SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Local Marine Corpsman Brandon Dodson loves to play sled hockey, but 10 years ago, getting on the ice seemed impossible.
“It was my fifth deployment, my second with 1-7 scheduled to go to Afghanistan, and it was my worst day on the job,” Dodson said.
To say it was a bad day would be an understatement. On Dodson's final mission, he stepped on a bomb.
“The charge happened directly underneath me and cut me in half,” Dodson said.
Dodson lost both legs and his pelvis was shattered in two, and was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.
“That was the worst. I was conscious and I remember everything – the 28 minutes from the explosion to being lowered onto the landing strip,” Dodson said.
The Ramona native spent two years in rehab after returning to the United States.
Having lost both his legs, he managed to achieve the impossible: find a way to be grateful.
“I watch amputees put both their arms and legs back on themselves. They get up and walk around the facility, doing laps and training. I've got both hands, so what am I complaining about?”
The 39-year-old is grateful to Semper Fi and the America's Fund for covering all his expenses while he got back on his feet.
“They were working behind the scenes with my family before I came out, before I even knew what was going on. My family had pretty strong ties to the foundation before I got involved,” Dodson said.
Not only did Semper Phi & America's Fund pay Dodson's hospital bills, they also supported his passion: He's been playing for the San Diego Ducks sled hockey team since 2017, and was gifted a skier machine to give him an edge on the ice.
“This was definitely something I needed for my daily training and I'm really grateful that the foundation continues to support me with things like this,” Dodson said.
The defenseman is expected to return to the ice this fall.
