An Airman's road to wellness

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kimberly Spencer
  • 59th Medical Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNEWS) --  Maj. Matthew Conlan is preparing to walk out of Wilford Hall Medical Center one final time, saying good-bye to the doctors, nurses, physical therapists and numerous individuals who have helped him through his nearly two-year recovery. Major Conlan credits his ability to walk out of Wilford Hall on his own two legs to the care he received here.

Wilford Hall Medical Center is a Level I trauma center located on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The major arrived here on June 23, 2005, but his journey actually began a week earlier.

The major was deployed from the 422nd Air Base Squadron at Royal Air Force Croughton, England, as the commander of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. The commander was a man who liked to lead by example, he said.

"I like to go out with my guys," said Major Conlan. "If they're swinging hammers, I'll swing hammers with them. If they're pouring concrete, I'll pour concrete with them. It gives me perspective and expertise."

On June 17, 2005, the major joined an explosive ordnance team, observing the removal operation at an old Soviet artillery site approximately 12 miles from Bagram.

During the mission Staff Sgt. Chris Ramakka, an EOD technician deployed from the 6th Civil Engineer Squadron at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., stepped on an old Soviet pressure-sensitive anti-personnel mine, designed to blow up not when weight is put on it, but when it is removed. As he stepped off the mine, it exploded. Major Conlan was only a few steps away.

"I don't remember hearing the explosion," said Major Conlan. "What I remember was something like someone flicking the lights on and off. Then, everything went into slow motion and I'm on the ground wondering what the hell just happened."

The explosion sent both men on separate journeys toward recovery. Sergeant Ramakka underwent a below-the-knee amputation and a long rehabilitation process at Brooke Army Medical Center here in San Antonio. The blast shattered Major Conlan's right leg, and his left leg was severely damaged by shrapnel. One piece tore a fist-sized hole in his left thigh and barely missed a major artery. The major was sent to Wilford Hall, where a team of orthopedic specialists went to work to save his leg.

"Up until I arrived at Wilford Hall, I was told at every stop along the way that the odds were extremely slim that I would keep my right leg," said Major Conlan.

"Several orthopedic surgeons contributed to the care of Major Conlan's complex lower extremity injury," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) James Keeney, the 59th Medical Wing orthopedic surgery deputy commander. Three of the main surgeons were Col. (Dr.) Mark Richardson, the chief of orthopedics, and orthopedic surgeons Maj. (Dr.) Warren Kadrmas and Lt. Col. (Dr.) Hoang Tran.

"Dr. Richardson said he thought he could save my leg, but made no promises," said Major Conlan. "He laid out his plan honestly and directly with all the (best-to-worst-case) possibilities, so I knew exactly where we were at every turn. We agreed, and he and his team worked a miracle and saved my leg. The staff was very attentive, always professional, supportive and respectful of me and my family. I don't think I could have gotten better care anywhere else, and I would put Wilford Hall up against any hospital in the world for quality of care."

Both Dr. Kadrmas and Dr. Richardson, who performed surgeries to assist with bone and soft tissue healing, are currently deployed to the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq.

Dr. Tran, an upper extremity surgeon who provided expertise in soft tissue coverage (muscle flaps) for the complicated lower extremity wounds, is now assigned to Travis AFB, Calif.

One surgery was done to create a gastroc flap, used to relocate the calf muscle. The major also had to undergo several skin grafts and the installation of an external bridging fixture to his leg, much like a halo worn by back injury victims. The fixture, called a Taylor Spatial Frame, is used with a computer program to help correct or avoid any deformities through the fracture, explained Lt. Col. Damian Rispoli, the Department of Orthopedics Shoulder and Elbow Surgery chief.

Major Conlan's road to recovery did not end with the series of surgeries. Next he began intense physical therapy, pain management and treatment for post traumatic stress.

"Major Conlan is a hard charger who is driving on with his career," said Colonel Rispoli.

The major credits being able to get back to work part time with speeding up his recovery. While continuing his outpatient care, he first worked at the Air Force Security Forces Center at Lackland, and then transferred to the civil engineer directorate at the Air Education and Training Command at nearby Randolph AFB in San Antonio.

Major Conlan is now looking forward to the next phase of his journey on his road to recovery, he said.

"My physical evaluation board recently returned me to duty," said Major Conlan. "My family and I are now in the process of completing a permanent change of station to the Pentagon where I will work in the Joint Forces Improvised Explosive Device Defeat office for Air Staff."

The major will use his expertise and experience to help ensure other military members do not fall victim to landmines or IEDs.

As a way of helping others, Major Conlan also speaks about his experience through the Air Force Survivor Assistance Program run by the Pentagon.

The major is quick to say he does not regret serving in Afghanistan.

"I volunteered to go on this particular deployment, and felt, and still feel, that we are making a real difference in Afghanistan. I have no regrets about going, and if I was still deployable I would go back. My only regret is that was not the way I wanted to leave Afghanistan," the major said.

Although doctors say that he may never run, he is now walking on his own, unassisted. He will continue to do self-directed physical therapy, which will help him with his balance and a slight foot drop that he has not yet overcome. He also has to deal with occasional muscle spasms and pain, and little pieces of shrapnel and rock imbedded under his skin that his body continues to reject.

"I do have a couple of leg braces I can wear if my leg gets really tired or I know I will be walking for a long period of time," said Major Conlan. "But the important thing is I am walking. The doctors have been amazed by my progress."

As he prepares to leave, saying good-bye to the staff has been difficult, said the major.

"I would like to extend my appreciation to Dr. Richardson and his staff in the orthopedic clinic," said Major Conlan. "And to the nurses and technicians on the orthopedic ward, and to the folks in physical therapy, particularly physical medicine technicians Staff Sgt. Alisa Davis and Airman 1st Class Sara Andrada, and to our patient case worker, Darla Sekimoto. 

"Also, I would like to thank clinical psychologist Capt. Judy Kelly and Paula and Ramona Lewis with the Lackland Fisher House, and our family liaison officer, Capt. Alex Mignery from the 37th Civil Engineering Squadron." 

"The care I received while here has been exemplary," said Major Conlan. "Thanks to everyone, I have literally taken a big step back towards 'normal'."

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