M.A.S. Special Hugs

[Brenda Sue]

Molly had the GREAT idea to send some N4M love to some of our military that are "hurting".
I am going to say that July 12 is the "birthday" of this endeavor. July 13 it got named!!
"M.A.S. Special Hugs" - M.A.S. - for Molly's Adopt a Sailor!!!

From Molly: Hey Moms ---- we are having some wounded guys coming our way. Would you like to make a thread and those who would like to send a card or messages to our wounded ones.

If you know of someone in the military "hurting" and needing a "special hug" - PM me (Brenda Sue) the address and I'll post it in our "special place." I do ask that you keep us updated on the condition or change of address of anyone that has a lingering need.

OK - Mom's let's get this ball on the roll!!

I am going to keep these names in one place - so people don't have to read through hundreds of pages to find them. Go to MAS We Ship Love (Click Here) for the addresses. This is a private group - just ask to be a member and after you have been "checked out" - the powers that be accept you!

Please use the labels designed in the "Shipping Labels" discussion so they will be easily recognized!!

You can either print these on stickers or just tape them to the envelopes. If neither is possible, just write Molly's Adopt a Sailor on the envelope - so they know where they are coming from.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

I will put a pillowcase in the mail to him. I have ones with hearts all over it. Brenda Sue, you can remove Heath. And I don't believe that Michael Shepperd is in Richmond any longer.
also, do you know if the address for Justin and Chris Kujawa are current?

[Brenda Sue]

Update on Michael Sheppard - #7 above from his mom, Denise!!

It’s been awhile now since I have updated every one on Michael. I still get comments and emails asking about him. I try to answer all them but I know I miss. Sorry about that.
Michael is doing very well. He has been put on crutches. He said his leg hurts a lot. He isn’t ready to try to walk with out them. I don’t think he leg is anywhere near ready for that. At his last appointment the doctor said that he will need to go in and clean the scar tissue and force bend it. I don’t know when this is going to happen. There is no date set.
He just went to a follow-up for his face. Michael has decided to go trough with the surgery. All of it. There will be 3 parts (focuses) of the surgery. (1)The lower jaw, which will
help Michael open his mouth more. He is currently only able about 17 cm. His food has to be cut up into very small pieces so he can eat.(2)The upper jaw to correct the bite, and (3) nasal and under eyes area- this
Is the part that would require openings at the top of his head. The estimated time is about 6-8
hours. His hospital stay will be 3-4 days barring noComplications according to one of the residents. . It is
Scheduled for November 4. They are hoping complete recovery will be 6-8
weeks. His mouth will not be "wired" shut, but he will have rubber bands in
place for at least a month. He will take all his medication by mouth using
a rubber hose and syringe to push to the back of his throat. Michael will have Speech therapy after his discharge from the
facility.
His convalescent leave was not extended. His command has made him return to work. He is doing well at not letting himself be pushed past what he can handle.
I will be going to Norfolk to spend Thanksgiving with him. I will be there for a week with him. Hopefully this time we will be able to talk a bit with each other. Just seeing him up will be such a treat. When I left him in July he still wasn’t all that great. I hear from him every single day since the day he was able to talk again. I will never get tired of hearing from him. I think sometimes he calls just so I can hear him breath. He doesn’t say much but stays on the phone and makes small talk.
Some of you may remember that Michael was to be married in Aug. The wedding planner would not let the kids have a refund for the money that was put down. They best they would do was to let them push the date out 8 months or so. So now he and Jackie have set a date of March 21, 2010.The wedding will be in Va.
Its still to soon to know if he will be able to stay in the Navy. He wont talk about that. He can stay on light duty for I year a guess. I do not know when that time starts.
I want to say thank you so very much to everyone that has sent crads , prayers and well wishes to both he and I.
I also want to thank the moms that like myself have turned into N4M chat room addicts for all you do. Sending prayers, saking about us, encouraging me. And mostly having a good time joking around. It always makes me smile.
Thanks so much Kathleen~Jonis' Ma*** , Barb,NavyMomCarolyn, Lori, justme_2009, AblueOK, Karen to name a few. You guys rock.
And to the Va. moms thank you for going in and checking on him for me. Thanks for the shakes and books. He said that that was just so awesome.
Thank you everyone for all the help.
Denise Holland & Michael

[Molly Molly Fo Folly]

Just checking on a address so I can send somethings
Got Pete a very nice soft blanket --- it will be a hug from me to him everytime he uses it :)

[auntnotmom]

SENT PKG TO CHRIS IN SEATLE-COUPLE WKS AGO- HOPE HE GOT IT - as much as its ok that we send w/out expectations of reply - guess i liked like some feed back --- bumming me out little- crommelin-guam - chris - never heard if the stuff is good or lame ??? lol....idk hope is is well tho,,,if anyone hears pls post - - do u still visit him weekl (chris- mom of niko)?

[Yankee's Mom]

YES INDEED THE STUFF IS GOOD!!! My son is on the USS Crommelin and they were overwhelmed by the generosity of Molly's Adopt a Sailor! He had e-mail addresses and home addresses of two packages he received from MAS and replied to those ladies (I sent him some thank-you cards in a box I had sent during the MAS shipping hoping he or others would use) don't know if he used those...I'm thinking he used e-mail....I know for a fact that he e-mailed one of the ladies as she is also a Navy Mom from Alabama and had sent me a note on N4M!!! There was one young man on the ship that had replied to another N4M lady also and she keeps in touch with him!!! Thank you for everything!

[Susan mom to Niko]

Hello Auntnotmom... I do still see Chris once a week... he does not offer much about what he has received... I find myself asking if he has gotten any other cards, etc. He did mention a box and I received two cards I took in earlier this week. He has all the treasures is just shy about 'showing them off'. His roommate (30 something Veteran) does not get many visitors even though he is from the Seattle area. I spotted his pillowcase and a fleece blanket when his sisters were here. He received a Hula dancer that he had stored away until I asked about it. It is now up in the room.

His computer is up and working now. His room does not have internet so he has to travel to a day room or to the Fisher House for access. He gobbles up the Dairy Queen blizzards I take as a weekly treat! He and his mom are about to go home to Hawaii. I asked if I could go along! Our wet winter is settling in here in Seattle so they will be happy to see the sunshine.

Let me know what to ask about if you sent a box... happy to do so!

[Susan mom to Niko]

Thought I would update about Pete... He is doing well. I was privileged to meet him for a walk through the park and dinner on Sunday. He has the most positive attitude for someone facing such a health battle. He had a tough week last week. The doctors let him know he was not going to be able to tolerate the treatment plan he was headed to San Diego for. He is in a wait and see mode until they are able to find an alternative treatment. The Navy is reviewing his orders to keep him here or send him to San Diego anyway.

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

is his address the same Susan?

[Susan mom to Niko]

Hold off on mailing to Pete... he is headed to San Diego!

[valeriejean]

Oh, I am soooo glad he knows where he is going! It must have been nuts waiting for the final verdict since he was supposed to leave on Sunday! Now he'll be closer to me and my goodie packages will only take 1 day instead or 4 to get there!!!!!

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

sorry that I have not been able to get all these young men a pillowcase. I will work on a few more tomorrow. Are there any change of addresses for any of these men?

thanks!

[Sue-Pillowcase lady]

mailed a pillowcase to George today.