After suffering an accident on a dirt bike, one man took rehabilitation to the next level to become the first above-the-knee amputee to return to full flight status in the U.S. Air Force.
Rehabilitation is a different journey for everyone, but for one Air Force Lt. Colonel, becoming the first above-the-knee amputee to return to full flight status in the U.S. Air Force was a journey in
The Republican Club of Longboat Key met Jan. 12 for not only its first meeting of the new year, but also the first meeting of President Scott Gray’s term.
Members mingled around the Harbourside Ballroom, catching up on the holidays and the year to come before finding their seats for dinner and the night’s speakers.
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge (CWVC) sponsored the meeting and attendees heard from Andrew Lourake, an Air Force veteran who was the first above-the-knee amputee to return to full flight status in the nation, about the program. CWVC provides environments for researchers to study wounded veterans in challenging environments, the findings of which inform treatments, orthotics and prosthetics for veterans with traumatic brain injuries, PTSD and other injuries. They mainly focus on sailing, mountaineering and SCUBA challenges and have worked with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s SCUBAnauts in the past to plant coral.