blog #15

"Wounded vet goes from 'life slipping away' to soap opera star". CNN. 2008. 22 March 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/02/16/jr.martinez/index.html?iref=newssearch.

J.R. Martinez, 25, served in Iraq and returned back to Georgia with severe burns and a welcome home sign at Applebee's. He got these severe burns when driving a Humvee through a city, and the front left tire hit a land mine and he was trapped inside the vehicle. The other three guys walked away with minor injuries. While he was trapped in the vehicle, with his life slipping away, he thought of his mother(also best friend) being given a flag, but he did not want to put his mother though that. He had also thought of his sister, whom he had never met and passed away. He had an actual visual of his sister coming to him and telling him it was going to be OK and he would be fine. To me it seemed like J.R. always thought positively. He said, "to be strong and to hold on to certain things in life because they'll get you through". This is good advice and that is what got him through the situation he was in. He had lots of faith and just kept believing. Another obstacle he approaches is going into public and having to show his face while getting looks from everyone walking around. He mentions that, " It's one of those things where you've just got to get through it, and you've got to fight the obstacles and you've got to be strong". And this is true, it is what will get you through any situation. Now, he is starring in a soap opera "All My Children" and never ever believed he would ever be in one. This article can't completely relate to my life cause i have never been in such severe situation but he is someone to look up to knowing he goes through every day just being happy he survived and having hope.