More Information tw: war tw: bombing tw: injury tw: hospital
Donovan "Donny" Morgan grew up in Kismet, Oregon, part of a large, well-established family that had been in the area for generations. They were wealthy, owning a lot of properties and living among the upper class. But Donny never shared the same desires. While others in the family obsessed over luxury and status, he was content with the basics—living simply and being an ordinary person. As a teenager, he worked at a local diner, the only child in his family with a job. Even then, he knew he had a calling beyond the small-town life, and when he turned eighteen, he enlisted in the Marines. His family thought he was crazy and tried to talk him out of it, offering to pay for travel or college instead, but Donny declined and went off to serve. He was sent to Texas for his training and his first base.
The early years in the Marines were a wild ride for Donny. He had a good time and steadily worked his way up the ranks, but he never craved the top spot. He was content as a middle man, helping to mentor younger Marines and guiding them through their training. Donny loved serving and saw the world, spending time stationed in various places and returning to Texas or occasionally back home to Oregon during his leave.
It was during his time in Texas that Donny met "Sam," who joined the same squad a few years after him. The two became inseparable, always at each other’s side, looking out for one another like the best of friends. Their bond grew so strong that they even had a brief fling a few years after they met—just a moment of closeness between two people who needed someone to be there. However, their friendship never crossed that line again, and they remained close, like brothers, for the rest of their service.
In 2019, while out on a drive, Donny and Sam's squad was hit by an IED. The blast was devastating. Many of the squad members died instantly, and Donny took a severe blow. His leg was badly injured, nearly torn off, and he lost consciousness. His fellow Marines did their best to stabilize him, but given the extent of the injuries and the time it took to get everyone the help they needed, the damage was worsened.
At the hospital, Donny spent weeks in critical care as doctors worked to save his leg. They nearly succeeded, but a clot nearly took his life, and in the end, they had to amputate his leg below the knee to save him. The loss hit him hard—his vision for the future seemed shattered. He was sent to a hospital in New York to recover, but after months of feeling lost and unsure of what to do next, he decided to visit home. It was then that he saw the Cedar Grill and Lounge for sale. Taking a chance, he bought the bar, and soon after, moved into the apartment above it. Donny found comfort in his new life, living quietly and staying close to his work. He became more of a homebody, spending most of his time either at the bar or resting at home, allowing his body and leg to recover when needed. He kept his distance from his family as much as possible, preferring the peace he found in his solitude.
Despite the relative calm, Donny still struggled with his PTSD. It was a constant battle. Each time he felt like he was getting his life back on track, something would set him back. He attended therapy and group sessions weekly, doing his best to manage his emotions and thoughts. His service dog, Honey, was his constant companion, always by his side and able to bring him moments of happiness when things felt dark.
Donny had his ups and downs—good days and bad days. There were even stretches of weeks when he felt like he was doing great. But after a severe storm hit his town, things took a turn for the worse. He ended up in the psychiatric ward for two weeks to get the help he needed. It was a tough experience, but ultimately, it was beneficial. He’s been out for a few months now, feeling better and making progress, but there are still moments when the past catches up with him. He takes each day as it comes, always striving to move forward, with Honey by his side. He had been doing well lately. Bad days seem to be in his past, but he has some bad thoughts and feelings. He had met some great people and great friends, and it helped. He's hoping to take that next step with someone and not be alone every day, for the first time in a long time.
He is doing better but still has his down times and days, more than he would admit to anyone. He's trying to get out there and date but part of him feels like it's in his head that it's not real. But part of him hopes it's ture.
