Article in New Brunswick Telegraph Dec 17;
IDNUMBER 200812170024
PUBLICATION: New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal
DATE: 2008.12.17
SECTION: News
PAGE: C9
BYLINE: MARY-ELLEN SAUNDERS TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
COPYRIGHT: © 2008 Telegraph-Journal (New Brunswick)
WORD COUNT: 641
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Family heading to injured soldier's side; Recovering Private from St. Stephen is lone survivor of explosion that killed three Canadians in Afghanistan
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The family of Pte. Christopher Deering, who was seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Saturday, was scheduled to leave for Germany early this morning to be at his side.
"This morning we got a call from the doctor who is handling Christopher's case in Germany and he spoke to us and recommended we go over and be there for Christopher," Greg Deering, the soldier's father, said Tuesday afternoon.
Deering, 20, of St. Stephen, was the only survivor when a roadside bomb ripped through a Canadian military vehicle in southern Afghanistan.
Three Canadian soldiers, Cpl. Thomas James Hamilton, Pte. Justin Peter Jones and Pte. John Michael Roy Curwin, were killed in the explosion. Their bodies were returned to Canada on Tuesday.
The four men, based at CFB Gagetown, were responding to a report that an improvised explosive device was being planted on the highway, which runs from Kandahar City all the way to the border of Helmand province, when their vehicle hit an explosive device.
Greg Deering said his son was initially listed in fair condition but has since been listed in serious or very serious condition after internal injuries were found at the hospital.
Deering was flown from Afghanistan to Landstuhl, Germany, where he is being cared for by an American medical team.
"The way they are speaking to us, they expect recovery but at the same time they are suggesting we should be there," Greg Deering said. "They are not telling us anything for certain."
Greg Deering said the family is experiencing all kinds of emotions as it prepares for the trip. The family members are worried, he said, and also feeling a sense of relief that they are going to be able to see Christoper and be with him.
Greg Deering said he, his wife, Patricia Deering, and their two sons, Jeremy, 24, who lives in Ottawa, and Nicholas, 21, who lives in Fredericton, will be going to Germany as a family to help Christopher with his recovery.
"Normally the protocol is to have the parents go, but these three boys are very, very, very close and we made the case that it would be to his benefit that these two go and the military agreed," Greg Deering said.
Lieut. (Navy) Brian Owens, who is with public affairs at CFB Gagetown, said he was unable to confirm the condition or name of the injured soldier.
"We have certainly gone through a rough time here," Owens said. "It's never easy. "¦ Certainly when any soldier gets injured we wish them a speedy recovery and do everything possible to insure they get proper treatment and get back on their feet as soon as possible."
Greg Deering said the family has not been able to speak to their son because he has been given sedatives to "quiet his body and put him in an induced coma.
"He is a very strong person. He excels at everything and he strives for his best and he was in very good shape and good spirits," the father said.
"We just want to get Christopher back home. We believe that he will fully recover."
The senior Deering said his son is an athlete and was offered scholarships to universities across Canada to compete on their wrestling teams. After one term at the University of New Brunswick, his son left school to pursue his calling of joining the armed forces.
Greg Deering said his son has always been drawn to the comraderie and challenges of the military.
Christopher Deering left for his first tour in Afghanistan in September and was due back in February.
"He looked forward to going to Afghanistan. We, as parents, were filled with worry and apprehension, but he felt confident and trained hard and had very good comrades with him and felt that this is what he was called to do," Greg Deering said.
"There was never a moment when he was in contact with us when he ever had any apprehension. All of the calls and emails were very positive."
The father said the last time they heard from Christopher was Nov. 30, when he sent an email chatting about the weather and the food.
The senior Deering said the family is grateful to have received emails and letters of support from people in their community and across the country. He said the general outpouring of love and support has been amazing.
"We are very hopeful that things are going to be fine with Christopher and everything is going to be OK," the father said.