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Navy Region Southwest Selected January 2022’s Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month

January 24, 2022 | Story by Megan Trexler | Commander, Navy Installations Command

WASHINGTON – MA2 Shana Connell was selected as the Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month by Navy Region Southwest for January 2022.

Connell joined the U.S. Navy in October 2010. During her time, she has served stateside with assignments in California and Virginia, as well as an overseas assignment at NSA Naples, Italy.

In February 2021, she noticed that the left side of her shoulder was getting larger. After several tests, just a day before her fourth wedding anniversary, Connell was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. As part of her treatment plan, she underwent ABVD chemotherapy for six months. Halfway through her treatment, her PET scan results determined that her body was responding well thus far and that the cancer had significantly dissipated.

As a side effect of the chemotherapy, Connell developed severe lung/breathing problems. As an avid hiker, she was devasted when she heard this.

Connell finished her chemotherapy in August 2021. After her final treatment, she was declared NED (no evidence of disease). Additionally, her lung toxicity was almost completely healed by her body. A few months after treatment, she hiked over five miles on Palomar Mountain near San Diego, California.

“I was enrolled into the Navy Wounded Warrior program to my surprise. I knew of the program, but did not think that I was eligible for it. I am very grateful to have all the support they offered. This is such a wonderful, supporting program and will be forever grateful for my reps.” Connell said.

Connell retuned to work in September 2021.

Navy Wounded Warrior is the Navy’s sole organization for coordinating the non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen and providing resources and support to their families. Through proactive leadership, the program provides individually-tailored assistance designed to optimize the success of the wounded warriors’ recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration activities.

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