Dear VET TIX, My name is Gordon Ewell. I am a Severely Injured Iraq War Veteran, Medically Retired after over 24 years of service (U.S. Army). It was “My Dream” to spend 30 years in military service, and retire as a Command Sergeant Major. However, in 2006, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Blew up my vehicle. Injuries that I sustained deprived me of that dream, and many others. I suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a Broken Neck, Lost my Right Eye, and Lost most of the Vision in My Left Eye (while I have some useable vision, I am legally Blind). I lost My Hearing (I have a Cochlear Implant), I have had the left side of my face rebuilt (jaw), and have been on a liquid diet for the better part of four years. I suffer from severe PTSD, a Flaccid Neurogenic Bladder, Cognitive Disorders, Myalgia, Abnormality of Gait, Fracture of the 6th vertebrae in my neck, with restricted right side stenosis, Fractured Jaw, Chronic pain, Dyssomnia, and Chronic facial Pain. My wife has had a dream of wanting to see the Broadway Show, “Wicked,” ever since it’s Premier. I told her in 2005, prior to leaving for Iraq, that I would take her when I got home. I lied. Instead of coming home, and taking her to see “Wicked,” I came home Severly Wounded, and have spent the last four years, in and out of 5 different hospitals, seeing over 43 different Surgeons, Medical Specialists, and Doctors, as well as over a dozen different Dental and Oral Surgeons, and again that many mental health professionals. Instead of me realizing my dream, or her realizing hers, We have done nothing but try to regain all of the physical and mental health we could for me. She put her life on hold, trying to help ensure, that I would have the best life I could, with what I had l left, in the future. Now, my dream has changed. My dream is to try to make her dream (and my original promise to her) come true. I have to be in Palo Alto, California for a Congressional Eye Study, that I am part of, Between 12 and 14 July. I noticed at the Orpheum Theater, on 1192 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 512-7770, The Off Broadway Play of “Wicked” is being performed. I was very excited. However, the tickets for the Orchestra Section of the Play are $95.00 a piece. It might not seem like a lot, but with SIX kids at home, the price is way “outside” of my grasp. If I could have a wish come true. It would be to be able to take her to see “Wicked,” while we were in the “Bay Area,” 12-14 July, the 14th if at all possible. I have not even told her that the Play is going on, for fear that she would just have her hopes dashed again, if I were unable to take her. Anyway, that is my dream. If there is anything you could do to make it come true, I cannot tell you how grateful I would be. If it just can’t happen, I totally understand, and would still like to tell you thank you for all you are doing and trying to do on behalf of all our Soldiers and Veterans. Thank you Very MUCH!!! Sincerely, Gordon “Gordy” Ewell Severely Wounded “Iraqi War Veteran”
U.S. Army (Severely Wounded Veteran)
1985 - 2010
Thank You Message from the Hero:
Dear Vet Tix Team, Recently I submitted a wish to you. I was going to be in the Bay Area (San Francisco), in July 2010, for some ongoing medical testing and studies as a result of severe injuries suffered in Iraq in 2006. I noticed the off-broadway production of the play "Wicked," was playing at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco. It was my wife's wish to see the play. It was MY WISH, to make her wish come true, as a way of saying thank-you for taking care of this Wounded Warrior, So Badly Broken, and different than the Warrior you sent off to War. It was very short notice, and the premium tickets were way outside the price range for the parents of six kids. But, it was worth a shot, so I took the chance to make my wish come true and contacted you. I do not know how you pull off the miricles that you do. My reasoning is simple, because you are all angels... or helping them do their work anyway :) You not only made my wish come true, by arranging for us the very best seats in the Theater, but arranged a night at a luxury hotel and dinner at one of the very best reastraunts in the city. To top it off you arranged a Limo to take us to each destination the entire evening. It was truly a remarkable evening! Your Expertise and Contacts in the Entertainment Industry, took my wish and added to it wonderful elements that I never would have thought of, never could have afforded, or ever would have attempted to pull together on my own. Thank-You! It will never be enough for the memories that will last a lifetime, for one of the best things to have happened since my injuries, or for the opportunity to see my wife smile and laugh, after so many hard years filled with 5 different hospitals, 43 different specialists, surgury after surgury, and driving hours every single day for intensive out-patient therapies. Thank-You Vet-Tix for literall making "OUR" wishes come true! Very Special Thank You to Eddie Rausch. Thanks Eddie! You are all AWESOME! Mission Accomplished! Thank-You!!!
- Gordon
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