Staff Sgt Jason Ross - Marine

 Hello to everyone! Jason is alive and doing well, here in Fallbrook, CA. His daughters are both doing well and both of them are now in High School. They are both living with us full time, for the time being. Once their mother has found a place to call home, the girls will begin spending more time with her. Jason is recovering from a recent surgery, where they came up with a new process to help with a skin graft, and it looks like it is going to be taking this time. The good news with this is he will be able to get more things done, in his life and not have to depend on me and others for so much of his comfort. There is also a bit of a down side, in that he is unable to play sled hocky right now, and we're not sure when he will be able to get back on to the ice. The regular practices have begun again and the season opener is not too far away. Another positive that has come along in his life is that he has a regular girl friend now, and someone he can reach out to whenever he wants ...

 First - Happy Easter to you all!! We attended the 11:00am services and it was packed. This was a much happier and more "normal" Easter than last year, and I'm glad. I want to apologize that I didn't get any pictures, but I do know that Linda has taken a few these past several days, so it is just a matter of me getting time with her 'droid and then I can pull a few over here. It has been an amazing last several days... yet it all began a little over three (3) years ago. You see, Amber H. (I forgot to ask her if I could put her name in this blog) attempted to reach out to me, to ask if I was Jason's dad, and if he had lost his military dog tags. Well, as it turned out I didn't see this outreach until just a couple of weeks ago. When I did see it my first reaction was - "Is this some kind'a scam?" I decided to cautiously respond back to Amber, now 3-years later, just to see what kind of response I would get. As it turned out she got back to me ...

 Wow! It has been 10 years today, that Jason was injured and despite all the expectations from the medical folks, he's still alive and as positive and active as ever. Most of you are aware that he is into sled-hockey and that we haven't been able to get out and play for over a year now. There is a positive side to all this, though, as the timing of the shut downs and the length of the pandemic. It began just as Jason's team (the Ducks) was getting ready to go to the championship tournament, in Philadelphia, when everything was shut down. This meant that because they were defending champions they simply maintained the title. Then the following season was cancelled so the third year they have kept the title as well... trouble is that no- body wants to keep it that way. They would rather be out there on the ice and having some real games and doing what they do best... PLAY HOCKEY! We do understand now, that the games are very likely to begin again soon, so everybody is doing t...

Happy Holidays to everyone! What can I say? It has been over a year since my last touch of this blog and I guess it just feels like I should do something now. My guess is that there aren't many folks continuing to view this, as there haven't been much in the way of updates by me. Other than doing our best to work through the COVID19 intrusions and challenges, I'd have to say we're doing well, overall. There have been some changes to Jason's general condition, with most of that being good, and so I'll get some of that updated with this. First, Jason has had more surgery. Yeah, we know, he is the one person who really wants to avoid surgery and to simply do his best to go on living. The challenges though are that due to the injuries there are still a few things that can be improved, with his urinary track being a big one they wanted to get to. It was a reconstructive surgery that was basically successful. The doctor initially said he thought he would have very goo...

Again, I have no reasonable excuse other than to say I got side tracked. On the last post I mentioned that Jason had gotten injured, while playing in the hockey tournament. Well, as it turned out it was a more serious injury than either of us had suspected. The outcome was that he lost some soft tissue and a section of his pelvic bone was exposed (about the size of a quarter) and he is now required to have a wound-vac so that it can heal properly. This means that he has to spend most of his time in bed and can only be up in his chair for no more than 20 minutes at a time, and that followed by hours of rest time. The rest time is for the injury, and not necessarily for Jason, as he isn't tired. As you can imagine, he gets very board with this "life style" and wants to get up and go do something. We've been going in to wound-care frequently, once or twice each week, and they keep telling us, "...we'll take a look at it next week, to see what happens next....

Today is eight years since Jason came out of the induced coma and he has been on a overall positive trail ever since. There have been a few set backs and the expected twists and turns, but overall he is doing pretty well. The last post talk about the Colorado Hockey Tournament, and it was a fun and challenging event. The down side was that two of the players on the Ducks, Jason's team, were injured and one of those two was Jason. The first one was the more serious injury, as Sarah, the team captain, was hit in the throat by a puck, at close rang and it took her out of the tournament. Her larynx was hit and it totally knock her out, for a few seconds. Fortunately her husband, Matt, was there and he was able to help her to a moderate level of recovery and then took her to the hospital. She seems to have made a full recovery now and will be skating again as soon as she can get to the ice. The second injury, Jason's, was when he fell over, while making a fast turn, and slid right...

Hello! It has been brought to my attention that I am not doing a very good job of updating the blog and to help rectify that I am putting this update in there... We are currently in Colorado, and are here to play Sled Hockey! This is Jason's outside activity and he loves it. We drove here from Fallbrook, about 1500 miles, and it was an interesting journey. We were able to stop and visit with my brother Lance and his daughter Jennifer, so that made the trip a bunch easier to handle. Linda didn't come with us this time due to the fact that Gracie does not travel any more and she volunteered to stay home with her. From the reports we're getting, Gracie is doing well and following Linda around, everywhere. The games begin today, and I'll be taking some pictures, but won't be posting until we get back home, where I can down load them on to my home computer. I should be able to provide a bunch more information there, as well. We got in yesterday evening, about 15 minu...

