thedrifter
10-07-06, 08:00 AM
Plastic surgeons honor local Marines
By: JOE BECK - Staff Writer
OCEANSIDE ---- The story of how a pair of local Marines overcame devastating injuries through their courage and the surgical skills of their doctors will be honored by North America's plastic surgeons in San Francisco over the next several days.
Sgt. Oscar Canon of Oceanside will receive the Patients of Courage award from the American Society of Plastic Surgery at its annual conference today. On Monday, he is scheduled to join Sgt. Douglas Hayenga, and Dr. Amy Wandel, a plastic surgeon who performed multiple operations on both men, at a press conference.
Hayenga is from San Diego, and Wandel recently retired Oct. 1 from Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. Attempts to contact Canon for comment about his award were unsuccessful.
Wandel and others who treated Canon have praised him for a recovery few expected he could make. He is also being recognized for his work in raising money and morale among service members trying to recover from similar injuries. In a written announcement of Canon's award, Dr. Bruce Cunningham, president of the ASPS, said the award is the organization's way of paying tribute to "exceptional patients who make a lasting impression on plastic surgeons personally and professionally."
Wandel said Canon can now perform most civilian activities and meet all but a few of the most strenuous requirements ---- running with weights and deep knee bends ---- of Marine duty.
"He really had a devastating injury that a lot of people wouldn't have worked hard to overcome," Wandel said. "Not only did he overcome it, he's using that opportunity to promote the Marine Corps, talking to returning soldiers, talking to anybody who will listen about what we're doing positively over there. He is remarkable in many respects."
In a written announcement of Canon's award, Cunningham said the award is the organization's way of paying tribute to "exceptional patients who make a lasting impression on plastic surgeons personally and professionally."
The plastic surgery society announcement of the award said Canon is back on active duty, currently training to participate in the Marine Corps marathon next year, giving speeches and raising money to pay for medical and social services needed by injured Marines He has also testified before Congress in favor of a bill that allows injured Marines to remain active if they pass a physical readiness exam.
Wandel said she performed seven operations on Canon, out of a total of 34 he underwent to save his leg and remove shrapnel from his stomach and chest.
She said a rocket-propelled grenade ripped through his hip and thigh during a mission in Iraq in September 2004. A biography of Canon from the society said Canon continued to hold his position and provided cover fire for other Marines until all were taken to safety.
Hayenga, a native of Minnesota, said Wandel performed some of the same operations on him that Canon underwent at Balboa. He said he has come a long way from the injuries he received during an offensive in Fallujah, Iraq, in April 2004. He suffered a head injury and a severely broken leg from a mortar explosion during an attack that killed four people. He continues to work toward a complete recovery after 23 operations, and treatment and rehabilitation at hospitals in Iraq, Germany, Camp Pendleton and San Diego.
"I'm pretty good,'' Wandel said. "I'm still using a cane, but I'm making a lot of progress."
Like Canon, Hayenga has been working on behalf of service members whose injuries require extensive reconstructive plastic surgery. His initiatives have included an education program for the families of the injured to help patients work toward successful recovery.
Hayenga said he is looking forward to living a normal life as he continues to receive treatment for his injuries and prepares for impending retirement from the Marines.
Contact staff writer Joe Beck at (760) 740-3516 or jbeck@nctimes.com.
Ellie
By: JOE BECK - Staff Writer
OCEANSIDE ---- The story of how a pair of local Marines overcame devastating injuries through their courage and the surgical skills of their doctors will be honored by North America's plastic surgeons in San Francisco over the next several days.
Sgt. Oscar Canon of Oceanside will receive the Patients of Courage award from the American Society of Plastic Surgery at its annual conference today. On Monday, he is scheduled to join Sgt. Douglas Hayenga, and Dr. Amy Wandel, a plastic surgeon who performed multiple operations on both men, at a press conference.
Hayenga is from San Diego, and Wandel recently retired Oct. 1 from Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. Attempts to contact Canon for comment about his award were unsuccessful.
Wandel and others who treated Canon have praised him for a recovery few expected he could make. He is also being recognized for his work in raising money and morale among service members trying to recover from similar injuries. In a written announcement of Canon's award, Dr. Bruce Cunningham, president of the ASPS, said the award is the organization's way of paying tribute to "exceptional patients who make a lasting impression on plastic surgeons personally and professionally."
Wandel said Canon can now perform most civilian activities and meet all but a few of the most strenuous requirements ---- running with weights and deep knee bends ---- of Marine duty.
"He really had a devastating injury that a lot of people wouldn't have worked hard to overcome," Wandel said. "Not only did he overcome it, he's using that opportunity to promote the Marine Corps, talking to returning soldiers, talking to anybody who will listen about what we're doing positively over there. He is remarkable in many respects."
In a written announcement of Canon's award, Cunningham said the award is the organization's way of paying tribute to "exceptional patients who make a lasting impression on plastic surgeons personally and professionally."
The plastic surgery society announcement of the award said Canon is back on active duty, currently training to participate in the Marine Corps marathon next year, giving speeches and raising money to pay for medical and social services needed by injured Marines He has also testified before Congress in favor of a bill that allows injured Marines to remain active if they pass a physical readiness exam.
Wandel said she performed seven operations on Canon, out of a total of 34 he underwent to save his leg and remove shrapnel from his stomach and chest.
She said a rocket-propelled grenade ripped through his hip and thigh during a mission in Iraq in September 2004. A biography of Canon from the society said Canon continued to hold his position and provided cover fire for other Marines until all were taken to safety.
Hayenga, a native of Minnesota, said Wandel performed some of the same operations on him that Canon underwent at Balboa. He said he has come a long way from the injuries he received during an offensive in Fallujah, Iraq, in April 2004. He suffered a head injury and a severely broken leg from a mortar explosion during an attack that killed four people. He continues to work toward a complete recovery after 23 operations, and treatment and rehabilitation at hospitals in Iraq, Germany, Camp Pendleton and San Diego.
"I'm pretty good,'' Wandel said. "I'm still using a cane, but I'm making a lot of progress."
Like Canon, Hayenga has been working on behalf of service members whose injuries require extensive reconstructive plastic surgery. His initiatives have included an education program for the families of the injured to help patients work toward successful recovery.
Hayenga said he is looking forward to living a normal life as he continues to receive treatment for his injuries and prepares for impending retirement from the Marines.
Contact staff writer Joe Beck at (760) 740-3516 or jbeck@nctimes.com.
Ellie