Wounded Soldier Prepares For Trip Home

Thursday, November 8th 2007, 10:29 am

By: News On 6

A Sapulpa solider will soon make his way back home after months of recovering from a roadside bombing in Iraq. Shane Vincentâ€™s family hopes heâ€™ll be home for Christmas. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports the wounded soldier has accomplished a lot during his recovery.

Shane Vincent has accomplished what some doctors thought was impossible. He's walking again. But, the road to recovery is far from over. His family hopes folks at home can help Shane go the distance.

Before his tour of duty, Shane Vincent was a champion BMX rider. He put the brakes on his career to fight in Iraq.

â€œI sometimes think he could have taken the path of his own fame and fortune and we always dreamed of that because he's been racing since he was two years old to get into the Olympics. I'm, if not, so more proud because of the path he took to defend our country and for freedom,â€ said Paul Vincent, Shaneâ€™s father.

But, after 10 months on the battlefield, a roadside bomb changed everything. The blast killed one soldier and damaged Shane's lung, liver, kidney, and broke his neck, back, and pelvis.

â€œDoctors shook their head as to why he's not paralyzed. His vertebra is basically just gone. It didn't damage his spinal cord. Scratches, but he's able to. He can walk about 75 yards now,â€ said Shaneâ€™s father, Paul Vincent.

Shane is looking forward to the day when he can hang out with his little brother again.

â€œWhen he comes home, just can't wait till we get back to stuff. Looking forward to ping pong,â€ said Vann, Shane Vincentâ€™s brother.

Shane's family hopes a benefit dinner will help ease Shane back into the life he once had.

â€œWhat we're planning with this money is when he does get home; he's going to have to go back and forth from the VA hospital. And, to just have some set up money. He's future is unpredictable,â€ said Paul Vincent, Shaneâ€™s father.

The Vincents hope Shane will be home before Christmas. At that time, they hope to present him with a check from the community. They'll raise money at a special benefit dinner this Saturday. It's at First Christian Church in Sapulpa from noon to 6pm.

Watch the video: Wounded Soldier To Return Home

Related stories:

6/4/2007 Wounded Oklahoma Soldier Fighting For His Life

6/18/2007 Injured Oklahoma Soldier Making Improvements