SSgt. Jarrod Wayman, USMC
I was with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan. I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon. We were clearing routes for an element that was demiling patrol bases. We came upon an IED belt where we found 14 IEDs, then we found one the hard way. My truck was struck by a 250lb IED. It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over.
I broke my back in two places, T12 and L4. It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord. My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (my hips). I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis, it is an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system. It cause excruciating nerve pain in my back and both of my legs.
Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees. I also developed a condition known as drop foot, meaning I cannot control either of my feet. Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up. I also broke my left elbow and arm. It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws. I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus. I also have Traumatic Brain Injury. Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times. Since not much time has passed since my injury I am still active duty and currently undergoing intense physical and occupational therapy at the VA in La Jolla, CA. I am currently stationed at Wounded Warrior Battalion West in Camp Pendleton, CA.
I was with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Afghanistan. I was the platoon sergeant for a route clearance platoon. We were clearing routes for an element that was demiling patrol bases. We came upon an IED belt where we found 14 IEDs, then we found one the hard way. My truck was struck by a 250lb IED. It threw my MRAP in the air and flipped it over.
I broke my back in two places, T12 and L4. It caused massive trauma to my spinal cord. My back is now fused together from T10 to iliac (my hips). I also developed a condition called arachnoiditis, it is an inflammation on the membrane that protects the spinal cord and the central nervous system. It cause excruciating nerve pain in my back and both of my legs.
Due to the trauma to my spinal cord and nerves I cannot feel anything in my legs below my knees. I also developed a condition known as drop foot, meaning I cannot control either of my feet. Without prosthetic braces my feet fall down when I lift my legs up. I also broke my left elbow and arm. It had to be reconstructed and is now reinforced with a titanium plate and 10 screws. I broke my right patella and tore my right meniscus. I also have Traumatic Brain Injury. Because of the blast I am now a partial paraplegic and I am wheelchair bound at all times. Since not much time has passed since my injury I am still active duty and currently undergoing intense physical and occupational therapy at the VA in La Jolla, CA. I am currently stationed at Wounded Warrior Battalion West in Camp Pendleton, CA.
