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Senior Airman Gideon L. Connelly, repair
and reclamation crew chief, 175th Maintenance Squadron. (Courtesy
photo)
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BALTIMORE - On July 5, 2011 Senior Airman Gideon L. Connelly,
repair and reclamation crew chief, 175th Maintenance Squadron, was
involved in a motorcycle accident in Baltimore County with serious
damage to his left leg. The doctors told the Maryland Air National
Guardsman if he kept his leg, it would leave him with limitations to
what he could do. However, if the leg was replaced with prosthesis,
his abilities would significantly increase.
On Sept. 16,
2011, Connelly chose to have the leg removed below the knee.
“[When the accident happened] I was upset. I didn't think I would be
able to return to work. I didn't understand how it would affect my
life. I was scared,” said Connelly. His friends were scared but
supportive. “They didn't know how to help. My family stuck by my
side and is very supportive.”
Connelly started a
rehabilitation process to walk, and then run with the goal of
staying in the military.
Around Thanksgiving 2011, he started
walking and progressed to running October 2012.
Running means
a lot to him.
“I want to inspire people. It is a great
opportunity. I am blessed to come back and do what I can do now
after a horrific accident,” said Connelly.
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Before the accident he lifted a lot of weights and did
some distance running for physical training, now he runs
sprint races.
Connelly competed in the Texas Regional Games (Paralympic games
that are used for qualifying for the national events) April 13-14,
2013. He competed in the men's t44 (below the knee amputation) 100m
and 200m races, receiving two gold medals. His 100m time qualified
him for the Paralympic Nationals in San Antonio, June 14-16. He will
however, compete in the Endeavor Games at the University of Central
Oklahoma, June 6-9, to make a second attempt at qualifying in the
200m for the Paralympic Nationals.
“My goal for now is to make the nationals. In the time
frame I have I will probably not win nationals. I am a
beginner at running and at this point I do what I can do,”
said Connelly. His goal is to win nationals in a future year
with ultimate goal of the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.
“I would like to stay in the
military and compete for the Air Force team. I would like to
work down at Walter Reed as a physical therapist,” he said.
Most wounded military members with amputations go to Walter
Reed Military Hospital in Bethesda, Md. to receive and learn
how to use their prosthesis.
To stay in the military
“I had to do a PT test and prove to medical that I can do my
job without assistance. The worst part was the paperwork. I
had to prove myself to the base medical review board,” said
Connelly. He next step is to be medically worldwide
deployable.
Lt. Col. Tom Donnellan, deputy commander,
175th Maintenance Group, talked about Connelly's progress to
stay in the military.
“He has to do what all airmen
would do to stay in the military.”
“I couldn't
imagine waking up one morning missing a limb. He has been
able to overcome it. The military has seen a lot of this,”
said Donnellan. “Losing your limb affects your whole life.
He was in good physical shape to begin with. He had the
mental capability to deal with the accident. He trained to
do his job with his limitations.”
“He is a young
troop and no one wants this to happen. He is squared away
and knows what he needs to do to stay in the game,” he said.
He is also participating in a study by the University of
Florida on prosthesis. The study helps develop the devices
not only for him but also for others who need the devices.
He is testing three mechanical feet. They put him on an
obstacle course that the Tampa police SWAT uses which
includes walking/running on treadmills. The performance of
the foot is then evaluated under these conditions. During
these tests, his vital signs are monitored to see how his
body works with the devices. “The study is to see how the
different feet perform in stress related conditions,” said
Connelly.
Donnellan likes that Connelly working to
improve prosthesis that both civilians and military members
may use in the future. “I hope by working the kinks out of
the new prosthesis, it will benefit him and others.”
Although Connelly has received support from a lot of people,
one person stands out - Tech. Sgt. Kandyce O'Meally.
“I saw him walking around with a prosthetic leg and I didn't
know who he was. I approached him and asked him if I could
ask him a few questions. We started talking and I discovered
he was into track. I learned he wanted to go to Rio in 2016
- the Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” said
O'Meally. She is a maintenance management data analyst in
the 135th Maintenance Operation Flight.
“I asked how
he was going to do it and what his plans were. In the
conversation, I let him know I had some contacts in the
track world from when I trained during college,” she said.
She got him in contact with someone on the Paralympic
committee.
“She helps me out at times when I need it.
I have a lot of paperwork to fill out and she helps me out
with that. She is a great person. She helps me out when I am
down. She gives me motivation. She is a great hearted
person,” said Connelly.
“I see a hard working kid. I
see a kid with a lot of motivation and drive. He is never
down. Life dealt him a hand, not a bad hand, not a good
hand. Just a hand and he plays it well,” said O'Meally.
“I think she has been very beneficial to him. She has
given him the backup, support and guidance to get where he
is today,” said Donnellan.
Donnellan summed up
Connelly's potential, “It's whatever he wants to make of it.
He is on the right track. He can go as far as he wants to.”
Connelly has good advice for anyone who has lost a limb.
“Keep your head up. Don't let anything discourage you. It is
a mind over body experience. If you keep your head in the
right place you can do anything you want.”
By USAF Tech. Sgt. David Speicher
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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