YOUR UNTHINKABLES

David Sherman

Professional Football Player/Father Walks Again Sports and athletic competition defined David Sherman’s life. As a former part-time NFL Washington Redskin and European football player, he played through countless injuries » more

SSgt Carl (Steve-O) Clendenning Jr USMC active duty

Wounded Warrior does the Unthinkable Steve-O is an active duty Marine stationed at Wounded Warrior Battalion East at Camp Lejeune, NC. » more

Jessica and Anthony Rankin

A Mother’s Difficult Choice to amputate her child’s foot Anthony (Ant) Rankin was born with a very rare bone disease called Maffucci Syndrome. By the time he was a toddler his right leg was shorter than his left » more

Jason Gunter

jason gunterFireman/Lawyer loses 2 limbs; and attempts Hawaiian Ironman After watching video of Scott Rigsby completing the Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kona, Hawaii as a double amputee, Jason was inspired to enter » more

Sonya Parks

Amputation ends a decade of pain and grows a hero A fall from her husband’s semi truck resulted in a broken ankle. Such an injury may sound simple unless the bones didn’t just break but shattered. » more

Kim Houk

Dental Infection led to Quadruple Amputation and new hope In October, 2007, Kim went to the dentist and soon after spent a month in ICU, underwent open heart surgery, lost her heartbeat three times... » more

 

SSgt Carl (Steve-O) Clendenning Jr  USMC active duty:Wounded Warrior does the Unthinkable


Steve-O is an active duty Marine stationed at Wounded Warrior Battalion East at Camp Lejeune, NC.  He found his way to this posting thanks to an IED blast to his vehicle in Fallujah, Iraq in May 2006.  The blast ruptured Steve-O's ear drums and resulted in Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
 
Plagued by vertigo, severe migraines and memory loss; Carl was struggling to be a husband, father to his two sons and Marine.  Robbed of the unrestricted mobility and focus that were an integral part of his life, Steve-O admits to feeling sorry for himself, until that is, he met Scott Rigsby.
 
Scott was at Camp Lejeune for the 2007 Hope for Warriors Run and spoke at the pre-race dinner.  Carl listened intently to his story of overcoming his fears, physical challenges and TBI-related issues.  Having been stationed in Hawaii for ten years, he knew Kona and the entire experience seemed to be directed straight to his heart.  He admits to following Scott around like a puppy dog that day, eager to glean knowledge and wisdom from Scott because Steve-O knew for the first time in a long time that he had hope and a purposeful rather than pointless future.
 
Inspiration from the man and a prompting from God to consider those who died that day in Fallujah, Steve-O had decided to get up and start healing.  The very next day he bought a bike and set a goal to ride from his home town of Kokomo, Indiana to Camp Lejeune.  He has set his sights on an Ironman race as well.  His ultimate finish line however, is to get back into the fight along side his fellow Marines and continue to protect our freedom and way of life.  "I will not rest or quit until the day God calls on me to guard his gates," he promises as he counts May 4,2006 not as the day of his accident but rather as the first day of the rest of his life.   
 
"It only hurts if you let it hurt, it only drags you down if you let it drag you down, if you dream it you can do it.  The mind is a powerful thing.  If you tell yourself you can....YOU WILL!"



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