Help needed for a Wounded Warrior

We often get asked if Black Dog Salvage is a family business.  The answer is YES - while we all may not be related by blood - we are a definitely a family, with many extended family members. We now have an extended family member who is a wounded warrior in need of help.

I just received this email from Mike's (Black Dog co-owner) sister Jeanni, asking if we can help spread the word about her best friend's son, Reese, who recently suffered a traumatic injury while serving in Afghanistan.

Any help you can lend would be very much appreciated!

Please see below for Jeanni's letter:

TSgt Daniel Reese Hines is the oldest son of my best friend Renee Kennedy. Reese has served the last 11 years in the US Air Force, most of that time spent in Afghanistan and Iraq, disarming bombs and IEDs so that women, children and other American soldiers would not be killed going about their daily lives.

On April 9th, 2011 Reese was disarming an IED manually when the unspeakable happened. It blew up and blew him up. God was good. There were incredible medics, and other soldiers there who went to work immediately to save Reese's life. It took more that 30 hrs of surgery over the next two days before he was stable enough to move out of Afghanistan. A week in Germany, then on to Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Reese lost his right eye, most of the vision in his left eye, his right index finger and most of the function of his right hand and wrist. Nearly lost his right arm and hand. Had his left leg badly damaged. His face was mostly blown off and has been reconstructed. He has a long, long road of rehab. ahead of him and we still don't know if he will regain enough of use of his right hand or his vision to be independent or of use to the Air Force.

His mother Renee, who is an experienced trauma nurse, knew what it was going to take to keep Reese alive and moving in the right direction, as far as his recovery was concerned. She left her job and her husband in Alaska to stay at her son's side and help like only a mother can.

In the last 6 months she has lost her job, spent most, if not all, of her savings. In addition to everything, her husband Scott has been fighting tonsil cancer since October of 2010 and has gone it alone for the past 6 months. I can only imagine how scared they all are about the uncertainty of the future.

I tell you all this because I feel strongly that we can help. My family and I know and love this family like they were our own. Renee's boys and my two children were born at the same time, went to daycare together and grew up together. We want very much to take on and support a Wounded Warrior and His or Her Family. Why not one of our own.

Reese is a good man and the father of two young sons. Renee is one of the best people I have ever known. We are asking all of you to reach deep into your hearts, and pockets, and help us help them. I promise to keep everyone updated on where your help is going and Reese's progress as time goes on.

If you are able to help, please click on the 'donate' button below or send checks to Black Dog Salvage (address below) and they will forward them to Renee.  Thank you in advance for what ever you can do to this family. God Bless You All.

Jeanni Hill

hillbie@carolina.rr.com

Please make checks payable to 'Renee Kennedy' and mail to:

Mike Whiteside
c/o Black Dog Salvage
902 13th Street SW
Roanoke, VA 24016

*** We will also have a change jar here at Black Dog for any contributions.

Many, many thanks!

Christa and the extended Black Dog Family