I almost cried.
UPDATE: I lost it when one of my facebook friends left this comment:
Justin, I had only been in Afghanistan a week when I had this guy as my patient. I’ve thought about him almost every day since, and then just recently ran across this very story. At the time he was in my OR, I really didn’t know if we were doing him any favors by saving his life. To see how well he’s not only survived, but thrived, has lifted a cloud from me that I didn’t really know was there.
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Cuttlefish
September 22, 2012 at 8:20 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I did cry.
Cuttlefish
September 22, 2012 at 8:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
To be more specific… it was the pic on the stairs. After that, I was putty in their hands.
Justin Griffith
September 22, 2012 at 8:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I fought back extra hard. Nearly lost it right then too.
Mara
September 22, 2012 at 9:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I definitely cried.
I wish them all the best and all the love (although it looks like they’ve got that part covered).
Cuttlefish
September 23, 2012 at 12:16 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ok, I was coming here specifically to ask “why the hell would anyone *not* cry? What’s wrong with us, that something like this, something so beautiful, has us fighting ourselves not to cry?”
And then I saw your update.
And frankly, now, I can’t even imagine anyone not letting themselves experience the full emotional sledge-hammer blow that this gives. To take one of the worst hands ever dealt, and to not just survive it, but to make a real, genuine, HAPPY ending--both of them, he and she, are just remarkable.
I’m honestly glad you lost it, Justin. I’d worry about your humanity-ometer if you had not. I owe you a hug, a beer, and then another hug and another beer, when and if we meet.
JMH
September 23, 2012 at 10:20 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
^^ This.
I know guys are socialized to not cry, and guys in the military three times as much, but sappy things on the internet (and sappy movies) were given by humanity to give you the gift of tears in a way you can justify. So just do it.
*sniffle*
Paul Hunter
September 23, 2012 at 10:52 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Justin
Thank both of them for all of us!
wilsim
September 23, 2012 at 5:01 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Amazing. True love, and life being lived.
I did cry, this was touching.
I am glad I am lucky enough to live in the 21st century and read stories like this.
neXus
September 23, 2012 at 7:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Never underestimate the power of love.
Yeah, I’m crying too…
Ty
September 24, 2012 at 12:54 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Shows the power of having love, support, and faith in human potential.
You can’t ever forget the strength of a man like this.
morejello
September 25, 2012 at 12:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This story didn’t make me cry, it made me smaile and say “fuck yeah!”. This couple kicked adversity in the balls and are working hard to build a wonderful life together. *That’s* what love is -- working hard together to make a better life together. This restores some of my faith in humanity.
procyon
September 25, 2012 at 9:55 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
God I fucking hate war. Having grown up watching the Viet Nam war on TV for 10 years, and watching my friend’s older brothers come home maimed, or not at all, I really thought Bush was bluffing.
War always makes me tear up. Always. It’s just that fucking sad.
=8)-DX
September 26, 2012 at 6:13 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh, Cuttlefish -- this is exactly what the cynical among us don’t buy into. I mean, the photos were stirring, the comments uplifting. But, tears? I guess that just depends where each of us have soft spots. I have plenty of photos with just as much love in them, but no happy ending -- I don’t believe in happy endings, just happy livings.
The part that touched me however was the bionic legs. THAT I find heartwarming. No tears however.
Justin Griffith
September 26, 2012 at 7:54 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m pretty sure he was just checking up on me in a friendly way. He knows I’ve been under quite a bit of stress, written about depression etc. It was a friendly poke to see if my ‘humanitometer’ was working. I appreciated it.
sailor1031
September 28, 2012 at 7:30 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“You can’t ever forget the strength of a man like this.”
Or of such a woman either.
Justin Griffith
September 28, 2012 at 7:55 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
good call.
On Love « The Caveat Lector
September 25, 2012 at 5:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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