February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 28 at St. Thomas More Parish Hall, 186 Gordons Corner Road in Manalapan, NJ.
Brennan, who is 23, was severely injured on May 7, 2008 in an IED attack while leading a patrol in Afghanistan.
He had been in Afghanistan for two months at the time. The device exploded under the Humvee that Brennan and four other men were traveling in. Brennan and the gunner, Specialist Ryan Price of California, were the only ones to survive.
Brennan, however, had suffered cardiac arrest in the blast and was rushed to a field hospital where it was found that he had sustained an acute brain injury, a collapsed lung, internal bleeding, a ruptured spleen, multiple compound fractures of his left arm, and a shattered femur bone. In addition, both of legs had to be amputated.
On May 11, Mother’s Day, Brennan, whose family lives in Howell, was flown from Afghanistan to Germany and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. For several weeks, with family members at his side, Brennan remained semi-conscious and underwent multiple surgeries to keep infection away from his legs, and to repair his broken bones.
Once he had regained consciousness Brennan was transferred to James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida to begin his long rehabilitation. He was fitted with prosthetics and is currently learning how to walk again.
His parents Joanne and Jim and their family have, according to a Division 16 statement, made enormous sacrifices and have dedicated their lives to Brian’s recovery.
“Because of these injuries, Brian will need lengthy therapy and special accommodations. The Brennan family home must be modified to accommodate Brian with a special bathroom, handicap ramps and a lower floor living area. Help is needed in the way of donations, fund raisers and construction services,” the statement added.
All donations can be sent to the Lt. Brian Brennan “Stands Alone” Trust, 10 Stratton Dr, Howell, NJ 07731.
Meanwhile, tickets for the “Evening with the Irish” event are available by calling (732)740-6821 or (732)740-3175.