SANTIAGO CANYON, CA (March 22, 2010) – CareMeridian, a leading provider of post acute care services for individuals with brain, spinal cord and other catastrophic illnesses and injuries, today announced that Sergeant James Carey, USMC, who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury at CareMeridian’s Santiago Canyon facility, recently began training with members of his platoon to participate in the Orange County Marathon, scheduled for May 2 in Newport Beach.

“I’m so excited to be participating in this event with my fellow platoon members,” said Sergeant Carey. “I couldn’t have imagined this was possible only a few months ago.”

In July 2009, Sergeant Carey nearly drowned while participating in a routine training exercise at Camp Pendleton, where he is based.  The accident cut the oxygen supply to his brain and left him in a coma for five weeks.  Two months later, the 22-year-old newlywed moved to CareMeridian’s Santiago Canyon facility to begin the recovery process.

During his time at CareMeridian, Carey has undergone aggressive occupational, physical and speech therapy to help him with his speech, motor skills and vision, as well as other residual effects from his injury.

“James has really been an inspiration to all of us,” said Renee Augsburger, occupational therapist at CareMeridian Santiago Canyon. “He has shown remarkable improvement, largely due to his positive, upbeat attitude and can-do mentality.”  She attributes much of this to the support of his wife Lexi, who gave birth to their first child three months after Carey’s accident.

Carey has made great strides with his motor skills and speech therapy and is now speaking in full sentences, though he remains non-ambulatory and will participate in the race in a special jogger—a modified three-wheeled chair designed to withstand road conditions—provided through myTeam Triumph.

myTeam Triumph is a non-profit ride-along program created for children, teens, adults and veterans with disabilities who would normally not be able to experience endurance events such as triathlons or road races.

“myTeam Triumph has offered tremendous support — not only through the donation of the chair, but in providing direction for special-needs participants,” said Carey’s platoon leader Lieutenant Nathan Wood, who has been involved in organizing platoon participation.  The combined teams will split the race in six, four-mile legs, rotating fellow platoon members, family and staff to race along Carey in the jogger.  To date, their training has taken Carey up to eight miles in one session.

Carey had only been in the platoon of Lieutenant Wood for two weeks prior to his training accident.  A dedicated marine, with a grandfather who is a retired USMC Lieutenant Colonel, Carey had served tours of duty in Iraq and Japan during his three-year tenure with the Marines.

Wood really came to know Carey after his accident, visiting him often in the hospital with other platoon members and subsequently at CareMeridian.  When the opportunity to participate in the Orange County Marathon presented itself, Wood worked closely with CareMeridian staff, Carey’s wife and myTeam Triumph to organize Carey’s involvement.

“James participated in sports throughout his childhood and was extremely athletic prior to his accident,” Wood said.  “Training for this race has offered him an opportunity to work towards a concrete and achievable goal.”  Wood also attributes the courage and strength of Carey’s wife Lexi with providing support critical to his recovery.  “She has handled this experience like a champ, demonstrating all the qualities exemplified by a Marine.”

Carey’s training over the next two months will help build his stamina and allow his platoon members to become familiar with the challenges of running while pushing a jogger.  He will train at least once a week on the El Toro Trail in Mission Viejo.  Excited after the first two weeks of training,  Carey said, “I plan to not only reach the finish line, but with the help of my wife and platoon buddies, be on my feet when I cross.”

For more information on Sergeant Carey, visit www.caringbridge.org and enter jamescarey.

For more information on myTeam Triumph, visit www.myteamtriumph.com.

CareMeridian, a partner of The MENTOR Network, provides cost-effective, sophisticated post acute care alternatives for catastrophically ill or injured patients of all ages.  With 16 locations located throughout Northern, Central and Southern California, as well as in the Southwest locations of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona, CareMeridian provides a unique service delivery model, merging the aesthetics of a residential environment within the framework of state-of-the-art technology and personalized service from an experienced and skilled health care team.

The MENTOR Network is a national network of local human services providers offering an array of quality, community-based services to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain, spinal cord and other catastrophic injuries and illnesses, and to youth with emotional, behavioral and medically complex challenges as well as their families with programs in 36 states. To learn more, visit www.thementornetwork.com.

Contact:
Dan Larson
Chief Development Officer
314.440.4257
dlarson@caremeridian.com