Military background aids in overcoming serious injury

While it only takes an instant for a person's life to be changed forever, it takes constant work plus will and determination to overcome some things. The will and determination were already part of his life due to his military service.

On Nov. 2, 2011, David Bledsoe was on a motorcycle returning from being part of an Honor Guard Escort for an Honor Flight. When a deer ran in front of the bike, the bike hit it. He and his passenger Becka "went flying" and landed in the roadway. It was 2:30 a.m. He remembers hoping no car would come along and do more damage to them.

Both were seriously injured. The bike landed on his right leg, resulting in more than 100 fractures from mid-calf down. Becka's helmet was ripped off with a resulting head injury.

David underwent several surgeries in an attempt to save the leg, but there was just too much damage. "The bone just wouldn't heal," he said. In February 2012, he was told that there was no hope for the leg to heal, that he would be a cripple for his entire life. The circulation was good, but there were just too many fractures, since the bone was almost pulverized

That's when he asked the doctor about the possibility of amputation. "If you do that, you can do anything you want," he remembers the doctor answering. A few weeks later, his lower right leg was amputated. May, he was fitted with his first prosthesis, followed by a week at Rush Rehabilitation center, Columbia, to learn how to adapt to the new leg and foot in every circumstance.

Among the situations the therapists worked on, were getting off chairs, out of bed, and off the floor with nothing to help get up. In essence, he was forced to learn how to deal with everyday, or at least common, situations as if he had two good legs.

He was back on the job at the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center before the amputation was done, and, after rehab, returned to work with a new leg, making it much easier to get around.

About three weeks after getting out of Rusk, Bledsoe bought his latest motorcycle, a 2006 Suzuki Boulevard, and began learning to ride with the new prosthetic lower leg and foot.

"It takes me five minutes more to get dressed, because I've got to put my leg on," he said. "but I can do pretty much anything I did before."

Becka also recovered after many months of therapy and they still participate in the Honor Guard escorts for the Honor Flights. He is the local Ride Captain for the Patriot Guard.

Bledsoe credits the United States Marine Corps with the largest role in preparing him for the effort required in getting over the effects of the trauma and working hard on the recovery and return to normal living.

What did he learn from the Marines? "Never Give Up, Improvise, Adapt and Overcome!"