Injured Oklahoma Soldier Making Improvements

It was the Father's Day gift one Sapulpa man had been praying for. His son, critically injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq, regained consciousness and called his father from his hospital bed. We first

Monday, June 18th 2007, 3:24 pm

By: News On 6

It was the Father's Day gift one Sapulpa man had been praying for. His son, critically injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq, regained consciousness and called his father from his hospital bed. We first told you two weeks ago about Army Specialist Shane Vincent and the possibility that the world class athlete and Olympic hopeful might never walk again after being injured in Iraq. The News On 6â€™s Heather Lewin reports his family now says things are looking up.

After his Humvee hit a one ton IED just north of Baghdad, doctors said it was a miracle that 22-year-old Shane Vincent survived.

The body builder and pro-BMX racer was unconscious for nearly two weeks after the blast. With massive injuries, including damaged vertebrae, his family feared he would be paralyzed. Doctors now say the situation is more promising. Although he has little feeling, Shane Vincent can move both legs.

"He's vastly improved, from not knowing day to day to now, looking toward the future," said Shane Vincentâ€™s father Paul Vincent.

But he is having a little trouble dealing with the past. Diagnosed with TBI, or traumatic brain injury, Vincent's having problems with short term memory.

"He does know his injuries,â€ Paul Vincent said. â€œHe seems to know what happened, but then he forgets it the next day."

His father says Vincent knows he served in Iraq, but thinks he spent only one day there instead of 10 long months. As for his life here at home, Paul Vincent says his son's Olympic dreams are fading.

"He probably can get on maybe a street bike a little later, but there's not going to be much twisting and bending like he used to," Paul Vincent said.

The family's keeping friends updated on the Caring Bridge website where people can post messages of support. Shane Vincent's life will likely be different now, but his father is far from counting him out.

"He's pretty determined, I think he'll get back and just channel into another goal and go from there,â€ said Paul Vincent. "You just have to make new dreams, but the important thing is he's alive."

Family members say Vincent may be at Walter Reed until Christmas with physical therapy lasting much longer.

You can stay updated on his condition by checking his Caring Bridge page.

Watch the video: After Two Weeks Unconscious, Wounded Oklahoma Soldier Awakes

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