Soldier undergoes first surgery

Pfc. Daniel Tingle, a 2004 graduate of Douglas High School, may be up and walking today for the first time since surgery last week to repair his left foot which was damaged Jan. 6 in a mortar attack in Baghdad.

Tingle's mother, Tina Luce, said Monday her son was in good spirits despite the pain.

"It was six hours from the time he went in. He did OK," she said. "They brought in a hand specialist who also worked on the foot."

Luce, a nurse, said doctors took part of Tingle's hip bone and fused it to the bone left in his foot. They took skin from the side of his foot and a skin graft from his calf to use in the procedure.

She said Tingle had been running a low fever since the surgery Friday.

"He had to stay immobile for five days," she said. They don't want any blood rushing to the area. After that, they'll take off the bandages and see how the fusing is doing. After that, it's just a waiting game to try to get him up on crutches."

She said her 21-year-old son was thrilled to be receiving mail from home.

"He is getting letters from the Blue Star Moms and some of his high school friends. He wanted me to tell everyone, 'Thank you.' As soon as he is able, he plans to write back," she said.

Tingle is hospitalized at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

His wife Megan is with him and Luce returned to Nevada on Monday. She hopes to be going back in two weeks.

"He was sorry to see me leave, and I was sad to go," she said. "I cried when I saw him first, and I cried when I left."

DETAILS:

Mail may be sent to:

Pfc. Daniel Tingle

Brooke Army Medical Center

MCHE-DN-4W

3851 Roger Brooke Dr.

Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-6200