James Carey was involved in a training exercise at Camp Pendleton in July 2009, when a weight dropped in the pool and he went under to retrieve it, but never came up. His near-death drowning experience cut the oxygen supply to his brain and left him in a coma. The doctors held up little hope for recovery.

A newlywed with a baby on the way, James was moved to CareMeridian Santiago Canyon in September 2009 with severe impacts to his speech and vision. Occupational and physical therapy began immediately and soon he was able to speak in small phrases and offer his new wife hope for their future together. In October 2009, the staff received a call that his wife was in labor and spirited him off to the hospital to witness the birth of his first child. With signs of remarkable recovery, James recently participated in the May 2010 Orange County Marathon, alongside fellow U.S. Marine Corps platoon members. Future possibilities are endless as he dreams of returning home to his family.