FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (Army News Service, June 11, 2015) -- On Feb. 28, 2014, a physician assistant in the Army went to bed in his home and on April 15, he woke up with no leg.
He had been in a six-week coma and had no memory of having had a flesh-eating bacterial infection. It was a traumatic experience but the Soldier remains very positive and makes the most of his life.
"I woke up relatively positive because with necrotizing fasciitis, 81 percent of the people, who get it die," said 1st Lt. Chris Parks, who serves at the Fort Hood Warrior Transition Unit in Texas. "Four out of the five cases, in the state of Texas, last year died. I was the only one who lived."
He said it has been a challenge to adjust to his injury, but he couldn't have done it without the support of his unit, his wife, Heather, his 17-year-old son, Ryan, and his 19-year-old daughter, Rebecca.
"The unit has been there and the Soldiers are great, but my family has pushed me and made me better than I was a year ago today," he said affectionately. "My kids know that dad's not the same that he was a year ago; but that doesn't mean he's not dad, that doesn't mean he's not going to do the best for us at all times."
Parks said his family will be cheering him on as he competes for the Army team at the 2015 Department of Defense Warrior Games on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, June 19-28.
Throughout the games, wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans from the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard will compete in track and field, shooting, swimming, cycling, archery, wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball.
"There's no way to estimate my chances at the games, but I'm just going to give it my best and hopefully bring home some gold," Parks said. "My wife and son will be attending the games, and they're both very excited."
Parks earned his spot on the Army team during the Army Trials on Fort Bliss, Texas, March 29 - April 2. He earned gold medals in the men's classified 50-meter freestyle, 50-meter backstroke and 100-meter freestyle and a silver medal in the men's classified 50-meter breaststroke.
"Parks was a pleasant surprise," said Glen O'Sullivan, Army head swim coach. "He was a swimmer in high school, and tried to compare swimming from then to now. He accepted the differences and was very willing to try new things. There were huge improvements from day one of the camp to the day of competition."
Parks said that he was grateful to the coaches for his training.
"They're freaking amazing," he said. "We have world-class Paralympic coaches coming to help us out; how freaking awesome is that? We are truly blessed to have these folks coaching us."
He will be competing in the hand cycle, swimming, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, seated shot put and seated discus events during the Warrior Games.
He said events like the Army Trials and the Warrior Games have been great because it gives him the chance to be around wounded warriors like himself.
"These events give us a community, a second family," Parks said. "You may be the only one with your type of injury back at your home station, but when you come to events like this, you can share stories and meet others with similar injuries. You bond; it's like a big family. It's awesome."
The always positive Parks said resilience, to him, means never quitting.
"Recognize there's an obstacle ahead and know that you have the ability to overcome it," he said. "You can go around it, over it, under it. You can find a way to get around it. Never quit."
For anyone, who is injured and still going through a tough time, Parks recommends he or she try adaptive sports, or socialize with other wounded warriors.
"The world is still a wonderful place," he said. "Life is unexpected; you just don't know what's going to happen. So go outside, get involved with your community, with your Soldiers and find out truly how wonderful they are. They're more accepting of you than you think."
For now, Parks said he is taking the competitions one step at a time and that he feels blessed to just be here.
"I'm just honored to be here today," Parks said. "I'm just going to do my best one step at a time."
Related Links:
1st Lt. Chris Parks Overcomes One in a Million Infection
Army Warrior Transition Command
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