About Carrie and Her Testimony

Good evening,
My name Is Carrie Hess-Jordan, I currently live in Buckhead GA., but when my soldier, Eric was injured in 2004, I was living in
Dahlonega GA. .  North Georgia is truly where my heart is.

On November 10, 2004 my son was headed out on a scout mission somewhere around Fallujah .  He was in the Army and
had only been in Iraq for 3 months when their 21/2 ton open bed truck hit/was hit by an IED.   

Eric was one of five soldiers in the truck that day.  There were three soldiers in the front (cab) and two in the back.  Eric was
manning the Mark 19 gun in the rear of the truck, along with another soldier, also in the back, but towards the front of the
back ,  who was manning the machine gun.  Eric knew this other soldier from his time in South   Korea ,  who just happened
to be a medic.   
From what I understand they had not gotten too far into their mission when they were hit.  Eric and the other soldiers I spoke
with said they had never seen an IED that powerful before.  That the sky lit up like never before and the sound was
deafening.  During the explosion, the truck was blown in the air throwing Eric out.  When the truck came down, it landed and
then rolled across Eric's chest .  All their equipment, sand bags and Eric's gun landed on him.   
When the medic came around to finding Eric,  all he saw was Eric's hand sticking out from under some sand bags.  As he
dug Eric out from under all their gear and got his 300 lb. gun off his chest he noticed that Eric's body was facing forward but
his head was turned backwards.  He knew that time was of the essence and started to work on Eric right away.  He said that
Eric was going in and out of consciousness but that he kept trying to keep him talking for both their sakes.  As he was cutting
off his cloths, Eric passed away.  The medic knew he had to get air into Eric's lungs as they were filling up with blood so he
intibated him through the lungs to get air in and the blood out.  
With great presence of mind, the medic managed to duck tape Eric to the front seat of a truck and preformed CPR on him for
30 minutes to keep him "alive" until they got to Balad '  and into triage.
At some point during all of this, the medic was injured as well but was not aware of it until in Balad '  when someone noticed
that he was bleeding.  The medic insisted that it was Eric's blood, not his, as all he was concerned about was my son, he
didn't even realize that he too had been hurt.
The other three soldiers that were in the front of the truck were for the most part unscathed.  One of them actually had a
knee injury and was later discharged but on that day, it seemed to be about Eric.
After getting to Balad '  the doctors were able to put Eric on a ventilator and get him somewhat stable.  He was in very critical
condition, was in a coma, but he was ALIVE!  He had basically been deceased for about 30 minutes so you can imagine, not
having oxygen to your brain for that long, the prognosis did not look good.  Eric is a fighter and that day he was fighting for
his life.
In an amazingly short amount of time, the doctors were able to stabilize him enough to get him transported to Germany .  
While in Germany, a complete battery of tests were done to try to narrow down Eric's injuries.  He actually started to respond
at one point to someone  but could not follow instructions and then relapsed into the coma again.  But because he was in
stable, critical, but stable condition, he was transported to Walter-Reed  Army  Hospital within 24 hours of his arrival in
Germany.

Eric was injured on a Wednesday, I was able to hold his hand and pray over him on Friday, two days later!  If you don't know
anything about how long it takes to get back to the states from Iraq, the average time is about ten days to two weeks.  Eric
was back in two days!!!  For him to get back to the states in such a short amount of time is unheard of and amazing to say
the least and as you read on you will see why.  

I have basically given you the "factual account" of what happened and have condensed it's contents for a variety of reasons.
I have left out quite a bit of pertinent information that will stagger you when you learn about it........ and I did it for a reason.   

When you learn about all the events that lead up to that day and what has happened since, you will know that God is good.  
That he takes care of his sheep no matter where they are.  No matter how far away from home, he has his hand upon them,
leading and guiding their every footstep.  
I give God all the glory for my sons' life.  For everything that we have been through, for everything we are going through and
for all the things to come, I am thankful.

