WASHINGTON, DC. — Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, one of the West Virginia National Guard members shot last month in Washington D.C., is transitioning from acute care to inpatient rehabilitation.
MedStar Washington Hospital Center Neurosurgeon Jeffrey Mai provided this statement Friday:
“Sixteen days ago, Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was airlifted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center with a critical gunshot wound to the head. Thanks to the immediate response of emergency personnel and the exceptional care provided by our trauma and neurosurgery teams, he received lifesaving treatment, including emergency surgery to control bleeding and relieve pressure on his brain,” the statement read.
“Today, we are proud to share that Staff Sgt. Wolfe has made extraordinary progress. He is now breathing on his own and can stand with assistance, important milestones that reflect his strength and determination. Based on these improvements, he is now ready to transition from acute care to inpatient rehabilitation as the next step in his recovery journey,” he continued.
He concluded by giving gratitude to the staff and his family.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated physicians, nurses, and support staff who cared for him every step of the way, and to his family for their unwavering love and encouragement. While this remains an early phase of healing, his progress gives us every reason to feel hopeful about what lies ahead.”
According to the release, Wolfe’s family has chosen to not disclose the location of his rehabilitation.
Andy’s parents, Melody and Jason Wolfe also provided a statement Friday.
They shared gratitude for all of the support they’ve received.
“We are so grateful to the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the staff, doctors, and nurses that have cared for Andy these first few weeks. The care has been remarkable, and they have told us Andy’s progress is miraculous,” the statement said.
“We also want to thank the world for the prayers. We know and appreciate the power of prayer, and we see the result of God working with and through these amazing medical professionals. People around the world are praying for Andy and the presence of God was evident in his room on many occasions,” it continued.
They also asked for continued support.
“Please continue to lift Andy up in prayer as he begins a long and tough rehabilitation. We know he will continue to improve at a rapid pace and know your prayers are making the difference. Please continue as God heals Andrew and gives him the strength to return to work, the West Virginia National Guard, and his new mission of being a light into this world,”
“The support we’ve received from Andy’s military family, his hometown community, and people across the nation has been extraordinary. From the members of his unit to leaders at both the state and federal levels, the response has been heartfelt. President Donald Trump, Governor Patrick Morrisey, Senators Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, Congresswoman Carol Miller and Congressman Riley Moore have each shown genuine care and have played an important role in ensuring Andy receives the best possible care and that his prayer request is widely known. We love the West Virginia National Guard, and they love Andy. They have shown that day and night and in thousands of ways.”
On Sunday, his mother Melody Wolfe posted another update:
He is continuing to do well on his healing journey Each day he is able to do more and more. He spoke to me today, and even though more of a whispered phrase, it melted my heart because I’ve missed his voice so much Now, what he said broke my heart because he asked me when we could leave and I had to tell him “not today” So, this leads me into my next specific prayer request:
Andy is starting to understand what has happened, and he’s very unhappy that he cannot do things for himself. He has never been one to sit still and being in the hospital bed and chair is frustrating. Please pray that as we transition into this next phase of healing, that he can feel at peace and have a sense of calming and comfort as he moves forward.
While his physical self is healing and getting better, now we’re at the stage of his mental health also staying well. His nurse sat with me and we did explain the timeframe that we’re looking at and talked about how he’s been in the hospital for about 2 1/2 weeks now. We told him that he’s made such great progress that he’s surpassing expectations and is really doing well. That did seem to help
He’s enjoying having his guardsmen with him, family and friends. It definitely helps keep his spirits up
We love you and please continue to pray for Andy and our family. I know one day we will be able to pay it forward.
The shooting claimed the life of U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom,
WVMetronews reporter Morgan Pemberton contributed to this story.
