Nick Lavery

Quick story that I'd like to share that highlights that is I was maybe on day three, four, five time frame, ICU. Parents are still there going through surgeries. It's a whirlwind of activity. People are coming and going, doctors, nurses, practitioners, 24-7 nonstop. It's amazing. I'm there maybe three, four or five days.

Quick story that I'd like to share that highlights that is I was maybe on day three, four, five time frame, ICU. Parents are still there going through surgeries. It's a whirlwind of activity. People are coming and going, doctors, nurses, practitioners, 24-7 nonstop. It's amazing. I'm there maybe three, four or five days.

Quick story that I'd like to share that highlights that is I was maybe on day three, four, five time frame, ICU. Parents are still there going through surgeries. It's a whirlwind of activity. People are coming and going, doctors, nurses, practitioners, 24-7 nonstop. It's amazing. I'm there maybe three, four or five days.

And all of a sudden in walks all these people in black suits and they start positioning themselves around the room. And I'm like, it's kind of weird. And then in walks the first lady at the time was Michelle Obama. And she comes straight over to me and she starts talking to me and I'm laying there and I'm looking up at her and she's talking. I have no idea what she was initially saying.

And all of a sudden in walks all these people in black suits and they start positioning themselves around the room. And I'm like, it's kind of weird. And then in walks the first lady at the time was Michelle Obama. And she comes straight over to me and she starts talking to me and I'm laying there and I'm looking up at her and she's talking. I have no idea what she was initially saying.

And all of a sudden in walks all these people in black suits and they start positioning themselves around the room. And I'm like, it's kind of weird. And then in walks the first lady at the time was Michelle Obama. And she comes straight over to me and she starts talking to me and I'm laying there and I'm looking up at her and she's talking. I have no idea what she was initially saying.

i don't recall what i said back to her i think it was just a bunch of me mumbling and stuttering some like nonsensical gibberish back to her so she's kind of like okay i'm not really getting anywhere with this guy right now so she diverts to her attention starts talking to my mother who's at the foot of my bed so they're having this conversation basically like right on top of me and they're talking for a minute or so and then i interrupt them by saying to the first lady i just say excuse me ma'am

i don't recall what i said back to her i think it was just a bunch of me mumbling and stuttering some like nonsensical gibberish back to her so she's kind of like okay i'm not really getting anywhere with this guy right now so she diverts to her attention starts talking to my mother who's at the foot of my bed so they're having this conversation basically like right on top of me and they're talking for a minute or so and then i interrupt them by saying to the first lady i just say excuse me ma'am

i don't recall what i said back to her i think it was just a bunch of me mumbling and stuttering some like nonsensical gibberish back to her so she's kind of like okay i'm not really getting anywhere with this guy right now so she diverts to her attention starts talking to my mother who's at the foot of my bed so they're having this conversation basically like right on top of me and they're talking for a minute or so and then i interrupt them by saying to the first lady i just say excuse me ma'am

And I said it so loudly that it actually like startled her. She like jumped back and was like, oh, this dude just totally said something to me. That's kind of cool. So she leans in. She's like a foot off my face. And I said to her, I need you to do me a favor. And she doesn't respond. I said, I need you to tell your husband that I am still an asset. That I will be back. And don't give up on me.

And I said it so loudly that it actually like startled her. She like jumped back and was like, oh, this dude just totally said something to me. That's kind of cool. So she leans in. She's like a foot off my face. And I said to her, I need you to do me a favor. And she doesn't respond. I said, I need you to tell your husband that I am still an asset. That I will be back. And don't give up on me.

And I said it so loudly that it actually like startled her. She like jumped back and was like, oh, this dude just totally said something to me. That's kind of cool. So she leans in. She's like a foot off my face. And I said to her, I need you to do me a favor. And she doesn't respond. I said, I need you to tell your husband that I am still an asset. That I will be back. And don't give up on me.

And she starts crying. So she's crying. My mother starts crying. I think the Secret Service agents start crying. Everyone in the room is going through this emotional experience except for me. I was dead serious. And if I'm being honest with you, man, I just saw a strategic opportunity to get a message to the guy. To the commander in chief.

And she starts crying. So she's crying. My mother starts crying. I think the Secret Service agents start crying. Everyone in the room is going through this emotional experience except for me. I was dead serious. And if I'm being honest with you, man, I just saw a strategic opportunity to get a message to the guy. To the commander in chief.

And she starts crying. So she's crying. My mother starts crying. I think the Secret Service agents start crying. Everyone in the room is going through this emotional experience except for me. I was dead serious. And if I'm being honest with you, man, I just saw a strategic opportunity to get a message to the guy. To the commander in chief.

And if you've been in the military longer than a day or two, you realize that there's an exception to every policy we have. All it takes is the right person to put the name on the right piece of paper, and anything can happen. So for me, that story is one that's still impactful to me. My mother tells it actually much better than I do. That was what was crystal clear.

And if you've been in the military longer than a day or two, you realize that there's an exception to every policy we have. All it takes is the right person to put the name on the right piece of paper, and anything can happen. So for me, that story is one that's still impactful to me. My mother tells it actually much better than I do. That was what was crystal clear.

And if you've been in the military longer than a day or two, you realize that there's an exception to every policy we have. All it takes is the right person to put the name on the right piece of paper, and anything can happen. So for me, that story is one that's still impactful to me. My mother tells it actually much better than I do. That was what was crystal clear.

And of course, I didn't have a clue as to how I would go about doing that. But I felt in that moment, I was probably going to need some administrative love from probably a whole bunch of people. So maybe if I get the endorsement from the guy in the Oval Office, that may go a long way. So the decision was made right there and then. I saw things quite clearly.

And of course, I didn't have a clue as to how I would go about doing that. But I felt in that moment, I was probably going to need some administrative love from probably a whole bunch of people. So maybe if I get the endorsement from the guy in the Oval Office, that may go a long way. So the decision was made right there and then. I saw things quite clearly.