Jose Rene Martinez

Before the accident (http://knowjr.com/about/jrs-story ())

"Things will happen in your life that you can't stop, but that's no reason to shut out the world. There's a purpose for the good and for the bad" (Crazy Pete). Who would have known that a nineteen year old teenager, who almost lost his life while serving time in Iraq, would go on to change people lives all around the world? This amazing man is Jose Rene Martinez. In March 2003, Martinez's life changed forever.  He was nineteen years old and just got out of high school (Brian).  He dreamed of being a profession football player, but due to an injury he quit football and joined the army (Brian).  While J.R. was serving time in Iraq, his left tire hit a landmine and he was trapped inside a burning vehicle, he thought his life was over (Brian).  After he was fully recovered he went back to hospitals to speak to burn patients, he won "Dancing with the Stars", and became a motivational speaker to people all over the world (Brian). Jose Rene Martinez is my hero because he possesses strength, selflessness, and he is the most positive person I know.

Jose Rene Martinez is a hero due to his strength that he uses to move forward in life and to forget about the past, but focus on the future.  As Martinez was trapped inside a burning vehicle, after running over a landmine in Iraq, he thought it was the end of the road (Brian). "He was screaming and yelling at the top of lungs, then suddenly, he recalls, he saw something: a vision of his sister Anabel" (Onderko). While he was trapped, he saw an image of his sister, who passed when J.R. was young (Brian).  She gave him the strength to push through the terrifying pain and survive. The image of his sister's presence provided him support and power allowing him to move forward.  While Martinez was in recovery he admitted, "It wasn't easy. There were a lot of difficult days. There were a lot of difficult nights. There was a lot of anger, depression and there was a lot of questioning but I fought through it and I stayed strong and I believe that I had a smile throughout it all" (Collins).  During J.R.'s recovery, he had a very difficult time with depression, thinking that his life was never going to be the same.  He did believe, though, that he was going to be a survivor and not a victim.  It's just amazing how, throughout the whole recovery, he always kept a smile on his face.  Martinez got through thirty three different surgeries and still had the strength to carry on his life.

After the accident (http://knowjr.com/in-the-media/pictures/category/1-my-life ())

Martinez is a hero because he is selfless by putting others first and by making them feel needed and happy. Finding a way to cope with his own injuries, "Martinez realized that many of the young men and women with injuries worse than his, were even more depressed than he had been. He began to visit them, laughing and joking, trying to raise their spirits" (Collins).  After Martinez was able to walk again, he visited other patients who needed support.  He gave them all hope, courage and strength. This suggests that J.R. puts everyone first in life and doesn't want other people to suffer the pain and depression that he suffered during his recovery. For example, "J.R. went back to the hospital to volunteer and talk to more burn patients, to help them pull back the curtain a bit on their despair. He spoke about hope and moving forward and, in the process, helped heal himself" (Onderko).  Martinez wasn't fully recovered yet, but he still went out of his way to help burn patients move forward in life.  Martinez is a true hero because he helped heal many patients, not physically but mentally.  He knows what it feels like to be depressed and sad; therefore he didn't want the other patients to feel the same way.  Martinez helped give patients more courage and will-power to carry on.

After winning

Martinez got asked to be on the show "Dancing with the Stars", and he was very excited to do it. Collins explains how dancing in front of America was for Martinez and how it was difficult, "When he's moving under those hot lights, he's got to be nervous, and all that moving around, that's a challenge" (Collins).  During the competition, he also had some hard times with his body because he wasn't as healthy as some of the other contestants.  Throughout the whole competition, he stayed positive and just wanted to have fun and dance.  Martinez wasn't planning on winning the show; he just wanted to enjoy it and to prove to America that he is capable of anything. While J.R.'s experience was, without doubt, life-changing, he suggests that this is actually a change for the better (Collins). He claims, "I wouldn't change anything.....absolutely anything!  I do believe everything happens for a reason, and I'm extremely grateful for that day because it led me into this life!" (Brian). At first, Martinez believed that he would never find love and never be able to succeed. On the contrary, he now has a girlfriend and a daughter with her.  Martinez has been positive throughout his life time and that led him to where he is now.  Martinez is a strong man.  After his injury, he is astonishingly positive and he doesn't let his scars affect him.

J.R. Martinez is a hero to me and to people all over the world because he never gives up in life and he always puts everyone first.  Martinez did, is, and will be motivating people to know that there is a purpose for everything.  Martinez inspires people to live life to the fullest.  He wants everyone to be happy.  He also inspires us to never give up no matter what the situation is, because it will always get better.  J.R. always believes that life goes on. Martinez says on Ellen that you can see scars, but it's really what's beneath that that counts (Ellen). He never knew what the purpose was for him, but he knew that if he stayed positive and continued to smile that something good will happen out of it.