Adrian's Story

"You are saving the lives of soldiers in Iraq"

Adrian Garcia has endured losses that are nearly too painful to calculate.  And he has celebrated gains that have worked miracles on his body, mind and soul.  If he had it to do over again, he would no doubt avoid the losses … but the gains have opened his eyes to the wonders of the human heart and the marvels of modern medicine.

Adrian was a 19-year-old soldier from El Paso on his first deployment to Iraq … just getting the lay of the land … when the Humvee in which he was a machine gunner was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.  That was the last time Adrian saw his legs. 

He has learned how to survive in the face of appalling adversity – through the help of people he has met and the health care he has received on the battlefield, in the camp where they stabilized him, in Landstuhl, Germany, at Walter Reed in Washington, D.C., and at Brooke Army Medical Center, where he has been since April, 2007.

He has learned how to walk without legs.  How to surf without an ocean.  How to swim with only his arms.  He has found people who care, who are willing to share their resources and who have the skills and compassion to take a broken man and make him nearly whole again.

And he is alive today because of the gift of blood he received on the battlefield.  He said, “I have been told that the number one cause of death on the battlefield is not bullet wounds, but loss of blood.  I was fortunate that when I lost a significant amount of blood, they were able to stabilize me and give me transfusions immediately.  I want to thank all of the people who donated and will donate.  You are saving the lives of soldiers in Iraq.  You saved my life.”

When he first received his injuries and lost his legs, the blood loss and trauma were so great, he died twice from lack of blood and oxygen.  Once he was brought back to life and stabilized, the medical miracles began and he discovered the depth of his personal courage and found comfort in the generosity of strangers.  He began rehabilitation at the Center for the Intrepid, the new 65,000 square foot center at Fort Sam Houston that was built to help soldiers with severe extremity injuries, amputations and burns regain their abilities.

“This place and these people are mind-boggling,” he says.  “The Center for the Intrepid and staff are top of the line.  And my family has been a great source of help and motivation.  I feel fortunate to have all of this help.”

At the Center for the Intrepid, Adrian is learning to surf on a wave simulator, walk on prosthetics and swim daily to build his strength.  He has high hopes for his future. 

His plans include college and he is grateful, again … this time for the G.I. Bill that will enable him to fulfill his dreams for an education.  “I’m thinking of becoming a writer,” he said. 

March 21, 2009 marks the second anniversary of his injury and he has come a long, long way.  He still has a lot of work to do and believes that his success is contingent on the amount of work he puts into it. 

Every day, he is grateful for the medical care he has received, the generous people who have walked beside him and the countless strangers who have given blood so that he and other wounded soldiers might have a new chance at life.

And we are grateful for Adrian and all the brave soldiers who have the courage to go into a war zone and try and bring peace to the world.