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HM3 Malcolm Carey Named Warrior of the Month
WASHINGTON - Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Malcolm Carey was stationed at Naval Medical Center San Diego in the labor and delivery unit when his life changed on May 10, 2022.
A serious motorcycle accident left him unconscious and unresponsive. He was rushed to Scripps Memorial Hospital when they notified his wife, Alexandra, who is also in the Navy.
She contacted his chain of command, which helped her with the next steps. Once he was stable, he transferred to Naval Hospital Balboa and Alexandra contacted Navy Wounded Warriors and was connected with Recovery Care Coordinator Norm Ramos.
"My husband wanted, more than anything, to be in the Navy," said Alexandra, "but with the severity of his accident, his thoughts about his career became such a burden, with anxiety of not having any answers. After just our first conversation with Norman, his anxiety and worries about his career grew smaller every day."
As is common with unexpected life changes, the Careys were not prepared for all the challenges that would come their way as they adapted to a new normal. Navy Wounded Warrior has helped them navigate these uncharted waters.
When Alexandra stopped working to care for Malcolm, housing became a major obstacle. Before the accident, the couple lived with roommates in Oceanside, but the commute to San Diego wasn't sustainable. The cost of housing and limited availability put her in a bind.
"I looked for months on my own and found nothing," she said. "I mentioned the situation to [my care team] and they told me if and when I wanted to try for military housing, they would be ther to help. Within two weeks, we had accessible housing two miles from the hospital This was our saving grace."
Malcolm was discharged in mid-July 2023 and they moved in two days later. Being so close, Alexandra is able to bring him back and forth to the hospital for his daily therapies.
"Navy Wounded Warrior has drastically improved our lives. Every day, we wake up in our own house together. We are thankful for every little thing they've done to make our lives easier."
Numquam Navigare Solus – Never to Sail Alone
Navy Wounded Warrior coordinates the non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill, and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen, and provides resources and support to their families and caregivers. Regional non-medical care providers tailor support to each enrolled service member’s recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration needs. The program allows service members and their families to focus on recovery without distraction. To date, nearly 10,000 seriously wounded, ill, and injured service members located throughout the country received assistance from Navy Wounded Warrior.
Sailors and Coast Guardsmen may self-refer to Navy Wounded Warrior, or be referred by a family member, their command leadership or their medical team. Contact the Navy Wounded Warrior call center at 855-NAVY WWP / 855-628-9997, or email navywoundedwarrior.fct@navy.mil.