Stress Fracture Sent Her Home

Well, if you haven't heard by now, Leigh got sent home the week before graduation. She completed all the graded assignments but still did not get to graduate. For 10 days, she ran miles upon miles, endured hikes, and various other tough tasks with a stress fracture on her foot. The pain became unbearable and she knew that she could be doing permanent damage to her foot, so she went to medical. She was told that if she continued with the program that she would likely cause serious damage to her foot, so she had to return home - brokenhearted.

She gave the program everything that she had and then some but apparently God has other plans for her life right now. She learned a lot about herself and doesn't regret the time that she has devoted to OCS - it was absolutely a life-changing experience.

Please lift her up in your prayers as she undergoes medical treatment for her injury and as she seeks God's guidance on what she is to do now.

Prayers are Needed

Over the last couple of weeks, Leigh has been injured. She's doesn't think she has completely broken her foot but she does think that she has a fracture. She is in a significant amount of pain but has been pushing through. Running for miles and miles, marching everywhere you go, completing obstacle courses, etc. is VERY DIFFICULT to do with a fracture. She hasn't dropped-out of any activity but the injury has affected her completion time. As a result, this week she was boarded which means that at some point in time this week, she will have to go before a group of Marine officers and state why she thinks she needs to be able to graduate NEXT WEEK.

Needless to say, Leigh is heartbroken that she has come so far but she is not defeated. She will work just as hard as ever this week and not give-up. She could have ran to medical and gotten out of a lot of activities but that wouldn't have ultimately gotten her anywhere but back home. She has chosen to do her very best and stick it out until the end.

Please pray that God will provide her with healing, strength, and encouragement. She needs your prayers more than ever this week.

New Pictures from OCS

Far Left of screen. She standing with her arms behind her back.

On the right.

Written June 30, 2009. Received July 6, 2009.

Hey Ashton!

So glad I got to talk to you this past weekend, little buddy! I got your card and pictures in the mail, and they just made my day.

Have you and Mommy been going to PaPa's and playing in the swimming pool? BoBo got to do the combat course on Saturday. Running in the woods, splashing in the mud, swimming under logs - you would have had so much fun!

Hope you are being a good boy. Did you enjoy the fireworks at church? I love you and miss you and am sending lots of kisses your way!

Love,
BoBo

Written June 30, 2009. Received July 6, 2009.

Halfway through week 5 of training! Kind of bittersweet, since this was the point last cycle when I ceased training.

Last week was really physical, and I thought this week might be a little easier, but not so far. Yesterday (Monday) was the fartlek run for PT, which in and of itself is not too bad. However, we also drilled for nearly 3 hours during the course of the day, and had a class outside too. The sun was really intense on the black asphalt of the parade deck. Today was the Day Land nav/Compass Course exam (I made a 100!). We hiked 3 miles out to the course, then had 2 hours to find all of our boxes, ate an MRE for chow, then hiked 3 miles back. I had to carry the daypack (like a backpack from school) of one of the sick callers as well as my own daypack and rile for most of the way out to the course. I swear some candidates go to medical just to get out of whatever training is going on that day!

Tomorrow won't be too bad, hopefully. We have a run and muscular endurance circuit for PT in the morning. Thursday we get to do the confidence course and Tarzan course (high obstacles, etc), which I am looking forward too.

Jason, how was the South Dakota trip? I can't wait to hear all the details. Glad, too, to hear your back is better.

Erica, splash a little in the pool for me! It has been HOT - my cammies are usually soaking wet with sweat.

Oh, guess what? I got a card from the Keltons today! Mail has been much more consistent this cycle. I am praying all goes well at court in Ethiopia. I can't wait to meet my new niece!

All my love,

Leigh