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Our son should get a medal
I'D like to take this opportunity to tell youhow I feel about the Elizabeth Medal that is being given to the families of the service men and women who have given their lives for their country. They call it the ultimate sacrifice.
I think it's a wonderful gift that shows that our country and thankful and proud of our soldiers but how do they define the ultimate sacrifice?
My son Martin (Ed) Edwards was serious injured by a roadside bomb in Basra, Iraq in 2006, which left him with severe traumatic brain injury.
This impairment is not temporary. He is unable to walk unaided and has spasticity to his left arm.
He was treated in Baghdad, Riemstein in Germany, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mosley Hall Hospital and Headley Court before his transfer to Lister House in Ripon on December 19, 2007, which is run by the British Legion. He has now transferred to the Daniel Yorath Brain Injury Unit in Garforth, Leeds.
Martin lost everything that day in Basra. His career, which was his life, his wife and a relationship with his three-year-old son. He'll never work again, never have any independence, always have to be cared for.
Martin didn't give his life that day, he lost his life – is that not the ultimate sacrifice?
My son has featured in your newspaper on a couple of occasions and was the front man of the Poppy Appeal last year. I would be very grateful if you could feature this too, because I feel that many more families with injured soldiers will be feeling the same as I am.
J Durcan, Broadlea Oval, Leeds
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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