Source: KDVR

DENVER – He was given a hero’s welcome at DIA Wednesday after being wounded in Iraq two years ago. Today, he sat down for a one on one with us, in the hotel where his family is staying.

Marine Lance Corporal John T. Doody with his mother and stepfather. (July 16, 2009)

26 -year-old Marine Lance Corporal John Doody, J.T. to friends and family, was given little chance to live by military doctors.

“To get up out of my bed is hard…because I got shot…I have a disability,” JT told us in short sentences.

His mother and stepfather abandoned their jobs and have dedicated their lives to see him fully recover.

“He is a miracle. He’s defied all of the medical odds so far,” said his mother Chris Ott. “And it’s due to faith it’s due to a positive attitude.”

A blood infection from three gunshot wounds suffered in Iraq in 2007 left Doody’s brain severely damaged; his body racked with spasms. Now, besides giving around-the-clock care and rehab, his mother is fighting for other vets like him on several fronts.

“The media thrives on other things and these guys get put on the back pages,” said Chris. “And then nobody sees them, nobody remembers them. We’ve still got casualties every day,” Ott told us.

“The most important thing that I want the people of Colorado and the nation to know is that we can’t forget about these guys,” she said.

“They forgot about us. They shouldn’t have,” said J.T.

J.T. is often in pain and during our interview he had several episodes, but he keeps his since of humor. “It’s hard work living up to this Purple Heart. (It) means I got shot,” he half-joked. He says he’d like to be a lawyer some day.

J.T.’s mom wants more funding for better rehabilitation equipment for injured veterans. She even took J.T. out of country for stem cell therapy.

“There’s no doubt in mind that those stem cells helped,” she said, “We definitely need to step up the research and get these folks the help that they need. ”

She says many wounded vets are not as lucky as her son, and wants to share his continued recovery to get them more help.

“I do believe that in a lot of ways that the people have forgotten our young men are out there,” Chris told us with resignation in her voice.

“You guys can’t forget about us….because we haven’t forgot about you,” J.T. added, after a long pause.

The family has started a website where you can follow his story and find out where you can help him and other veterans.

http://www.helpjt.com/

A public reception for Doody for will being held this Saturday at the Hampton Inn in Brighton, from 2 to 6pm.