'The doctors saved my life, but friends saved my spirit'
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BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Exactly four months have passed since former college football player J.D. Aylward was left for dead on a Bellevue street.
Aylward has been recovering since, and recently got his doctor's approval to exercise on his own. But the athlete, who was once considered a triple threat by football recruits, is still moving more slowly than he was known to.
"It's kind of a love-hate relationship with me and my body," he said.
Battered and bloody, the 24-year-old Sammamish High graduate was found the street after a night of partying at Munchbar in September. His last text from that night stated he was "kicking it with friends," but he still doesn't remember what happened next.
While Aylward's body is getting healthier, his case is growing colder.
Bellevue police say there is no update. The investigation is still ongoing, but the slow progress has proved frustrating for the Aylwards.
"I've talked to the detective and his stance is: 'I've called on all the leads I had. And if nobody's calling me with leads, I don't have anything to go on,"' said Colleen Aylward, the victim's mother.
J.D. must undergo one more surgery to replace the section of skull surgeons removed and set aside to save his life.
"That's another problem why I'm not back fully -- because they got infected in the freezer with bacteria," he said.
He will now receive a synthetic skull to fill out the indentation that he covers with a cap.
"It does remind me something bad happened, which I try not to think about, and I'm kind of embarrassed," he said.
J.D.'s confidence took a hit, but he is bouncing back, thanks to support from his friends who signed the visitor log during his hospitalization.
"The doctors saved my life, but friends saved my spirit," he said.
J.D. is still unable to work, but says the PRO Sports Club in Bellevue is holding his job for him.
Aylward has been recovering since, and recently got his doctor's approval to exercise on his own. But the athlete, who was once considered a triple threat by football recruits, is still moving more slowly than he was known to.
"It's kind of a love-hate relationship with me and my body," he said.
Battered and bloody, the 24-year-old Sammamish High graduate was found the street after a night of partying at Munchbar in September. His last text from that night stated he was "kicking it with friends," but he still doesn't remember what happened next.
While Aylward's body is getting healthier, his case is growing colder.
Bellevue police say there is no update. The investigation is still ongoing, but the slow progress has proved frustrating for the Aylwards.
"I've talked to the detective and his stance is: 'I've called on all the leads I had. And if nobody's calling me with leads, I don't have anything to go on,"' said Colleen Aylward, the victim's mother.
J.D. must undergo one more surgery to replace the section of skull surgeons removed and set aside to save his life.
"That's another problem why I'm not back fully -- because they got infected in the freezer with bacteria," he said.
He will now receive a synthetic skull to fill out the indentation that he covers with a cap.
"It does remind me something bad happened, which I try not to think about, and I'm kind of embarrassed," he said.
J.D.'s confidence took a hit, but he is bouncing back, thanks to support from his friends who signed the visitor log during his hospitalization.
"The doctors saved my life, but friends saved my spirit," he said.
J.D. is still unable to work, but says the PRO Sports Club in Bellevue is holding his job for him.
My friend went through something like this and couldn't remember for almost two years. Then it just hit her, she was able to prove everything that she remembered and the guy that hurt her is doing 25 years in jail. He wouldnt have done so many years if he came forward. Long story short he could have done 4 years instead or 25. Stop hiding you idiots. Karmas real.
No one knows what happened to him that night? If he was hanging out with friends, then why weren't they there for him when he was attacked?
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I don't know about other people but if I go out with my friends I don't leave them and they don't leave me. There are too many bad things that can happen. Always use the buddy system when going out!
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I'm glad to hear you are doing better J.D. and I hope that one day you and your family can get the answers of what happened to you and your attacker(s) get what they deserve.
Glad he is getting better, can't imagine what he is going through....all my best thoughts, prayers & wishes to him and his close ones.
Friends are the frosting on the cupcake of life. Â JD, you rock, keep moving forward, you are doing great and inspiring a lot of people!
Munchbar - hmmm - they should close that place down.
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 @Enatai They did, after that shooting.
 the 24-year-old Sammamish High graduate was found the street after a night of partying at Munchbar in September.
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HUH??? I didn't know my 8 year old daughter works for komo writing stories. Come on really????
 @Seahawker That's where he graduated from, they didn't say it was last year! Just means he hasn't been to college yet :P
 @BluefireJaguar  @Seahawker The issue isn't with the front end of the quoted sentence- "the 24-year-old Sammamish High graduate". The middle part of the sentence, "was found the street after a night of partying" appears to be missing "in" as in "was found IN the street."Â
@BluefireJaguar @Seahawker I am guessing Seahawker means the grammatical error: "was found the street"
I'm glad his family and friends are there to support him. Keep going kid - you've got a great fighting spirit!
Wow, he sure made a wonderful recovery. I remember this story and the horrible injuries and images.... So glad to hear he pulled through. Keep up the good work, J.D. What an inspiration of a young man you are! May they find the people responsible for doing this too.
amen
I hope you get better and better. I am so sorry what happened to you and pray they find the monsters that did this to you. Prove them wrong JD and dont let the monsters win
Resilience is poetry in motion. Best wishes, Aylward. Now you are something much greater and more meaningful than a "triple threat". You're an inspiration to others.