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I wanted to share some heartwarming news with you all. Below is the story of how CSAH help give the Ewell family a very merry Christmas...

CSAH first met the Gordy and Terra Ewell at the 2007 Road to Recovery Conference and Tribute in Orlando, Florida at the beginning of December. Gordy's Operation Iraqi Freedom tour extended beyond 1 year; he survived several multiple blast exposures from March of 2006 to October of 2006 which resulted in vision loss, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and hearing loss. An initial blast blew out an impacted wisdom tooth from vocal plate, fractured all the teeth in front, and his left mandible was shattered. He also suffered a broken neck and currently suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

When we first met Gordy at the Conference, we also met his wife Terra and their six children, ranging from toddlers to teens. Since returning home from Iraq with new disabilities, Gordy and Terra have been struggling to maintain their home and family life. It is hard for Gordy to be the same dad that he was when he left. By sharing their inspiring story at the conference, they touched and moved us all.

When an opportunity came up to nominate a veteran and their family for the Montel Williams Christmas Special we were sure to recommend Gordy and Terra because we knew that they would be the perfect fit for a Christmas show dedicated to our troops. When Terra heard the news she said with a selfless courage, "But isn't there anyone who needs this more than we do?"

On the show, Gordy, Terra, and their six children received over $40,000 worth of gifts and cash including a new Hynudai Santa Fe SUV (complete with big red bow and the taxes paid), grocery gift card, and electronics. Their two oldest daughters, Shelby (17) and Jaime (15) are remarkable young women who, in light of their father's injuries, have taken on more responsibility than most teenagers could imagine. Because of their hard work, Montel rewarded them specifically with spa packages, affording them a break from their everyday responsibilities.

Gordy, like many others who serve our country, has made an insurmountable sacrifice to serve our nation. Montel said it best - "the greatest gift that anyone of us have in this country is our freedom." We are proud to give back to Gordy and his supportive family for all that they have given to us.

Best wishes,

Dan Vargas

Director of the Family Support Network for CSAH