The day I received the phone call that my son was injured, was both the worst and best day of my life.  I know you are
thinking, what could she possible mean, well, I'll tell you.  I am a born again Christian and as a child of God I have been given
several gifts.  One of them being the gift of prophecy.  
About a month before Eric's injury God revealed to me in a dream that he would be hurt, seriously hurt and for a while, but in
the end, he would be whole again, he would be okay.  That he would overcome all that everyone said he would never do, so
when I say to you that it was both the worst and best day, you now understand what I mean by that.
Because of my relationship with the Lord, I knew that what I had been shown, would come to pass and I also knew that in the
end, he would be totally well again one day. Having that peace only comes from our Father above and I am so thankful that
we have him to lean on and show us the way because without him, I don't know what I would have done.  I don't know how I
would have handled all the pain, and hurt and heartache that came from that day as well as the many days since then .   

While in Germany they did x-rays to see if he had any broken bones.  MRI's for the brain injury and a whole gamete of other
tests and we were told that not only did he have a head injury, but that he had several major broken bones but they never
said anything about him being paralyzed!  
We knew he wasn't breathing on his own, but when you are hearing about all their injuries, your brain gets scrambled and
you're doing everything you can just to make sure you are understanding everything they are telling you correctly so as to
make sure you haven't missed anything, or not thought about something you would normally ask about.  Just trying to take it
all in.  I just remember going numb.  Thinking not my son..., not my son, then feeling the power of the Holy Spirit minister to
my soul.

I was told that he had a closed head injury.  They asked how long it would take for me to get to an airport and then told me
that they did not expect Eric to live.  That I needed to get all my affairs in order and to get ready as quickly as I could
because I would need to leave in a moments notice to go to be with him and that hopefully, I would be able to see him alive,
as again, they really did not think he was going to  live.       
I kept asking what they meant by a closed head injury and unfortunately at that time, the Army really didn't have a whole lot
of information about what happened.  Basically they said he that he had a head injury, that closed meant that there was not
external damage, it was all inside.
Sometime along the way when Eric was being transported, Eric's brain began to swell.  They had to crack his scull and insert
at stint to relieve the pressure from his brain.   They did not know what or how the accident happened, just that he had been
hurt.
It wasn't until later on in the day on Wednesday that I learned more about what happened.  I was able to speak with Eric's
Platoon Sgt.'s wife, who actually put me on a three-way call with his old Platoon Sgt. and was able to understand a little more
about what took place that day.       
Eric had just been promoted that morning to scout, this was his first mission and because he was now a scout and not just in
the infantry, he was transferred to a new unit early that morning.  The only person that he knew was the medic, that saved
his life.  Isn't God good?  What are the changes that they would be together again that day and that the medic would be in
the back of the truck with Eric?  
Truly, God was in control that day.   

During the next two days, more information came in.  It was discovered that an IED blast had gone off ,  thus the closed head
injury as well as others that we had yet to learn about.
I left to go to see Eric on Friday November 12, 2004, in the morning.  I met my ex-husband and other son in D.C.  and we all
went to the hospital together.  Eric had not gotten there yet, so again, it was a waiting game.  

After he arrived and the doctor's looked at him they came out to talk to all of us.  They wanted us to understand that because
of the severity of Eric's injuries and the fact that he was without oxygen to the brain for so long, that IF he lived, he would
probably be in a permanent vegetative state.   They said they were going to run more tests, even ones that were already
done just to be sure and would get back to us.  

