>> SIGN-UP: Get breaking news sent to you
Army Reserve Staff Sergeant Jay Wilkerson is not supposed to be here. At least, that is what his doctors told his family two years ago.
"The doctors at Walter Reed actually told my mother I wouldn't survive," Wilkerson told ABC7.
Stationed in Iraq on March 28, 2006, the humvee Wilkerson was traveling in was hit by two rocket propelled grenades. The first blast killed his best friend Staff Sgt. Robert Hernandez. A few seconds later, the next one severely injured Wilkerson and two other soldiers.
"What I actually suffered was multiple facial injuries, a traumatic brain injury, which means I lost my cognitive skills, the ability to multi-task," he explained. "I had to learn to walk, talk and eat all over again."
Two years ago, Wilkerson was moved to the VA hospital in Palo Alto, the only facility of its kind on the West Coast designed to treat the multiple traumas suffered by so many Iraq War veterans.
"The hardest part for me was to say to my kids, 'I don't understand what you're saying. I don't understand who you are.' A lot of times my family and my friends would come into my room and I really didn't know who they were," recalled Wilkerson.
After multiple surgeries and many months of physical, emotional and mental therapy, Wilkerson is slowly regaining his memory and his life.
In November, Wilkerson was honorably discharged with both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. This week he will move to a new home in Pleasanton, thanks to a four-year "Life Scholarship" from a group called Sentinels of Freedom.
"When we met Jay it was hands down, we're going to do this," said Tom Dagget, president of the Pleasanton chapter. "The goal is to help them, to assist them bridge from military to civilian, from injury to wellness."
"The fact that he is able to do what the Sentinels of Freedom are supporting him to do is miraculous," said the VA's Jill Gandolfi who worked with Wilkerson throughout his rehabilitation
Wilkerson embraced the idea of moving to Pleasanton because it was a small and quiet town. To him it seemed a great place to make a new start.
"This whole city has embraced me. People who didn't know me before who are hugging me and saying, "We value what you did and we want to help you get your life back on track,'" said Wilkerson.
As part of his rehabilitation Wilkerson writes poetry.
"From every care package to every welcome home, thank you," he said as he read from a poem he wrote to the people of Pleasanton. "For caring what direction my life is going, with love and support of cities and communities like Pleasanton, California, who simply said 'Welcome home son.'"
Today's latest headlines |
ABC7 News on your phone
Follow us on Twitter | Fan us on Facebook | Get our free widget
