Pray for ‘DJ’ Emery Jr.
As Matt from Blackfive said, “Spirtual Warfare Needed - A lot of you ask what you can do. In some cases, you can do a lot like adopt a soldier or donate to help wounded soldiers (ie. Valour-IT) at Soldiers’ Angels. In other cases, prayers are simply the most and the best that you can do.”
This is one of those cases.
On February 7th, 2007, DJ was at a checkpoint near a crowded place when a terrorist walked up to the Marines. DJ’s Battalion Sergeant Major, Joseph Ellis (a recon Marine of 23 years), suspected that a bomber was approaching and put himself between the bomber and his Marines.
The bomber quickly detonated himself, instantly killing Sergeant Major Ellis. The Sergeant Major’s sacrifice absorbed enough of the blast to barely keep DJ from being killed. DJ was hit hard in his abdomen - an artery was cut causing kidney failure - both legs and one arm were shattered, and, in fact, his wounds were so severe that doctors didn’t think that he’d make it. They had him on a respirator, fighting infection, fever, kidney failure and other problems for a time before he stabilized enough (just barely) to make the flight to Germany where his parents and wife met him. While still unconscious, his family kept telling him to fight. Then, on the 18th, DJ was strong enough to make the trip from Germany to the US (Bethesda).
Both his legs have been amputated and are infected. DJ’s stomach wound is infected and can’t be closed until the infection is gone. And his kidneys are not working still…
At this point, please pray for a miracle.
April 2nd, 2007 at 11:55 am
Thank you for sharing his story. We are all praying for a miracle. We will pray for DJ, his family and the doctors treating him.
April 2nd, 2007 at 12:25 pm
Dylan,
You are a tremendous young man, I cannot put into words how impressed I am with you.
Kevin
April 3rd, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I prayed for DJ after I heard the story on Sunday evening. I checked back on this blog to see if there were any updates on DJ’s health. Let’s hope for a miracle - there is not a more appropriate time of year for one.
April 3rd, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Wendy,
Thank you so much. I am trying to get a medical update. In this case, I think no news is good news, at least I hope so. I do have one thing to add, a story from his hometown newspaper,
Bellefonte to mark ‘D.J. Emery Day’
BELLEFONTE — Bellefonte Mayor Stanley Goldman issued a proclamation at Monday’s council meeting declaring April 21 as “D.J. Emery Day” in Bellefonte to honor a native son and U.S. Marine fighting for his life after being wounded in Iraq.
Cpl. David Emery Jr., 21, was wounded Feb. 7 by a suicide bomber in Anbar province, Iraq, and is clinging to life in a naval hospital in Bethesda, Md., his pregnant wife and family at his side.
With doctors telling his family they are surprised the Marine is holding on, Bellefonte’s mayor recognized his struggle Monday.
“Making one of the greatest sacrifices humanly possible, losing both legs, having a shattered arm and a severe abdominal wound, Cpl. Emery, a shining example of faith and courage, continues at this moment to fight valiantly for his life, with his mother, pregnant wife, and family members lovingly at his side,” Goldman wrote in his proclamation.
Kevin
May 30th, 2007 at 7:35 pm
[...] Back on April 1 Matt from Blackfive put out a call for spiritual warfare, asking for prayers for DJ Emery Jr. Since that time, we have provided periodic updates on DJ here and here. [...]