A Marine Vet Uses Physical Training to Recover from Severe Injuries

2003 was a tough year for Hector Delgado and his family. Hector was in an induced coma on a Navy ship in the Persian Gulf. His pelvis had been crushed into six pieces and his legs and nerves were mangled after a fuel tank fell on him while he was with the Marines in Iraq.

His accident left him recovering in the hospital for a year. He was left with his right foot paralyzed and his left foot partially damaged. Delgado admits that for about 3 years his spirits were not high. He gained weight, reaching about 230 pounds, which also sent his cholesterol levels up. He was smoking and hanging out at bars all night long.

"When I got out of the hospital, I could care less," says Mr. Delgado, 30. The accident left him three inches shorter than his pre-deployment height.

It wasn’t until a friend introduced him to the CrossFit fitness program in 2008 that things began to look up. CrossFit has been used by military Special Forces units. It is a highly intense exercise program that combines Olympic lifts, body weight exercises, kettle ball exercises, and others.

The physical training was a welcome challenge and provided Delgado with the discipline he needed for his recovery

Today he works out 5 out of 7 days and is on a strict eating regimen.

"At this point, [working out] is more of a livelihood than anything," says Mr. Delgado, who lives in North Patchogue, N.Y.

Mr. Delgado reaches out to other Veterans at the Queens Vet Center in New York. His dedication has shown them that life doesn’t end when it comes to injuries.

Source: Wall Street Journal

The National Veterans Foundation assists wounded Veterans in accessing their medical benefits and finding local recovery resources.  For assistance, call the Lifeline for Vets™ at 888-777-4443.   Visit the NVF’s website at www.nvf.org. To support the National Veterans Foundation, please visit www.help-veterans.org.