BALTIMORE - On July 5, 2011 Senior Airman Gideon L. Connelly, repair and reclamation crew chief, 175th Maintenance Squadron, was involved in a motorcycle accident in Baltimore County with serious damage to his left leg.
The doctors told the Maryland Air National Guardsman if he kept his leg, it would leave him with limitations to what he could do. However, if the leg was replaced with a prosthesis, his abilities would significantly increase.
On Sept. 16, 2011, Connelly chose to have the leg removed below the knee.
"[When the accident happened] I was upset. I didn't think I would be able to return to work. I didn't understand how it would affect my life. I was scared," said Connelly. His friends were scared but supportive. "They didn't know how to help. My family stuck by my side and is very supportive."
Connelly started a rehabilitation process to walk, and then run with the goal of staying in the military.
Around Thanksgiving 2011, he started walking and progressed to running October 2012.
Running means a lot to him.
"I want to inspire people. It is a great opportunity. I am blessed to come back and do what I can do now after a horrific accident," Connelly said.
Before the accident he lifted a lot of weights and did some distance running for physical training; now he runs sprint races.
Connelly competed in the Texas Regional Games (Paralympic games that are used for qualifying for the national events) April 13-14. He competed in the men's t44 (below the knee amputation) 100m and 200m races, receiving two gold medals. His 100m time qualified him for the Paralympic Nationals in San Antonio, June 14-16. He will however, compete in the Endeavor Games at the University of Central Oklahoma, June 6-9, to make a second attempt at qualifying in the 200m for the Paralympic Nationals.
"My goal for now is to make the nationals. In the time frame I have I will probably not win nationals. I am a beginner at running and at this point I do what I can do," said Connelly. His goal is to win nationals in a future year with ultimate goal of the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"I would like to stay in the military and compete for the Air Force team. I would like to work down at Walter Reed as a physical therapist," he said. Most wounded military members with amputations go to Walter Reed Military Hospital in Bethesda, Md., to receive and learn how to use their prosthesis.
To stay in the military "I had to do a PT test and prove to medical that I can do my job without assistance. The worst part was the paperwork. I had to prove myself to the base medical review board," said Connelly. His next step is to be medically worldwide deployable.
Lt. Col. Tom Donnellan, deputy commander, 175th Maintenance Group, talked about Connelly's progress to stay in the military.
"I couldn't imagine waking up one morning missing a limb. He has been able to overcome it. The military has seen a lot of this," Donnellan said. "Losing your limb affects your whole life. He was in good physical shape to begin with. He had the mental capability to deal with the accident. He trained to do his job with his limitations."
"He is a young troop and no one wants this to happen. He is squared away and knows what he needs to do to stay in the game," he said.
He is also participating in a study by the University of Florida on prostheses. The study helps develop the devices not only for him but also for others who need the devices.
He is testing three mechanical feet. They put him on an obstacle course that the Tampa police SWAT uses that includes walking/running on treadmills. The performance of the foot is then evaluated under these conditions. During these tests, his vital signs are monitored to see how his body works with the devices. "The study is to see how the different feet perform in stress-related conditions," said Connelly.
Donnellan likes that Connelly is working to improve prostheses that both civilians and military members may use in the future. "I hope by working the kinks out of the new prosthesis, it will benefit him and others."
Although Connelly has received support from a lot of people, one person stands out — Tech. Sgt. Kandyce O'Meally.
"I saw him walking around with a prosthetic leg and I didn't know who he was. I approached him and asked him if I could ask him a few questions. We started talking and I discovered he was into track. I learned he wanted to go to Rio in 2016 — the Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil," said O'Meally. She is a maintenance management data analyst in the 135th Maintenance Operation Flight.
"I asked how he was going to do it and what his plans were. In the conversation, I let him know I had some contacts in the track world from when I trained during college," she said. She got him in contact with someone on the Paralympic committee.
"She helps me out at times when I need it. I have a lot of paperwork to fill out and she helps me out with that. She is a great person. She helps me out when I am down. She gives me motivation. She is a great-hearted person," said Connelly.
"I see a hard-working kid. I see a kid with a lot of motivation and drive. He is never down. Life dealt him a hand, not a bad hand, not a good hand. Just a hand and he plays it well," O'Meally said.
"I think she has been very beneficial to him. She has given him the backup, support and guidance to get where he is today," said Donnellan.
Donnellan summed up Connelly's potential, "It's whatever he wants to make of it. He is on the right track. He can go as far as he wants to."
Connelly has good advice for anyone who has lost a limb. "Keep your head up. Don't let anything discourage you. It is a mind over body experience. If you keep your head in the right place you can do anything you want."