Ramona native Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Brandon Dodson suffered devastating injuries in an IED blast on Aug. 9 in Afghanistan. A webpage created to help ease financial stress on Dodson's wife and toddler son has raised nearly $100,000 as of early Wednesday morning.
Dodson's Marine Corps buddy Dave Smith set up the webpage at GoFundMe.com soon after Dodson was wounded. In ten days, about 1,000 donors have contributed a total of $97,500.
Smith explained the extent of Dodson's injuries on the crowdfunding site:
"Dodson was on a combat patrol with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines in Helmand Province when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated. Brandon was in close proximity to the IED, taking off both legs, fracturing his pelvis and causing other injuries including a broken tailbone and broken right hand."
Dodson's mother, Marla Dodson, told the Ramona Sentinel her son joined the Marines once month after graduating from Ramona High School in 2003. He has endured combat deployments five times - two in Iraq, and three in Afghanistan.
Dodson's parents, his wife Jasmine, and 20-month-old son Indiana have all traveled to Walter Reed in Bethesda, Md., where Dodson is hospitalized.
Smith updated Dodson's progress on Tuesday:
"He is opening his eyes more and beginning to hold longer conversations. His wounds are healing well although he still has quite a long road ahead of him."
If you'd like to send Dodson and his family letters of support, his address is:
SSgt Brandon K Dodson
Walter Reed National Medical Center
Marine Corps Liaison Office
Bldg 10, Room 1022A
8901 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20889
