On August 8 we posted in full the first installment of the story by Star Tribune health care reporter Maura Lerner regarding the devastating brain injury suffered by Sgt. Jessica Clements in Iraq: "A purple heart for Jessica." Lerner told the story of Jessica's injury and recovery-in-progress with great humanity and without a trace of politcal comment. She let Jessica's remarkable spirit shine through her story and let us see Jessica through the eyes of a loving mother.

As that installment concluded, Jessica awaited surgery for the reimplantation of skull fragments stored in her abdomen. Today Lerner brings the story up to date, reporting on Jessica's August 18 surgery and on her continuing recovery: "Back from Iraq: Hoping to be whole again."

This installment is equally the story of the physicians who are performing seemingly miraculous feats, of Jessica's indomitability, and of Jessica's family and fiance. Please don't miss it, and don't stop reading before you reach the striking conclusion.

The Star Tribune has also posted a slide show of photos and audio recordings that are accessible through this link. Below is a photo that ran with the first installment of Lerner's story. Jessica's spirit seems to radiate from the photo.

The Star Tribune caption reads: "Staff Sgt. Jessica Clements, 27, faces many more months of rehabilitation work and additional medical procedures to recover from serious injuries she suffered while on duty in Iraq. Clements is being treated at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and will eventually transfer back to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for continued treatment. One of Clements' goals is to walk down the aisle at her own wedding without the aid of a cane." (Star Tribune photo by Jim Gehrz.)

Posted by Scott at 05:40 AM  |    |  

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.powerlineblog.com/mt/mt-diespammers.cgi/7634

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Putting Jessica back together:

» Jessica's Heart from Oh ... Really?
May 5, 2004, Jessica Clements was all but declared dead. She was in a military convoy just outside of Baghdad that hit a roadside bomb while on the way to the Baghdad airport. She was the only one in the truck that was injured, and those injuries were ... [Read More]

Tracked on August 29, 2004 03:22 PM

» Hooah, Sergeant Clements! from Brain Shavings
After an Iraqi roadside bomb nearly killed her, Staff Sgt. Jessica Clements spent days in a coma with half of her skull gone, and the surgeons estimated she had a 2% chance of survival (much less full recovery). But this amazing Akron, Ohio reservist t... [Read More]

Tracked on August 29, 2004 05:04 PM

» Army Staff Sergeant Jessica Clements - Someone You Should Know Part 2 from BLACKFIVE
Powerline has the follow up on Staff Sergeant Jessica Clements and a link to a slide show (you need the latest Flash plug-in). [here's the link to the first Powerline post about Jessica] [Read More]

Tracked on August 30, 2004 12:40 PM

» Winston Review, No. 9 from Ghost of a flea
Woozy and confused, she saw her mother at her bedside. “Mom, did somebody beat me up?” Her mother, Kim Wyatt, had a ready answer. “You’re in the United States,” she said gently. “You’re not in Iraq. You’re safe. We’re... [Read More]

Tracked on September 4, 2004 08:57 AM

» Winston Review, No. 9 from Ghost of a flea
Woozy and confused, she saw her mother at her bedside. “Mom, did somebody beat me up?” Her mother, Kim Wyatt, had a ready answer. “You’re in the United States,” she said gently. “You’re not in Iraq. You’re safe. We’re... [Read More]

Tracked on September 4, 2004 08:57 AM

» Winston Review, No. 9 from Ghost of a flea
Woozy and confused, she saw her mother at her bedside. “Mom, did somebody beat me up?” Her mother, Kim Wyatt, had a ready answer. “You’re in the United States,” she said gently. “You’re not in Iraq. You’re safe. We’re... [Read More]

Tracked on September 4, 2004 08:57 AM

» Winston Review, No. 9 from Ghost of a flea
Woozy and confused, she saw her mother at her bedside. “Mom, did somebody beat me up?” Her mother, Kim Wyatt, had a ready answer. “You’re in the United States,” she said gently. “You’re not in Iraq. You’re safe. We’re... [Read More]

Tracked on September 4, 2004 09:03 AM

» Winston Review, No. 9 from Ghost of a flea
Woozy and confused, she saw her mother at her bedside. “Mom, did somebody beat me up?” Her mother, Kim Wyatt, had a ready answer. “You’re in the United States,” she said gently. “You’re not in Iraq. You’re safe. We’re... [Read More]

Tracked on September 5, 2004 02:27 AM