"Alive Date" for Wes
Feb 8th, 2009 will mark the one year anniversary of that horrible day that changed the lives of 10 soldiers and their families forever. The anniversary day of an almost death is called the "Alive Date" and is a big deal. Tammy (Wes' mom) is having a get together at the house with family and friends to share this day with Wes and to honor those who were with him on that day. There will also be a moment of silence for those lost forever. - Subbmitted by Teri Fisher
Check back for pictures of this event.
PFC Wes Hixon's Story
PFC Wesley Hixon, now Specialist, of 1st BN, 21st Infantry Reg, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division was critically injured in Iraq on February 8, 2008. The Stryker Wes was driving hit a 500-pound improvised explosive device (IED),Wes remembers hanging upside down still strapped into his seat belt in a twisted heap of metal, for what he later learned was about two hours. He also remembers a member of the recovery team telling someone else that "Hixon is dead." He was amongst the fallen Hero’s that were in the cab of the Stryker.
The recovery team had to cut the Stryker open just to get close to Wes. Once near him they found that he had a faint pulse. They used the Jaws of Life to free him. At this point Wes was hemorrhaging internally. They gave him 3+ units of blood and ventilated him on the scene, just so that he could make the six mile medevacked to Baghdad. Once at Baghdad they assessed his injuries: hemorrhaging liver, lacerated kidney, ten broken ribs, blasted lung (his lungs were ripped away from his chest lining and badly bruised), over 50 fractures with from his neck down in his spinal column, and three vertebra completely gone. We would later learn that he was paralyzed from the chest down.
Doctors performed an emergency surgery to repair his liver and kidney’s. They did an exploratory chest cavity surgery to ensure his arteries were intact. He received seven more units of blood in Baghdad. He began to stabilize and if there was any chance for his survival they need to get him to Germany. Once airborne his lungs could not handle the altitude change, so Wes had a complete pulmonary shut down (he died). The medical team had to do an emergency landing in Balad where a massive resuscitation effort took place that brought him back to life. He was in Balad for six hours and stabilized again. Airborne again, he headed to Kuwait when his lungs crashed again. Another massive resuscitation took place and they brought him back again. At this point Wes had received a total of 18+ units of blood. The Army called the family to tell them Wes made it to Germany and the doctors felt the soldier would benefit if the family was at his bedside. No one actually said Wes would not make it, but they did say that if the situation looked grim, the family would be called. The family went to Germany with the highest of hopes and many many prayers behind them and Wes.
Wes' family took an expedited flight to DC to obtain a rushed passport. Twelve hours later they arrived at his bedside in Germany. By this time Wes had began to become more stable. The doctors in Germany told the family Wes needed more aggressive care, and they medevacked him to Walter Reed Medical Center in DC. The family left Germany and flew to DC on a commercial airline.
Once in DC, the doctors noted that Wes had developed a severe case of pneumonia. They needed to get the ventilator out and have him sitting upright so they could treat this complication. In order for them to do that they needed to stabilize his spinal column. It was an eight hour surgery. The surgeons inserted a titanium metal cage to connect each portion of his spinal column and ran titanium rods down both sides of his spine and fused the whole column. This was a huge risk as Wesley was still very weak and his breathing was still being supported by the ventilator; but it needed to be done.
Because of the ventilator, Wes could not talk. However, anyone could see the fear in his eyes. Forty-eight hours after the surgery the doctors decided to take out the ventilator. He could not move anything, but he could talk. One of Wes’ first words were to Tammy, “mama they brought me back to life!” Tammy responded, “yes honey, they did and we are here for you.” Then Wes said with tears in his eyes, “mama, I just want to go home.” We all celebrated his 23rd birthday in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Walter Reed Medical Center.
Wes is a miracle and is now in Seattle Puget Sound VA Hospital, where he was in bed due to complications from March 31, 2008 until just recently. Wes also has to deal with the fact that he lost four comrades and friends that were in the cab of the Stryker with him . It is in Gods hands now, but he is very happy to be alive and in good spirits.
Tammy normally works in Spokane on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and then she flies or drives Wednesday night to Seattle to be with Wes through Sunday. Scott drives over on Fridays when he can and stays the weekend. Then they drive home. Wes' family has been doing this since March 12, 2008 and will continue doing this until Wes comes home. The army is reimbursing some of the expenses (for hotel and for meals) Yet, the travel expenses and parking expenses are not covered. When Tammy, his mother, walks into Wes' room, you should see his face! It lights with a huge smile and he says, "Hi Mama! I love you!"
* E-mail Wes or leave him a comment in his Guestbook.
* Want to know how you can help Wes & his family?
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