Army Pfc. Danny Perry has undergone numerous surgeries and his
wounds are healing
Gilroy – U.S. Army Pfc. Danny Perry has lost a lot of weight and undergone numerous surgeries, but the good news is he’s recovering.
The 2004 Gilroy High School graduate – who suffered a traumatic brain injury and severe wounds to his face, leg and ear, when he was hit by a rocket propelled grenade in late February – is being treated at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
He underwent minor surgery in Iraq before being transported to a military hospital in Germany. In Germany nurses sutured wounds on his face, ear, hand and leg.
Tim and Linda Perry, who lived in Gilroy for 22 years before moving to Somers, Conn. last year, are staying in Washington with their son during his convalesce. Jason Perry is also taking turns helping out his brother.
Danny Perry, 20, has been walking down to the cafeteria with his family for lunch and talking more, the Perrys reported in an e-mail.
When the wound on his ear was cleaned out they discovered that the canal had not ruptured. Doctors removed cartilage from his left ear and skin from his neck to fill in the wound on his ear. The Perrys said he is talking more and has regained some of his short term memory.
“He does struggle at times, but surprisingly does not become frustrated,” the family wrote in an e-mail. “I continue to be awed by this soldier. He does not complain about his pain, his frustration with trying to remember or find words, physical therapy, etc. He is unbelievable. Of course he doesn’t like being in the hospital, nor not getting any cigarettes, but that is to be expected.”
The soldier weighed about 190 pounds when he entered the hospital and has dropped to 160 but the Perrys said he’s regained his hearty appetite, so they’re hoping he will begin to put on some weight.
Linda Perry said her son will probably be released from Walter Reed and transferred to the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System center in between two to three weeks.
“First, he needs to fully heal from all his injuries and surgeries and get to a point where any infection is ruled out,” Linda Perry wrote in an e-mail. “We chose the Palo Alto Clinic because we have so many friends and family in the Gilroy area and the doctors believe this will help Dan to recover even faster.”
In Palo Alto he will receive therapy for about five hours a day.
Anyone interested in contacting the family is welcome to send an e-mail to pe*********@***oo.com
His mailing address at the hospital is: PFC Perry, Daniel J., Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Room 5841, 6900 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20307-5001.