I know I haven't been keeping up with the blog and posting as often as I said I would, but I guess that's what happens when the days really do start to seem more normal, and don't feel like there is much to update about. Then when there is something exciting going on, by the time I can get to the blog I'm pretty well worn out for the day and then I'm slow to get to it afterward. Well, I will continue to provide updates, as I can and we'll just have to see where it takes us. Jason's sled hockey season is over and he had a great time with it. He was not able to go to the final tournament, in Chicago, due to travel challenges. First challenge was simply getting there - there really isn't any way to get there, that doesn't simply totally wear him out, and then he needs the next day to recover. We think we may have figured out a way around this, though it actually means more travel time, rather than recovery time. We have found a van that can provide a ...

Hello to one and all, and a Happy Easter to everyone. He is risen... It has been a little while since my last entry, and a few things have happened. Jason has become much more proficient with his sled hockey and he really enjoys getting out on the ice. It is a feeling of being more equal, when everyone is on the sled, and he is slowly learning how to get around with more skill and effectiveness. Below you will see some pictures of when he was playing in a tournament, and in one of the tournament games he really got into some of the play - more so than he had prior. A basic description of that particular time was that the Ducks were playing a team that had a particularly rough player. This player was quite skilled, and knows how to cause trouble for the others (he is also the most penalized player on the other team, I'll just call him B).  There was a loose puck and B was going for it, with two of his teammates right behind him. One of the Ducks was also right there and the three ...

Apologies to one and all. I know a bunch of you were wanting to see an update, especially yesterday, but I just didn't get to it. YES, we did celebrate, in a very low key way, Jason's seventh year since the blast. It was his 7th Alive Day, and we were quite busy. The girls were with us and due to their busy schedule, we decided not to go out and do anything and just stay home and be the simple family that we are (okay, maybe not so simple). Over these past few weeks, Jason had a Sled Hockey Tournament, in Arizona - Scottsdale - and the Ducks took third place. It would have been nice to do a little better and it was recognized that what we need to work on is a better defense. The offence is actually pretty good, and thus that is why we did as well as we did. One other thing was that we found out our goalie, Joe, was quite ill and really should not have been playing, especially that last game. He ended up in the hospital with a real nasty infection. They kept him for a couple o...

So, Happy Ground Hog Day! Today has been a very nice and enjoyable day. The girls came back from their mother's place and will be staying with us for the next 5 days; we were able to get some pictures hung in the house (Linda is redecorating one of the rooms in the motif of Western; we got to sleep in a little, okay, we were still up a little after 07:00 this morning, but that's still better than 06:30; AND, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Next weekend Jason has a sled hockey tournament and it is actually pretty close, considering the previous one was in Minneapolis... We're all looking forward to the tournament and we've invited a bunch of folks from around here to come and see him play (yeah, I'll do my best to remember to post some pictures). Jason really enjoys the action and I believe the social interactivity he gets into with the other players, both on his team and those of the other teams. Most of the players are there and just want to have fun, some of...

Jason went to the gym today, and had a good work out. First time for the gym in a few weeks, and most of that was due to holidays and too many other things going on. The girls seem to have latched on to a couple of colds, and are keeping them. We've been giving them medicine that has been recommended by the doctors and pharmacists, yet the colds remain about the same. Of course that really isn't a bad thing, as they still get out and play and are running around the house. Their colds aren't very bad, just the sneezing and runny noses won't go away. Stacy and I had a major milestone. She has gotten better on her bike, and she and I went on our first "long" bike ride, together. It was just a little over four miles, on a specific bike path, and she did a very good job of not stopping any more than she needed. We came across a few other riders and even a few pathway walkers, and Stacy was able to demonstrate she had the confidence to just keep on riding right pa...

Wow! What a great day to be getting back on to the blog. I did a quick check of the stats and it indicates it has been viewed over 300K times. A bunch of folks out there (all of you) seem to want to keep up-to-date on what is going on with Jason's life. Well, I'll start out with - He's doing great! He has had a few pot holes to maneuver around, and there have been some set backs along the way, but over all it is a positive journey. I'm just glad now, that I am healing from the flu and I can get some more information out to everyone. I actually got sick several days (a couple of weeks?) ago. Jason is still very engaged with his sled hockey and we're doing what we can to get things going for him, so that he can play just as aggressively as he would like to. Because of his particular injuries he has to wear the wearable prosthetic just about anytime he is up. Yeah, he can get around without it, but only for a short while, and that pretty much only happens at home. Be...

