Editor's Note: The Mexico Ledger has received multiple calls regarding the well-being of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Canine, who in early May was severely injured during a combat maneuver in Iraq. The Ledger made inquiries, but Canine's family had flown to Washington, D.C., to be by his side, and were unavailable for comment. Late last week, The Ledger was granted an exclusive telephone interview with Canine – who is faring well with his rehabilitation, and was slightly modest about being dubbed a hometown hero.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a series of surgeries, Staff Sgt. Robert Canine has been discharged from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and is currently undergoing a 12-month rehabilitation regimen at the Malogne House out-patient residential facility, located on the Walter Reed Complex. Learning to live as a bilateral, below the knee amputee has been a struggle and daily challenge, but Canine says he's optimistic about what lies ahead. Next week, the young infantryman plans to be fitted for his prosthesis.
A 10-year veteran of the U.S. Army, Canine joined the military in April 1999, two years after graduating from Mexico Senior High School. This was his second deployment to Iraq.
On May 17, Canine and several members of the 18th Infantry were traveling through enemy territory in Iraq when a roadside bomb – obscured in a box by a light pole – was detonated, and blew up the Humvee that was carrying him and three other soldiers. Under small-arms fire, Canine's men pulled him from the burning wreckage, placed him in another Humvee that was following close behind with a medic, and rushed him to an aide station, where a helicopter was awaiting to fly him to Landstuhl, Germany. On May 21, he was transported to Walter Reed.
The attack destroyed Canine's right leg, requiring immediate amputation at the field station in Iraq. The damage to his left leg resulted in amputation at Walter Reed.
"I feel good," Canine told The Ledger Thursday evening from the rehabilitation site. "My le..., stumps, hurt most of the time, even though I take a lot of medication. It's tolerable, but just kind of annoying sometimes.
"I try to stay strong and motivated every day. And with the help and support of my family, I will get through this."
Canine said he feels blessed to be alive. Had the bomb been detonated a "second later," he probably would have been killed.
"Things like this," he said "make you appreciate family even more."

The family's perspective
The night they got the call, Calvin Canine said he and his family had just finished celebrating the birthday of Robert's older brother, Chris.
"To get a phone call like that at 11 p.m. at night, leaves you in shock," Robert’s dad, Calvin Canine, explained. "I had just talked to Bob the day before, and he had planned to come home for five days and vacation with his family."
Two of Robert's siblings – Jamie Canine and Jennifer Roose – were the first to greet him at the hospital. On May 22, the Army flew Robert's wife, Jennifer, and his mother, Janet Jones, to Washington, D.C. All of the accommodations, Jones said, were paid during her four-week stay.
Filled with mixed emotions, Jones admits she didn't know what to expect when she first arrived at the hospital. Robert was heavily sedated, so she wasn't sure how much he remembered, or how he would handle the news of losing his legs.
"He remembered everything, and was very much aware of his injuries," she said. "So, for the most part, I spent my nights rubbing his legs, making him feel better."
Jones said her son Jamie was likely the most inspirational for Robert. For 30 straight days, he served as his little brother's keeper, watching over him as he slept, and helping him cope with the phantom pain.
"Basically only Robert can tell you the impact our time together had on his recovery, but I think he would say it was significant," Jamie Canine told The Ledger. "I wanted him to know someone would be there for him at all times. The rest of the family had obligations during the day, so my time with Robert just happened to be overnight."
As for the bond between brothers, Jamie Canine said, "It's always been unbreakable, that's just how it is in our family. The biggest difference now is that we tell each other how we feel more often."

The Road to Recovery
It's been more than five weeks since the incident, and things are looking up, Robert said.
In a couple of weeks, he should be standing, and could be walking in a few months. And, anywhere between six to 12 months, he could probably start running, if that is his preference.
"My plan is to rehabilitate as much as possible," he said. Robert's routine consists of at least an hour or more of physical and occupational therapy each day, he said.
As for his military career, Robert said it's unlikely he will return to duty. But he has no regrets.
"As a staff sergeant I'm supposed to be an expert in my job. So if I can't do combat infantry, I'd rather take my chances in the world, doing something else."
Asked if the incident has changed who he is, Robert quickly replied, "No."
"I'm a strong-willed person, and I would not have had it happen any other way," he said. "I'd rather this have happened to me, than to have one of my soldiers take the hit, because my job is to watch out for them.
"If I had the chance to do it over again, I wouldn't change a thing; except I wouldn't take that same road (where the bomb exploded) again."
Regarding his comrades, Robert said, "They did an excellent job, and I'm proud of them. They did exactly what they were supposed to do, and that training paid off."
And, because of their bravery, the driver of the Humvee only suffered severe injury to his right hand, another soldier had only scrapes and bruises, and the fourth one was unharmed.
Robert received a Purple Heart and Combat infantry badge for his valor.

Starting over
On Thursday, Robert's company first sergeant  visited him in Washington, bringing several of his  personal effects, that were scattered between Iraq, Germany and Ft. Riley, Kansas, where he was initially based. And on Friday, he and his wife had planned a "much-needed" outing to New York.
On Saturday, he planned to do a 5-mile race on a hand bike – which he figured would take him about 30 minutes to finish.
Later this month, the couple's son, Sebastian, and  "paw-paw" Calvin are flying out – a visit Robert  anxiously awaits. The plan is for them to put "dad's magic legs" to the test.
Afterwards, Robert and Jennifer plan to enroll Sebastian in a school in Washington, and remain out east until Robert's therapy is completed. Then the family intends to relocate to Columbia, where they will permanently reside.
Robert credits the success of his recovery to his family and the team of workers at Walter Reed.
In his journal, he thanks them all individually – "To Mom and Jen for comforting me; Dad for talking me through things about the surgery; Deb for helping me with my medications and healthy whole foods; and Terry for bringing Sebastian and taking care of our dogs – Thank you."
And to the Walter Reed nurses, orderlies, doctors, therapist and staff, the entire family offers a hearty thanks for their "professionalism, courtesy and compassion."
Anyone wishing to contact Robert Canine, or just follow his progress, a CaringBridge Web site has been set at www.caringbridge.org/visit/rdc. As of Friday, he had three filled pages in his guestbook, even more in his journal, and likely would  appreciate more.