Malad’s 23-year-old war veteran J.C. Corbridge underwent surgery for the 11th time since his early return from deployment in July 2011.
Corbridge was involved in an explosion that was triggered by an improvised explosion devise, or IED.
His tibia and fibula were broken in both of his lower legs, his anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments were torn in his knee and the palate at the top of his mouth was fractured.
According to Lara Corbridge, J.C.’s mother, the left leg was an open fracture and the right leg was an extensive open fracture -- the fractured bone on his right leg went through the skin and came out his calf.
A steel rod was placed in the tibia and fibula of both legs to help the bones grow back together. It did help the bones heal but bumps began to show on his lower right leg. An infection was discovered in the bone due to the steel rod in that leg. It was taken out but the infection remained.
J.C. recently had surgery where the doctor ground out areas of bone softened by infection. If the infection does not recede, J.C. faces a serious decision -- undergo surgery that will take out four inches of bone or have the leg amputated. Not only is the surgery not guaranteed to be successful, but it will take one year to grow back those four inches.
“I am way proud of him,” said Jessie Corbridge, J.C.’s sister. “He’s been through a ton since the accident and he just keeps going and isn’t giving up.”
J.C. is currently living at home with home health care aiding him. His nurse is his mother, Lara. She helps him clean his wounds and aids him in all he needs.
J.C. receives $3,000 monthly while he is healing, and Lara receives a check for $1,200 for being his nurse.
“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” J.C. said.