These past couple/few weeks have been really busy and crazy for us. It started with the Sled Hockey tournament in Minneapolis. It was a great deal of fun and a wonderful experience for Jason and also for Linda and I. I think by going to this tourney Jason really got into the sled hockey and is looking for ways to improve and be an even bigger contributor to the team. They all love him and in many ways the rest of the team feels like having Jason with them is a special thing. None of the other teams have anyone like him. We came home from the tournament in pretty good shape, but unfortunately Jason's chair was made unusable, as a result of the traveling. It is now in the shop, being repaired and like many things, when there is a specific part that needs to be replaced, it takes longer to get it repaired. He will be riding his other chair for the next few weeks, and maybe even into the new year. He prefers the other chair, over the one he is using now, but knows it is something tha...

It has been an amazing day, and week, for that matter. As I have mentioned, Jason has gotten interested in sled-hockey and prior to this week, he had played in one sled hockey game. He has been working with the team for a few weeks (maybe two months) now and though he is slow and has some difficulty maneuvering he is getting better each time. Well, this week we flew out to Minnesota, Minneapolis specifically, to participate in a sled-hockey tournament. Linda, Jason and I arrived on Tuesday, to allow him the chance to rest before the first game, and the rest of the team arrived on Wednesday - the day of the first game. Needless to say, the rest of the team was feeling the affects of the day of travel (to fly from San Diego it takes about 8.5 hours due to a lay over, we didn't find any direct flights). When they all got on the ice they did a pretty good job of keeping up with the opposing team, until the third period and then the travel impact showed up. Unfortunately that game was...

As most of you have probably figured out, I am not able to make it a consistent update schedule. There are Thursdays where I am just particularly tired, and then there are nights where I can't seem to get the network to remain stable enough to post. Even tonight was a bit of a challenge, but it seems okay now. Anyway, I will do my best to keep these things going, as long as the system allows me to post. Jason is doing well, and his remaining wounds are all looking much better. the two smaller ones are now even smaller, with one of them just about gone and the other about the size of a thumb nail. The "bigger" of the three is shrinking down and getting to the point where everything can be covered with one 3 X 3 square. We go into Wound Care (Balboa) on a weekly basis (occasionally something else comes up and we change for that week, but usually it is Balboa). Today was interesting in that TV Channel 2, out of Los Angeles came to the house to interview Jason and I to do...

Wow! What a week its been. Jason had his first sled hockey game and it was great! They had nearly a full roster, so there were enough team players to insure rotations and that no one would be totally worn out. The Kings were equally staffed so it was a nice balance. Jason had a couple of nice opportunities to take shots at the goal, and though he did not score, the fact that he was where he needed to be was excellent. Of the players on the Ducks, Jason is probably one of the most improved, and most challenged. Because of his injuries his balance is much different than the other guys, and so it is a bit more difficult for him to maneuver. There is an effort underway, right now, to get him a different sled that would make it a more equal level for him, but that is still a little ways out. The game lasted just a little over an hour and at the end the Ducks had won.... 6 to 0. There were other things going on during this past week, such as his medical appointments, and even a chance to...

Wow! I slipped again. Maybe I'm being directed to do this on Friday, rather than on Thursday. Anyway, it has been a busy week for the Ross household. The girls both moved up a rank with their Taekwondo skills, and the event was pretty cool. There were probably 50 to 60 people in attendance and nearly that many students. Apparently Master Kramers is very well known and respected in the world of martial arts, and he is also an amazing instructor for the girls. We've gotten to know his family, including his wife, son, and mother, but I'm getting off subject. The girls are both one level up and very excited about continuing. Jason is going to sled hockey practice in the morning, and that means we leave the house about 05:30, in the morning and then he will get to work hard and have fun, and I might take a few more pictures. Then tomorrow evening he and the Ducks (the sled hockey team) get to participate with their first league hockey game. We're all excited about this and...

There has been some positive development with Jason's wounds, and I am starting to feel pretty positive that they are finally going to be healed. Of course there are a number of weeks before that is to happen, but it is looking so good right now I feel confident in saying it. We had to have an  adjustment to the prosthetic and it seems to have been the right thing to do. The challenge is that as Jason continues to change in his body shape, the corresponding change needs to be made and there is always a lag time associated with that. The prosthetist and the doctor we are working with seems pretty focused on helping Jason, and so we're pleased at this point. Jason is also making progress with his sled hockey. The coach said he is very pleased with Jason's progress, for only having had four weeks of practice. The photos below show a little of what he looks like on the ice and what his practice runs are. Both Blue-Line drills and stick work are a regular part of their practic...

Last week I talked about Linda going to North Carolina and then on to Washington, D.C. and now I am happy to say she will be coming home this weekend (Saturday). It is going to be a bit of a rough trip for Linda, as she will be flying in and arriving in San Diego at about 11:30 and then we head off to Legoland to spend the rest of the day there, with the girls and another family. The Zbic family has three children, and two of the are the same age as Stacy and Jackie, so it should be a fun evening (Their third child is much younger). We went to a Team Building event with Jason's sled hockey team, on Wednesday. It was over at Mission Bay, pretty close to where we used to live, and it gave Jason a chance to get to know some of the other players a little more, away from the ice. I was there because I was invited, and also because Jason doesn't like to drive at night... actually, I think most people don't like to drive at night. We were at the event until it got pretty dark, a...