CHANG WONG
CHANG WONG
Alhambra, CA
EDDIE L>
EDDIE L.
West Covina, CA
A 21 year-old Army Specialist Eddie L. was returning from a mission in Iraq when his vehicle was blown up by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on December 6th 2005. He suffered blast injuries resulting in shattered bones in both legs, four broken ribs, a broken back and a broken neck. Two weeks later, after receiving care in Iraq and then Germany, Eddie arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Together at these three locations he received 25 surgeries to treat his injuries. “My surgeons said I probably hold the record for most surgeries in one month,” said Eddie when asked about his treatment. So many surgeries were needed in part to help save Eddie’s legs. He has expressed to his doctors that he will do whatever it takes to retain the use of his legs.
Eddie is expected to need more surgery in the future and wants to continue his recovery in Los Angeles instead of in Washington, DC over 3000 miles from his friends and family. Many veterans and active duty service members who are on convalescence from military hospitals Walter Reed and the Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland receive care at the VA West LA Medical Center. Therefore, a Fisher House would be greatly beneficial by easing the difficulties that soldiers like Eddie face during the long and painful recovery process.
At 23, Chang Wong from Alhambra, California has endured and overcome more obstacles than most people face in a lifetime. On May 23rd, 2005 the Army Sergeant was on patrol with his unit when the Abrams tank he was riding in ran over 155mm Howitzer shells buried beneath the ground. Out of those injured, Chang was the most severely wounded. He suffered severe internal injuries, a collapsed lung, and two shattered legs. Doctors used cutting edge medical science to save Chang’s life and help him through the recovery process.
Now medically retired from the Army and back home in Alhambra, Chang is enrolled in Pasadena City College working on completing his GE’s and still contemplating a major. He enthusiastically supports the efforts to build a Fisher House in West LA. “I know there are so many injured soldiers and veterans who have to come from all over Southern California to VA’s West LA Medical Center for medical care and a Fisher House would be really great for them and their families.”
140 South Barrington Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
T (310) 440-8400 • F (310) 476-3016
WHO BENEFITS FROM WEST L.A. FISHER HOUSE
Service personnel & veterans like Eddie & Chang stand to benefit from West L.A. Fisher House. We need your support. Read their story
Help achieve the goal of raising $6 million to help America's military and veterans in their time of need. List of donors