Military Medical Care Helps Wounded Warrior Accomplish Life’s Tasks

Advances in military medical technology are helping one wounded warrior get back to life. Taylor Morris, a Navy Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician, lost both legs, left arm and right hand in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, May 2012. The Iowa native is undergoing treatment and rigorous physical therapy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Morris’ story is a common one among the wounded heroes who return home from Afghanistan and Iraq. The military’s health system has had to adapt to accommodate the needs of soldiers with severe injuries. The Warrior Care blog estimates close to 14,000 service members are recovering from the wounds of war every day, with hundreds of thousands battling the invisible wounds of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Morris’ therapy has helped him return to doing even the most mundane of chores, like making breakfast and working on his hand-eye coordination. The love story of Morris and his girlfriend, Danielle Kelly, went viral this week on websites like Buzzfeed and the Huffington Post. There’s even a video of the couple dancing at a friend’s wedding, demonstrating how far he’s come with his therapy.