"Artistic Tools" Recipients

Shane Parsons (May 2009)

I loves music! It comforts me where I can become whatever I want. I have always had an interest to learn how to play a guitar. Growing up listening to all types of music. One of my favorite is Santana... Listening and watching Carlos Santana play the guitar!! Another is Lynard Skinner! Sometimes it brings tears to my eyes, bringing back memories! Have an aspirations to learn to play a guitar someday and maybe play for children and teens. I volunteers at an elementary school where I assists the PE teachers twice a week.

On September 30th, 2006 Shane was driving the lead humvee for a mission in Iraq with his platoon.
He and his gunner were hit by an EFP, a group of multiple IED's packed into one large one. Shane and his platoon were in the middle of a patrol with the purpose of preventing Anti Iraqi Coalition forces from launching mortars/rockets to our troops.
Shane was critically injured and was Medivac from Iraq to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He sustained a head injury, and above knee amputee to both legs. Shane is relatively stable but in critical condition.
Shane battled brain swelling and was sedated heavily, while on a respirator at this time. He has been through several surgeries, to his legs, for tissue repairs and to prevent infections.