Hard To Kill: Drew Stokes

September 17, 2019

"On September 26th, 2017 I was ambushed in cold blood walking out of a Publix grocery store just outside of Jacksonville, FL. From start to fished the entire sequence lasted about five seconds.

I was hit five time, once center mass, once in my right buttock, a round in each hip/leg, one in my left forearm.  My injuries were catastrophic, bullet number one lacerated my liver, bullet number two comprised my colon, I have three bullets in my body, one in each hip, the other next to my spine.

I wavered between life and death for several days, going to the other side twice.  I completely bled out and was given 19 Trauma Units of blood to keep me alive.  I was saved by heroic bystanders, the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, Clay County Fire Department, and the Trauma Staff at the Orange Park Medical Center.  I owe my life to them.

Through hard work, an amazing rehab team and support at home, work, my amazing friends and around the country I returned to light duty on January 2, 2018, after eleven surgeries I returned to full duty on April 9, 2018 and returned to the sky in June of 2018.

I will never quit on recovery."

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