Air Force amputee returns to flight status

[ememdee19]

http://www.af.mil/media/photodb/web/...-0000S-001.jpg
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. -- Lt. Col. Andrew Lourake sits in an Air Force C-20 here. Colonel Lourake underwent an above-the-knee amputation in June 2002. He was medically cleared June 18 to return to flying status and is waiting to attend formal training to get requalified to fly. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bobby Jones)

[dustin]

“Americans would be surprised to learn that a grievous injury, such as the loss of a limb, no longer means forced discharge,” President George W. Bush said. “In other words, the medical care is so good, and the recovery process is so technologically advanced that people are no longer forced out of the military.”

To my understanding, recovery rates have been for amputees since WWI.

And if the medical facilities were so wonderful how come he got the infection in the first place

Colonel Lourake’s tenure as a pilot ended Oct. 31, 1998, when the throttle on his motocross bike got stuck, and his bike was thrown on top of him, fracturing his left leg.

While in the hospital, he caught a hospital-borne staph infection, which eventually seeped into the bone. During the next three and a half year’s, Colonel Lourake received 18 surgeries to repair his infected leg; however, nothing could stop the pain, and his leg was fused straight with a steel rod.

Regardless, to him for sticking with it against the odds of the skeptics and naysayers.

[dustin]

I just noticed he kinda looks like Steve...minus the leg...

[Nickel]

Originally posted by dustin
I just noticed he kinda looks like Steve...minus the leg...

Might be him. Maybe he had a little wood-chipper incident of his own.

[ylexot]

Originally posted by dustin
To my understanding, recovery rates have been for amputees since WWI.

Your point? Or is that just an FYI?

Originally posted by dustin
And if the medical facilities were so wonderful how come he got the infection in the first place

Infections happen at hospitals sometimes. That doesn't mean that the hospital was bad in some way.

Originally posted by dustin
Regardless, to him for sticking with it against the odds of the skeptics and naysayers.

There were skeptics and naysayers? The article didn't mention any. In fact, “I’ve had a huge amount of support from my commanders, squadron members and doctors,” he said. “I didn’t get to this point without the team effort. To me, this whole experience solidifies the Air Force is one big family.”

[sleuth]

for him...
Either he really needed a job, or he's a true Patriot. Either way... it's a great story.

[unixpirate]

[Nickel]

This guy is a wonderful person. Someone that works at Walter Reed contacted him, and he and his wife came to visit my brother. It really gave him faith that anything is possible, and his injury is not going to hold him back. Kudos to Andrew.

[Nickel]

Originally Posted by Nickel

This guy is a wonderful person. Someone that works at Walter Reed contacted him, and he and his wife came to visit my brother. It really gave him faith that anything is possible, and his injury is not going to hold him back. Kudos to Andrew.

Scratch that, I just talked to my mom. He wasn't contacted by Walter Reed, he heard through the grapevine about his accident and injuries, and took it upon himself to visit.

[MMDad]

Originally Posted by Nickel

Scratch that, I just talked to my mom. He wasn't contacted by Walter Reed, he heard through the grapevine about his accident and injuries, and took it upon himself to visit.

WOW! He's even greater than anyone could have imagined! That is too cool!

If I weren't a "manly man" type, I might have to admit it brought a tear to my eye.