Lance Corporal Kevin's life changed in early 2009 and he has been on OperationPAL a little over a year. Mom gave us a few updates and we thought we'd share them with you along with his 2009 and 2010 pictures.

Kevin has been home since December 19, 2009, and he has improved significantly. You'll notice in the "before" picture, which was taken right after his third brain surgery, he is very thin and needs a cane and very thick glasses. Over the past year he has been walking a lot better and he is now talking more. There are still many words he can't remember or say, but he gives it his best effort. His main problem is his memory. He can't remember past two or three minutes, but he is happy being home and he has regained all the weight he lost while in the hospital.

Mom says Kevin loves getting your cards and really perks up when the mail comes from OperationPAL. She also says that with his impaired brain functionality he can't remember reading them, so he reads them again and again and enjoys them each time!

The family got him a Wii for Christmas last year and he enjoys playing that. Last month they got the Wii "Just Dance" game and Kevin loves it! He beats everybody in the house and Mom says, "We are NOT letting him win"!

Speaking of dancing, the second picture is of Kevin with the General at the Marine Corps Ball during Wounded Warrior Week last year. Kevin had a blast dancing with so many people. He danced for an hour and they had to pull him off the dance floor to get a glass of water and cool down. Then he got right back out there and danced until the last song ended! He is showing a huge improvement over last year - he never made it into the ballroom because he became too tired before he even went in. What a difference a year makes!

Kevin's mom says:

"Thanks to all the wonderful people who still remember our heroes! Words really cannot express the excitement on Kevin's face when he goes to the mailbox and gets an envelope from your organization. He spends hours reading the letters and cards. It is helping him learn to read again. Plus it lifts his spirits!

Thanks for all you do for our Heroes! You are amazing!

Diane"

Now that you know he'd love to hear from you, you know what to do. Letters and cards can be sent to:

Click here to read more about Kevin and his recovery.