Skip to contents
In This Issue:
On March 11, 2007, U.S. Army Corporal Vincent Mannion-Brodeur was injured in a bomb blast in Iraq that left him with significant traumatic brain injury, as well as shrapnel wounds to his arm and torso.
In the years that followed, thanks to persistence from his parents, both of whom are also veterans, Mannion-Brodeur became the first New England soldier to win approval for private hospital care. Soldiers with injuries like Mannion-Brodeur’s are typically treated at one of four VA hospitals capable of handling his level of injuries.
“I don’t think people realize how difficult it is for a member of the military to get private care,” said Mannion-Brodeur’s father, Jeff Brodeur.
Mannion-Brodeur, who is now 23, is a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and is also a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient. He was treated at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital for his brain injuries, and later at BWH for injuries to his cranium, fingers and thumb, which were all severely disfigured in the blast.
“Now that he’s here, we’re so glad the Brigham is part of his care. It’s almost like we found a home,” said Brodeur.
“Vincent and his family have been tremendously grateful, and it has been a very rewarding experience to take care of him,” said Bohdan Pomahac, MD, of Plastic Surgery, who performed the surgeries on Mannion-Brodeur’s cranium. “He is the first of many veterans coming to us for care.”
In 2009, the U.S. Military awarded BWH a multimillion-dollar contract to pay for face transplants for veterans who haves survived catastrophic war injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan.
During a recent appointment with Christian Sampson, MD, of Plastic Surgery, Mannion-Brodeur winced slightly as Sampson removed stitches from a recent surgery, but once they were out, he and his parents marveled at the mobility and appearance of his thumb.
“Dr. Sampson was the only one willing to do corrective surgery on his thumb,” said Mannion-Brodeur’s mother, Maura Brodeur. “We’re very pleased at the outcome of the surgery.”
Mannion-Brodeur will continue visiting Pomahac, Sampson and his primary care physician, Lydia Siegel, MD, MPH, as his recovery progresses.
“Vincent has done a lot for his country, and he deserves the best,” said Brodeur. “We hope that other soldiers know they have an option to come here for face and hand transplants, or other surgeries they might not be able to get elsewhere. Success stories like Vincent’s need to be told.”