BOISE -- During First Lady Michelle Obama's visit to a Richmond, Virginia Veterans Affairs hospital, she met Idaho soldier, Justin Menchaca.
The Nampa native and Green Beret was shot in the back of the head in the Kandahar province in Afghanistan six months ago. Doctors are calling the progress Menchaca has made at the VA rehab facility nothing short of miraculous, and through non-profit support organizations like "Hope for the Warriors," Menchaca's comeback is being witnessed firsthand by his family.
In the course of four months, Menchaca has become a new man. He's gained about 60 pounds, mastered the stair climber, walking without a cane and he is even starting to speak again. All thanks to the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center at Richmond's McGuire Veterans Hospital.
It was July 2011, when this Special Forces Green Beret took a bullet to the brain near Kandahar, Afghanistan. And despite the improvement, he's still a shell of the specimen he used to be.
At 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, Menchaca was a robust 23-year-old and enjoying life like any other young man his age would. But his parents would tell you just the fact that he is here today is nothing short of a miracle.
"They gave him a 20% chance of living though surgery, when he was going though surgery in Kandahar," said Menchaca's dad, Dominic.
Here at the Polytrauma Center, physical therapy is paramount, but Menchaca is relearning all of his life skills. Things like cooking, laundry, balancing a checkbook and eventually even driving. It's tough to gauge just how far he can progress, but so far he has exceeded everyone's expectations.
"Literally, each day - you give thanks for the little victories and the small miracles, and the continued improvement and just focus on the now instead of worrying about the...you know," said his mom, Julie.
His parents are from Idaho and have been staying at the Fisher House, right across the street from the Polytrauma Unit. And the "Hope For The Warrior Project" provided Justin's grandparents with plane tickets and a week's hotel stay, to visit from Idaho.
"They wouldn't have been able to come if they had to do it themselves, so it was a great thing that they did for us," Dominic added.
Mark Johnson talked with Menchaca's grandmother on Thursday night and she told him that his was his second tour to Afghanistan. Doctors said his injury was very similar to the one Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords is recovering from. His grandmother also said that everyone is so proud of the progress Menchaca has made.
If you want to learn more about the "Hope for the Warriors" Program that is supporting families like the Menchaca family click here
