422nd ABG Airmen care for extended family

by Tech. Sgt. Chrissy Best
501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs

1/22/2014 - ROYAL AIR FORCE CROUGHTON, United Kingdom -- When their phone in Washington, D.C., began ringing on the early morning of Aug. 15, Senior Airman Ryan Cureton's parents' life suddenly changed as the voice on the other side told them their son was in the critical care unit at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, United Kingdom, after a car accident.

Cureton, assigned to the 422nd Communications Squadron at Royal Air Force Croughton, would spend the next six weeks at the hospital battling for his life in the intensive care unit with a traumatic brain injury as a result of the accident. From there, he traveled to Germany and then onto Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., where he completed more tests before being released to the Richmond Veteran's Affairs Polytrauma Rehabilitation Unit, Richmond, Va., where he is scheduled to be released in March.

"Neither of us had current passports, but that was no problem for the 422nd Air Base Group," said Richard Cureton, Cureton's father. "But within 24 hours we had our passports in hand and a scheduled flight to London. The behind-the-scenes uniformed angels were at work helping us to get through the passport process as smoothly as possible."

One of the many people helping make things happen was Lt. Col. Matthew Olson, 422nd Communications Squadron commander.

"There is no higher responsibility or reward than taking care of Airman and their families," said Olson.

When the family arrived, everything had been taken care of for them, so they could immediately go see Ryan at the hospital.

"We arrived in London and were graciously received and taken immediately to the hospital to see our son," said Richard. "The 422nd ABG provided lodging, a vehicle with a driver to escort us from base to the hospital, a full stocked fridge, cooked meals, love and encouragement on a daily basis through prayer and fellowship."

The RAF Croughton members also responded with overwhelming support for Ryan and his family by taking care of powers of attorney, cleaning to turn over his rental property, countless hospital visits, phone calls, e-mails and Facebook messages to show their support -- to include an over-sized squadron get well card.

"We just couldn't believe the news when we heard it - it didn't seem real," said Senior Airman Katie Perry, 422nd CS Postal Clerk and co-worker of Cureton. "We wanted to go see him as soon as possible, to let him know he wasn't alone."

Since going to the Richmond VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Unit, Cureton has moved from a hospital bed to a wheelchair then from a walker to now being able to walk on his own. He is still trying to regain full control of his left side, balance, vision and short term memory.

"Ryan is running a marathon not a race," said Richard

"Knowing that we all made a tremendous difference to Ryan and his family is difficult to limit in words," said Olsen. "This experience positively touched me and everyone else that volunteered their selfless time."

"All aboard, this train Ryan is still on the track and the engine is fired up - just like everyone would expect from an Airman," said Richard.