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thedrifter
09-01-05, 02:08 PM
Injured Marine in ICU burn unit in San Antonio
By Don Wallace

SAN ANTONIO -- Murchison Marine Donnie Goines has started his long road to recovery.

The 21-year-old Lance Corporal was injured Aug. 23 in Iraq when the convoy vehicle he was driving ran over a bomb. The resulting explosion ripped apart the seven-ton truck and left the 2002 Brownsboro High School graduate critically injured.

At first the family was advised of first, second and third degree burns to his hands, legs, arms and face. But when their son arrived 11 p.m. Saturday in San Antonio, the family learned he has other serious injuries.

He is listed in critical, but stable condition in the burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, according to public affairs representative Norma Guerra.

Before he could be transferred to Texas, he had to be treated in Maryland for the special infectious conditions existing in Iraq.

"We found out he is in far worse shape than we knew. If we had known about these other injuries we would have worried even more," said Donnie's father, Donald Goines.

Donnie's mother, Denise, has been at his side with other family members. She also had to be treated in the hospital recently for a flare up of her pre-existing cardiac problems. Her heart conditions has been under careful watch because of the stress the family is enduring.

Mr. Goines said, "We found out about Donnie's other injuries. He had to get a foreign object, a piece of metal, removed from near his left ear, it did not penetrate his skull. His hearing has been affected as has his vision. At times he is still seeing double. The doctors have told us this is not unusual for someone who has been involved in an explosion. He also has a third degree burn on his neck.

"One of his main arteries were cut in half, they had to perform field surgery or he would have died," Mr. Goines said. "His bladder was penetrated during the explosion, but it has been repaired. But he is out of the woods now, they tell us he will make it."

The young Marine faces a lot of hospital and rehabilitation time to recover from his wounds, especially his burns.

"He will be recovering for a long time with his hands, having surgery and skin grafts," Mr. Goines said. "But he's a tough young man, a real fighter. He looks so good to us and I know it does us all good to get to see him."

Before going to Iraq, Lance Cpl. Goines had served a hitch in the Marines and was in the reserves attending TVCC in Athens. When fighting escalated in Iraq, he took special training to drive the heavy duty truck and volunteered for front line duty. Goines had only been in Iraq a few weeks at the time of the explosion.

"We're very proud of Donnie. He is going to face several more surgeries in the next six to eight weeks and then rehab. But we have been with he got here. When we get an address we let people know what it is if they want to send cards to Donnie," Mr. Goines said.

Goines said he appreciates the calls and prayers from people in Murchison and surrounding areas.

"If people wanted to get up a blood drive for Donnie that would be great," MR. Goines said. "He does not need the blood now, but he used a lot in Iraq. Without donated blood he would have died in the field hospital. Donnie has always been a big believer in donating blood, he donated blood every time he could."

Mr. Goines added, "We came down here to support him and now he keeps us going. He is so positive and he makes us feel better chances for a recovery. His attitude keeps us going."

Ellie

Devildogg4ever
09-02-05, 05:15 AM
Had alot of Marine Brothers go to Brooke Army Medical Center after the Fuji fire in 1979! To be sent there, means the burns are real bad. This Marine is going through Hell part 2, now!!