U.S. Navy Chief Recovering at TIRR Memorial Hermann from Injuries Sustained in Syria Receives Special Visit
HOUSTON (July05,
2018)
After sustaining life-threatening
injuries during combat operations in Raqqa, Syria, U.S. Navy Explosive
Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Chief Kenton Stacy recently received a special visit as
he continues to recover at TIRR
Memorial Hermann in Houston.
Stacy was critically wounded in
November as one of the few elite Navy EOD operators assigned to a Special
Forces unit tasked with clearing areas which had been held by ISIS fighters.
While his team was clearing
improvised explosive devices from the second floor of a hospital that had been
rigged with booby traps, one of the devices detonated within just a few feet of
Kenton, injuring his spinal cord and forever changing his life. Stacy was
brought to TIRR Memorial Hermann, where he has since received highly
specialized care for his injuries.
Earlier this year, Kenton was
recognized by President Trump in his State of the Union Address for his bravery
and service. Since coming to TIRR Memorial Hermann, Kenton is now able to
utilize a wheelchair on his own.
“It is an honor to take care of
someone like Kenton Stacy," said Dr.
Matthew Davis, TIRR Memorial Medical Director of the Spinal
Cord Injury Program. “His resilience and determination can be sensed by all
of his care team as he continues to work hard in his rehabilitation.” Dr. Davis
is an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the McGovern Medical School at The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).
Recently, his friend, U.S. Navy
Lieutenant Commander Mike McMahon, made a trip to Houston to meet with Stacy
and participate in the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas North American
Championship in Stacy’s honor.
“I just wanted to put forth the
effort that was in honor of him and worthy of his cause and his struggle,” said
McMahon.
Watch a video of their
special reunion.
The complexity of spinal cord
injuries requires highly specialized skills of a healthcare team. TIRR Memorial
Hermann was one of the first facilities in the United States to establish a
spinal cord injury center and is internationally recognized for its expertise
in the management of tetraplegic spinal cord injury patients who require a
ventilator for breathing, including patients who are able to wean from the
ventilator. Continually recognized as one of America's Best Hospitals by U.S.
News & World Report, TIRR Memorial Hermann is a national leader in
medical rehabilitation and research. To learn more about TIRR Memorial Hermann
visit, http://tirr.memorialhermann.org/.
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