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Navy Region Southwest Selected January 2021's Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month
June 17, 2021 | Story by Megan Trexler | Commander, Navy Installations Command
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WASHINGTON – HM1 Ryan Gordon was selected as the Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month by Navy Region Southwest for January 2021.
Nominated by Non-Medical Care Manager Kimberly Bush as Navy Region Southwest’s Navy Wounded Warrior of the Month, Gordon has been enrolled in the program since 2019. After suffering chest pains during a run, Gordon was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect - Myocardial Bridging, a condition that may go unnoticed for years, but is considered “a ticking time bomb,” according to Gordon’s doctors.
“I was referred to Stanford University to undergo open heart surgery to remove the heart muscle covering my artery. Tensions were high, but Navy Wounded Warrior helped by providing additional resources and organizations that help make our trip to Northern California bearable,” Gordon said.
After undergoing surgery, Gordon says that his new mission in life is to focus on his health, not just for him, but more so that he can continue to be there for his family.
Although Gordon has only been enrolled in the program since 2019, his involvement dates back over 10 years. “My experience with Navy Wounded Warrior reaches back over 10 years. As a mid-level provider, I always enjoyed the interaction with the various Navy Wounded Warrior representatives when serving on behalf of the patients I rendered care to. This program and all the individuals involved truly make it a blessing for those injured service members in need.”
Gordon shared, “I would consistently hear positive comments from my patients on how much Navy Wounded Warrior helped them with handling all the other stresses that come around while being in a prolong injury status.”
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.