The request from Eric Griego:

Dear Luke’s Wings,

My name is Eric Griego. I am a Calvary Scout in the United States Army. On October 18, 2010 (last year), we were guarding a road in the Kandahar Province of Afghanistan. We were ambushed and began to take fire. I was shot in the left collar bone. It went through my chest, destroying the top portion of my left lung, it threaded through the aortic arch of my heart, disconnected my heart from the heart sack, and completely shredded my right lung. I had my right lung completely removed and 1/3 of the left lung. Due to infection and complications, 3 ribs and part of my shoulder blade have since been removed to get access to infection and to staple my lung stem. A muscle was also removed from the right side and wrapped around my right lung stem to prevent leakage in the future. There is currently a huge open hole in that area and the dressings need to be changed twice a day.
I currently need another surgery to close the gaping hole in my back that was created to get to the infection in my chest.

My mother has been here with me since I was shot in October and hasn’t left. She helps me every day as my NMA (non medical attendant). She has been the one responsible for changing my bandages on a daily basis since I got out of the hospital on April 3rd.  Unfortunately; she had to leave her job working at the Mesa Public Schools District Office. Half of my family’s income was lost. Recently, my father was in a car accident and has been unable to go to his job at Intel. The only income that we have right now is my regular paychecks but even that is not enough to cover bills, much less the luxury of plane tickets. My family means the world to me. I’ve learned that I have to take life one day at a time at this point in my life. All I want is to be with my family. I have not seen them since January. It is important to me that they are all there to see me receive my Purple Heart.

If it is possible for Luke’s Wings to help me, I would like my Dad, brother, sister, and daughter to visit me while I’m in Fort Campbell to receive my Purple Heart and Medal of Valor.

Sincerely, Eric Griego

Luke’s Wings Response on 6.26.11:

Dear Eric,

We have been following your story since last November. When you were shot, several of our friends in Germany contacted us about flights for your brother and sister to visit you in Germany. Your service to our great Republic is a humbling inspiration to all of us who have yet to serve. And we stand in awe of your determination and effort to recover as you have. There is no doubt that you have earned your Purple Heart and your Medal of Valor. We also understand that your family has lost income in order to be with you during your long and difficult recovery.

Please let us relieve some of your burden. Please tell your dad, brother, sister, and daughter to pack their bags for their trip. Providing you and your family with plane tickets is the very least we can do to repay you for your service and sacrifice and we hope it is only the beginning in terms of the support we’d like to provide in the future.

On behalf of all our volunteers, we promise to continue to support you and your family with airplane tickets until you are well again and home safely with your family. Congratulations on your Purple Heart and Medal of Valor, God’s Speed to your family.

Sincerely
Luke’s Wings

Dear readers, on behalf of Luke’s Wings, we thank you for your support and we ask you to please make a donation today at www.lukeswings.org so that we may continue to fund flights for our wounded warriors and their families. Please also email us about corporate sponsorship opportunities to information@lukeswings.org. Thank you again for all your help.