Written on December 18, 2023
Joseph Donahue shares his story in Phoenix Society's Virtual Open Mic.
I know you said the thing about "excessively long" but I'm a student finishing my biochemistry undergraduate right now...So in the interest of my time. I'm just going to send you the two videos that my sister made that pretty much describes the entirety of my story. In a nutshell. I'm a former Marine special operations sniper, I was in from 2004-2008, and deployed to Iraq, and Afghanistan. I was in a horrible work accident in April 2021. And I just ran 100 miles in 28 hours on nov 3rd 2023, making me the first 90% burn survivor, to have ever completed a 100 mile ultramarathon. Ran it for charity for wounded veterans and raised $4000 for Darkhorse Lodge in TN. Here's the videos my sister made. It's easier for me just to send the videos, and if it's too long..you guys can tell me you can't use them. But I think it would be good for burn survivors to see this. I'm like the burn survivor version, of David Goggins. Now I'm training with a wounded Marine who's a double above knee amputee...sharpening the blade together getting him stronger to be able to use his prosthetics. Hope you enjoy the videos.
WARNING: Images of a burn injury included in video.
https://youtu.be/M_-Ldhxi4T0?si=eUkWRIRgT-p2jIBp
That's the 35 min video my sis made of my 100 mile run.
https://youtu.be/4X7_QcPfq58?si=uis6LjQmgv8Alvt5
That's 12 min video of the speech I gave at the Willing Warrior's fundraising gala.
Hope you enjoy it.
Talk to you sometime!
Joe
Virtual Open Mic is a chance to share your truth and find healing through stories. All submissions are published without editing. Write your story, share a video, or record a podcast.
Disclaimer: The stories featured on this website are personal accounts shared by individuals from the burn community. Each burn injury, recovery journey, and healing process is unique. These stories are meant to offer connection, insight, and hope but are not intended as medical advice. What worked for one person may not be appropriate for others. The perspectives shared in these stories do not necessarily represent the views of Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. If you have medical questions or concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.