I remember asking if I could see him and talk to him.  The doctor said yes, but that in all likelihood, Eric would not be able to
understand me or even know who I was as he was in a coma and had  extensive brain damage.   Again I told the doctor, I
wanted to talk to Eric and told the doctor, he will know who I am and he will respond!  I know the doctor was thinking I was in
shock, that I wasn't thinking correctly because I was so adamant, that he gave me a funny look and said you need to
understand how bad it is.
At that point, the overwhelming peace of the Holy Spirit come over me and in a calm voice I said "I want to talk to him".  I knew
from the depths of my soul, that he was going to be okay and that he would respond to me because God had already told me
he was going to be okay and God doesn't lie.  I knew that God was at work and that I needed to get in there and talk to him
and pray for him.  The Holy Spirit also told me that I needed to touch Eric. That he constantly had to have one of us touch
him, no matter how long he was there, he needed to be touched.  So the three of us, the doctor and some nurses went into
Eric's room.
As we walked in I felt sick at seeing all the tubes running through him and seeing him on the ventilator, but I was so happy
just to see him and know that he was alive, that the sick feeling fled very quickly.  I walked over to his side, grabbed his left
hand, his father and brother were around the bed as well and were also touching him, all of us trying to be strong for him,
when I thought....what am I going to say?  
At that point God started speaking to Eric through me.  Basically what was said was " Eric it's mom, no, you are not dreaming,
you are really hearing my voice.  You were injured in Iraq, but you are safe now.  You are not in enemy territory, you are
safe.  You are in a hospital in Washington D.C..  You were hurt very badly but you are going to be okay".  I looked down at
his left hand and said to him.  Eric if you can hear me, squeeze my hand, I'm holding your left hand squeeze my hand to
which.........he squeezed my hand!!  Glory be to God!!!!!!  I don't need to tell you that the doctor and everyone that was in
there were in shock, and my response was, I told you he would know me and understand me.  That is the power of God my
friends!  

I can tell you that was probably one of the happiest moments in my life and one of the longest nights I think I have ever had.  
It was during that night that we learned that Eric had broken his back and that he was paralyzed and that we would need to
make a some major decisions about surgery and quickly.

The next few days were filled with more tests, learning about more injuries and making life changing decisions.    I am happy
to say that Eric is still with us and is doing better than anyone ever expected.  He has done things that they said he would not
ever be able to do again and continues to get better everyday.

I know you have heard a lot of bad things about Walter Reed Hospital but I must say, when we were there, they were
phenomenal.  Eric received excellent care, and the housing that my ex-husband and son stayed in was clean.  Nothing like
what has been reported of late.

Since Walter Reed, Eric was transferred to the Tampa VA Hospital and is now at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.  God
continues to work in our lives by continuing to heal him more and more every day.   

He is now driving, has his own vehicle, was attending college and as of about 3 weeks ago, doing Para Step WALKING!!!!!  
Yes I said walking.  (Assisted walking with a special walker).   God has truly blessed us in many ways on this journey.  He
continues to be by our sides, opening up new doors not only for Eric but for others as well and has provided us with an
opportunity to help others.   

I was fortunate enough to have another mom of a wounded soldier help me through this process.  And to her I am grateful
because she knew what I was feeling and had already walked down some of those roads so she could point me in the right
direction as well as help me with what Eric was feeling and going through.

I'm writing this letter to let you know that God is there for you too.  That I will be there to help you if you ever need it.  I have
walked in those footsteps of being a wounded soldiers mom and know what it is you are going to feel and have to face.  I can
tell you what to expect of their behavior in certain situations, what to ask and how to get answers as well as provide
information , and hold your hand.  I will be here to answer your call @ 2:00 a.m. in the morning when you need a shoulder to
cry on, or someone who will just listen to you.   

Because of this journey, God has placed me in a position to help others.  Because of Eric's injury, new doors have been
opened up to our soldiers that were not open before as far as treatment and help for them.  

Eric is in a program called "Beyond Therapy" @ Shepherd Center in Atlanta.  It is an out-patient program that helps
paraplegics and quadriplegics that have been injured for a while, regain movement again.  This program was not offered to
our soldiers before but through God, that door is now open and the VA is paying for our soldiers to get treatment there not
only for the Beyond Therapy Program but in their Out-Patient Program and the Traumatic Brain Injury Department as well.

