Veteran donates boston marathon medal to cgvamc occupational therapists | va asheville health care | veterans affairs

A local Veteran presented the Charles George VA Medical Center with a heartfelt “thank you” recently for its role in helping him achieve his goals. Dustin Baker placed fourth after competing

in the men's handcycle division in this year’s Boston Marathon; he also placed 17th in the World Cup. What makes these feats truly extraordinary is that Baker is an Air Force Veteran

who was paralyzed from a spinal cord injury sustained during military service. “(Baker) was so kind to honor us with his Medal/photo and his competition number in a beautiful Medal Awards

Rack,” Brandie Johnson, an occupational therapist at Charles George VA Medical Center, said. “He expressed such gratitude for the entire VA in providing his care, as well as understanding of

his love for adaptive handcycling, and competing and providing him with all the necessary equipment required to engage in this type of recreational activity.” The need for the new handcycle

came from unfortunate events which could have been tragic. Baker was training on July 26, 2022, when someone in a truck hit him from behind. “With the handcycle, you lay out flat, so the

impact was directly on my head and my shoulder,” Baker said in an interview with 13 WLOS, an Asheville media outlet.  The accident resulted in broken ribs, a damaged rotator cuff, cuts on

his face and chest, a concussion and road rash over half of his back. His handcycle was destroyed. We got him a replacement handcycle following the accident, and he was able recover and

compete, according to Johnson. Bridget Bela, another CGVAMC Occupational Therapist, said the CGVAMC Occupational Therapists have helped with custom adaptive sport cycles for Baker, and his

gift provides a feeling of validation. “This recognition reminds us of how grateful we are to work and serve the Veterans,” she said. “We are beyond honored to receive this meaningful gift.”

RELATED: HANDCYCLIST SHARES RECOVERY JOURNEY THAT TOOK HIM TO FINISH LINE OF THE BOSTON MARATHON

HTTPS://WLOS.COM/NEWS/LOCAL/HANDCYCLIST-SHARES-RECOVERY-JOURNEY-THAT-TOOK-HIM-TO-FINISH-LINE-OF-THE-BOSTON-MARATHON-PARACYCLE