Family flys to DC to meet injured soldier

Judy Curran and her son, Billy, were flown by the U.S. Army Saturday to Walter Reed military hospital in Washington, D.C., to meet her son, James Donaldson, who had been flown in from Germany late Friday after being severely injured in a roadside bomb explosion near Kirkuk, Iraq, on July 14.

In an update she provided to the Mountain Home News of James' injuries and condition, she said James had lost his left leg above the knee, and his right leg below the knee, not both legs at the hip as had been previously indicated.

In addition, he lost his right index finger and will need major reconstruction on his right thumb. He also suffered severe bruising of the lungs from the force of the explosion, which according to an e-mail received from a fellow member of the 116th BCT, occured nearer Kirkukthan Mosul.

James, a 2003 graduate of Mountain Home High School had initially been flown to Germany where he was stabilized, until he could be flown back to the United States. His brother, Gary, is stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany and was granted emergency leave to fly back with James to Walter Reed.

"I love my son with all my heart and soul," Judy Curran said. Despite his injuries, which will take months to heal followed by extensive rehabilitation, he noted that "my son is alive. I just want to hold him."

It could have been worse, she pointed out.

"There is no brain damage. He has his eyesight. He has his hearing. He talks and communicates. He can smell and taste. He can feel.

"The Lord has never left my sons, nor I. And James is proof of that.

"My son is alive and God has special plans for him."

A special fund has been set up to help her and her family, which will face some financial hardship as she takes leave from her job to stay by her son's bedside. Donations can be made to the J. Curran Family Benefit Fund at any U.S. Bank.

Curran said she had been overwhelmed by the support shown locally. "We have a wonderful, caring, tight-bonded family community. This is also a blessing.

"Thanks to all of you," she said to the community, "for your prayers, you love and your support."

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne also had called to talk to the family, and had hoped to visit James while he was in Washington, D.C., last week. Although the governor visited wounded troops at Walter Reed, James had not arrived by the time the governor had to return to Idaho.