Lukes Wings - David W.

David W.

Request from David W. on November 19, 2009:

Dear Luke's Wings,

My name is Captain David W. I am writing you today to request airplane tickets for my wife and my son close to Christmas time.

On April 28, 2008, I was five months into my deployment and every day seemed a little longer. Right about dusk, my team was coming in from patrol. As we passed a checkpoint, our vehicle was hit by an EFP (Explosively Formed Penetrator). The damage to my legs was devastating. At Walter Reed, the doctors tried salvaging my right leg. The doctors used a rib from my chest and four (4) pounds of muscle from my back. A halo was inserted to hold the leg together. After 14 months of agonizing pain, the leg was amputated due to pain and bone failure. Total recover time is two years. I undergo physical therapy Monday through Friday for 3 hours. I have side effects from previous medications.

All I want right now is to see my son David and my wife Danielle. My son David was born August 8, 2008 (about 5 months after my injury). They returned to Georgia several months ago so David could finish school. There is a long weekend in January when both my wife and son can make the trip back here. It's close to Christmas and it's much sooner than our next possible date in March. My son is just 17 months old now and I don't want to go 6 months without seeing him.

Once I am released from Walter Reed, I'd like to travel home to be with my family. I want to watch David grow up. I want to play golf again. I want to be with my wife when she finishes nursing school. And I hope we can have another child and I can find a nice 9-5 job somewhere.

Please let me know if you can help me see my family around the holidays. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Lukes’ Wings Response on December 4, 2009:

Dear David,

First and foremost, please let us extend to you a message of immense gratitude for your service to our country. We understand your Active Duty Commitment was 11 years. A much greater commitment than most of us will ever make to our country or to each other. David, while we can't do much about the duration of your hospital stay, we can make things a bit better for you this holiday season. Tonight, Luke's Wings is joined by some 350 employees from Booz Allen Hamilton at their annual holiday party. We have agreed to make available whatever funds are necessary to bring Danielle and David to you.

On behalf of all of us at Luke's Wings and all of the wonderfully generous folks at Booz Allen Hamilton, we thank you David and hope our support helps. We are moved by your sacrifice to our country and by your love for your family. We also stand in great admiration of your wife's strong and persevering effort for you and David. We fully understand that service to our country and life as a wounded warrior is something you do as a family.

Thank you again, and God bless you.

Luke’s Wings and Booz Allen Hamilton

Request from Danielle W. on February 13, 2010:

Dear Luke’s Wings,

This application is being filled out by Danielle W. (David’s wife). I am filling this out because I want to surprise my husband, we have not seen him in weeks and he is getting really down about his situation since they amputated his leg. He worked so hard for so long to keep the leg. There were so many surgeries and glimmers of hope. In the end, he lost it.

He was going to drive home this weekend for two weeks and we had hopes of him being able to do a lot of family activities and had made all kinds of plans. However, Dave cannot take leave until his first VA appointment but no one knows when that will be. It is possible that David won’t be able to visit for at least 8-10 more weeks. I have an opportunity this weekend to get up there within my busy school schedule and I would love to surprise him. For David, seeing his son is so important to all of us. He has been such a strong man, husband, and father I would love to do this for him. I think it would really brighten his spirits if I surprised him with our 21 month old son.

We’d like to fly from February 17th through the 21st. I had to go back to Georgia with my son to finish school 4 weeks ago, this weekend I asked for is a long weekend so it would be a perfect time for her to attempt to visit again. I will not have another chance to fly until late Memorial Day weekend due to class schedule.

Please let us know if you can fly us.

Danielle Woodard

Luke’s Wings Response on February 13, 2010:

Dear Danielle,

We are so sorry David is unable to leave the hospital. Of course, in 8-10 weeks we will be happy to fly him home to you. Please let us know when he needs a ticket. In the meantime, please know we are ready, willing and able to fly you to his side. So pack your bags. You’re on a flight next week.

This funding was made possible with our last major fundraiser, The 2010 Fashion Takes Flight Fundraiser on January 20. We are all sure that surprising David with your 21 month old son will bring a smile to his face and a relief to his heart.

Please contact Khim L at MacNaire Travel Management. She has been given approval to book your flights. If you need anything else for their trip, or if you ever need tickets in the future, please contact Jen M. She is your official Luke's Wings liaison. As always, thank you so very much for all that you do for David and for our country. Being a wounded warrior is something you do as a family.

We look forward to serving you in the future.
Luke’s Wings

Note of Thanks from The W.’s on February 24, 2010:

Dear Luke’s Wings,

David was so happy to have us up this past weekend. It was wonderful spending time as a family again. It was great seeing my husband and son playing together. We all needed this time together. Thank you again for all you have done for our family. Being together is the best gift we could have and you have allowed that for us! We are truly grateful! While I don’t have any pictures from our trip, I did want to share some family photos with you.

Thank you again!
The W’s

Pictures