Through A Daughter's Eyes

Justin moves his fingers along the rim of his blue chair's wheels, his eyes narrow in on the infant in the crib. His daughter sits motionless at her father's warm gaze.
Blinking away the tears from his tender pale face, Justin pulls himself closer, as pain surges through his upper-body.
He shifts slighty in his wheelchair, feeling the warmth from his daughter's features slowly cover every achy bone in his body.
A soft moan escapes his weary lips, as he attepmts to speak, but finding it far too strenous on his facial muscles.
"One step at a time," his girlfriend of four years reminds him. "Saharah, and I can wait for the 'I love you's'."
Nodding his head, Justin shutters at how things could have been. He is going to get through this. Through his daughter's eyes he can see the light.
*****
A soft blanket drapes over his skinny legs, as a fellow soldier friend wheels him up the red carpet to accept his honnors.
He quickly remembers those that did not make it.
Unable to read his awknoledgements ,Frankie, a friend and soldier assists him with the task. Gently, he places the metal over Justin's fine curls, and slowly down his neck, for a photographer to take pictures.
Justin is extremely involved with Frankie, as a mentor. Justin has lead Frankie in the right direction.
Frankie helps care for Justin. Sitting in a chair next to him. Frankie gently tucks the blanket so it will not uncover Justin's chilled body.
The sound of Frankie's voice relaxes Justin, so he is able to get the rest he deserves.

Waking to the sound of his daughter's cries, a smile forms on Justin's sleepy face. He begins to say something with all the strength he can muster, "Of you," comes from his mouth barely understandable by those around him.
Able to sit with the aide of a belt around his waist, Justin has enough range of motion to hold and take his daughter from her crib, once a lower crib was installed. It builds his arm musscles, though the process is grueling for him. He would love to hold her for longer than a few minutes without weakness and pain running through his spinal collum.
He has little sensation from his naval to his toes, but is finding ways to get around without the support of others.

In a month's time, Justin begins using a walker. He will never walk normally according to his doctors. They do not expect him to get good at using his walker. The process is frustraing for him. Special braces to keep his muscles straight making walking even harder.
Justin pulls at them, as he sits in his wheelchair, and a quilt slides over his waist and worn legs.
He forgets about the braces, as sleep overcomes his slim frame.
Frankie swiftly pushes Justin's heavy chair through the confines of the hospital to the scanning room.
Lifting Justin onto the table with the nursing staff, Frankie sighs hoping all will go well with the testing.

Awaking from the procedure, Justin is full of confussion, as Frankie talks to him in a lulling voice. "The doctors are trying to make your legs better, because you injured them."

Justin's posture is poor though he can sit on his own. He is unaware of posibly hurting his body, with his injuries blocking most of his lower pain sensations. A metal device straightens his back. He will require it his entire life.
Grasping onto a rattle he plays with his daughter. His eyes grow wide with excitement holding her, as he speaks to her. Laughter fills him knowing she doesn't mind his slurred speech and slow movements.
His wife is there for him, as he drifts to sleep, and recieves oxygen from a mask."It's ok love to be drowsy. I have something special to tell you, when you're not so sleepy."
He smiles knowingly, closing his deep blue eyes.