I  am also working with two non-profit organizations that help our soldiers and have access to information and funding for
specialized equipment and proven therapies for those soldiers that he VA says they can't have or will not fund.

I pray that you will never have to call me.  That you will never have to go through seeing your loved one suffer a catastrophic
injury, but if you do, know that I am here to help you.  That I will do whatever I can to make your road a little easier.

Our God is a mighty God and there is nothing that he can't do.  Through Faith comes strengthening.  I know that my calling is
to help others that are going through this same kind of crisis and to make new strides in getting our soldiers what they need.  
I truly believe that we are on the cutting edge of a new avenues of treatment and therapies our soldiers.

For me, nothing is too great a sacrifice to help my son.  God has put a burden on my heart to help others and through his
will, through me, his works will be accomplished because I serve a mighty God and he is my savior.  I choose to walk where
he leads me and do his will.

Today as we remember all those that have fallen, defending this great country that we live in, let us always remember that
the cost they have given up, so that we could live in a land that is safe, is the highest sacrifice of all.  That they unselfishly
gave of themselves, asking nothing in return so that their families could be free.   
Our fore fathers had a great vision for our country when they created the Constitution of These United States, and it is these
selfless men and women that serve in our military that make our county the great nation that it is.  Let us all work together to
help each other in our times of need.  Let us always remember that God is love and that those that have fallen will never be
forgotten.  

I hope that through my sharing I will have provided some comfort and help to all those that are in need.  I have spoken with
one of the moms that started this site and will be in contact from now on.   I will post some pictures and updates as well.  If
you need me, please feel free to email me a georgiagirl200142@yahoo.com, or CarrieHJordan@comcast.net.  I check my
email on a regular basis as I work from home on my computer so I will get back in touch with you quickly.   

My thanks to the many moms and others that make this site available.  It is truly a blessing and a road to healing. Know that
each of you has a special place in my heart and that you will be in my prayers always.  Thank you for honoring our soldiers
and their family and friends with this much needed site and for being there for them.   

To all those that proudly serve in our Armed Forces, a sincere "Thank You" and know that a special prayers is being said for
you each and every day.  Much love and in His service, God bless America,

Carrie Hess-Jordan
A wounded soldiers mom

Profile of:  Carrie Hess Jordan

Carrie was born in Abilene Texas on October 3, 1959.  She is the daughter of a retired Air Force Colonel and is currently
living in Atlanta, Georgia.She is the mother of (2) two sons, Casey E. Jordan and Eric B. Jordan.  She is divorced and
currently living with her youngest son, Eric.  
Carrie chose to live with Eric to help him with his recovery process as he was wounded in Iraq in 2004.  Eric is a paraplegic
and suffered a traumatic brain injury as well as other numerous extensive injuries.
Carrie became a born again Christian at a very early age and knew God existed early because of her spiritual gifts.  God has
spoken to her throughout her life through dreams and visions.  But still she wondered what she was supposed to be doing
with her life until her son was injured.
Along the way she made many mistakes, tried to do it on her own, choosing not to listen to God, thinking she knew what was
better for her life only to find more heartache and pain.
Because of her sons’ injury, she has a renewed relationship with the Father, more intense and intimate.  She truly knows her
calling and is choosing to live the life God wants her to live without question and in complete faith.
Carrie has felt a calling to help others because of her experiences with her son, Eric.  Because of the numerous struggles
she has had to go through, and overcome, she has felt that she could provide an assistance to others by sharing her story.
Because of Carrie’s relationship with God and her spiritual gifts, she knows that one of her callings is to speak to Churches,
businesses and other avenues, and tell her story of Faith and strength, to help encourage and up lift others.
If you are interested in hearing their story, Carrie can be reached at any of the following:
Mothersofthemilitary.org  under the America’s Huey tab
carrie@independencefund.net
Georgiagirl200142@yahoo.com
CarrieHJordan@comcast.net
Hm 404-254-4833
Cell 813-830-8151
Fax 678-973-0064
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