felt the heat. I knew I had lost my legs. As I summersaulted through the air, I watched my legs fly off."
After the explosion, Taylor didn't lose consciousness, he didn't go into shock. His thoughts immediately crystalized. Even though Taylor was bleeding to death, he called to the oncoming medics NOT to come get him, putting their safety in front of his own life. "I recounted the moment of the explosion. There was no visual on the mine and no sound ID on my mine detector. That told me the mine was old. If there were other mines out there, the medics wouldn't see them or detect them unless it was cleared properly. I knew I had arterial bleeding from all 4 limbs and I was bleeding out fast. I told my buddies to stop, it would only have hurt me more if somebody stepped on another one."
Three days later on May 6th Taylor landed back in the States and was transported to Walter Reed hospital in Washington D.C. to begin the long and painful rehab process. Upon his arrival, Taylor became only the 5th person at Walter Reed to ever survive a four limb amputation. His physical progression in the last three weeks has defied everybody's expectations, "My body is responding well. I'm already sitting up. I'm very fortunate." Just yesterday, the stitches in his arms were removed and he was fitted for prosthetics.
tk2kewl
(18,133 posts)librechik
(30,678 posts)hedgehog
(36,286 posts)tabatha
(18,795 posts)Amerigo Vespucci
(30,885 posts)Amerigo Vespucci
(30,885 posts)You'll pardon the late DAR today. As many of you know, we posted a story about Taylor Morris, the Navy EOD tech who lost all four of his limbs when a mine exploded underneath him in Afghanistan last month. I asked the Chivers to raise $30,000 for a down payment on his dream cabin when he was finally able to return home to Iowa.
The Chivers had other ideas. They dismissed the idea of a down payment and decided to pay for the entire log cabin instead. We raised the goal of $30,000 in an hour flat.
In the last 3 hours since I posted it, Taylor's story has gone viral. We have just crossed the $95,000. We're on the cusp of hitting $100,000!!! I'm speechless at the Chivers' generosity as is Taylor and the entire Morris family. I will continue update the page through today into tomorrow.
Original Story HERE. Donate HERE.
Super-Awesome Update: We just hit $100,000 and the donations show no sign of stopping.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)oh amerigo... this one gets me in the heart....
PotatoChip
(3,186 posts)I love that people generously donated enough money to buy a home for him. But otoh, it's such a shame that this young man had to suffer the consequences of the prolonged Afghanistan clusterfuck.
I was not opposed to our mission to wipe out Al Quieda and the Taliban in Afghanistan- originally. I believe if we had been able to focus on that, and only on that, we would have been out of there a long time ago. But of course, Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld et all had other plans. Brought us into Iraq for no reason other then to enrich themselves and their friends. In the meantime, Afghanistan was allowed to degenerate to the point that there was/is little hope of regaining control. We need to get out.
Thank you Amerigo for the article.
ohiosmith
(24,262 posts)ohiosmith
(24,262 posts)This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. (See <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=aboutus#communitystandards" target="_blank">Community Standards</a>.)
ALERTER'S COMMENTS:
I don't mind the post, however, it should come with a graphic warning about the images in the title!
You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Thu May 31, 2012, 04:59 PM, and the Jury voted 0-6 to LEAVE IT.
Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Rather than alerting, why not PM the OP. the only reason I don't consider this alert a waste of time is I would not have seen this post otherwise. And it needs to be seen.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Leave it alone. To the person that alerted on this -- sorry, but you wasted our time with "it should come with a graphic warning" ? Yes, some of the images are rough. War is rough. The stories need to be told.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Hey alerter: ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?????? You should be ashamed of yourself.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Agree with alerter as regards the "graphic warning". Leave the post.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Really, and Alert on this?
Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.
Amerigo Vespucci
(30,885 posts)Given the way this was handled, I'm going to say "have a nice day" to the alerter instead. If they'd replied in the thread and politely requested a "graphic warning" I probably would have done it. Now, I'm not going to do it.
unapatriciated
(5,390 posts)I would ask the alerter if he/she adverts their eyes when meeting a person with disabilities in real life. Is the physical appearance the only thing they value in their fellow man? I saw a courageous handsome young man.
obamanut2012
(26,165 posts)Even though said people are so "uplifting" and "inspiring."
UGH.
OriginalGeek
(12,132 posts)graphic warning my fucking ass.
Don't do it AV and thank you for the thread.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)Go take a walk.
obamanut2012
(26,165 posts)It doesn't. A bandaged man in a hospital bed is not "graphic." Showing him in the dirt with his four limbs spraying blood would be graphic.
Ridiculous.
yellowcanine
(35,703 posts)It is also a mistake for the U.S. military to be hiding the reality of war from the American people. We need to see these images. It is too easy to forget that we are at war and young people are being put in harm's way.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)malaise
(269,237 posts)and for what?
Bigmack
(8,020 posts)bluesbassman
(19,383 posts)As a vet, I applaud Taylor's service to his country.
As a citizen, I deplore that he suffered these life altering injuries being somewhere we should not be.
Quantess
(27,630 posts)WillParkinson
(16,862 posts)And the story of a very brave man.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)Meiko
(1,076 posts)right now and any other place in the middle east we have set up little hidey holes, enough is enough.
Amerigo Vespucci
(30,885 posts)Late Night Update: I'll continue these updates first thing in the morning. Even late into the night the donations continue to surge. We've hit $143,000. You've exceeded the initial goal by over $100,000. Words escape me.
Mosby
(16,394 posts)Amerigo Vespucci
(30,885 posts)Many of the early comments read something like, Screw the down payment. Lets get him the whole cabin instead. The donations began to surge. I received an email from a family friend watching Taylors donation page. John, the donations appear to be coming in faster since we hit our goal. How? This is insane!
Not insane really, just how the Chivers have always rolled. Minutes ago, donations blasted past $200,000 $170,000 more than we asked for.
Taylors story is just beginning. The local and national media are now decsending upon the Morris family to help spread his inspirational story and Ill keep you posted on the new developments. In the meantime, enjoy your weekend, youve earned it. Donate right here.
http://thechive.com/2012/06/01/daily-afternoon-randomness-39-hq-photos/