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Changing Lives: ‘Operation Mend’ Reconstructs Severely Injured Veterans

UCLA Operation Mend Reconstructs Aaron Mankins and other Veterans Faces

“Operation Mend” is a program that has been established by Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and the V.A.-Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System to “help treat U.S. military personnel severely wounded during service in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

According to it’s founder, philanthropist Ronald A. Katz, military men and women “deserve not only the best that the Defense sector has to offer; they deserve the best that the private sector has to offer as well.”

 

Operation Mend’s website states:

The project was launched with the help of philanthropist Ronald A. Katz, a well-known inventor and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center board member, who recognized that providing excellent care to injured soldiers need not be limited to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Armed Services. The project aims to serve as a model for other medical institutions interested in helping additional wounded service members.

‘Operation Mend’ represents an extraordinary collaboration between the surgeons and staff of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center,” said Katz, whose Katz Family Foundation will fund all uncovered costs associated with the project, including lodging patients and family members at UCLA’s Tiverton House, a hotel on the hospital campus designed to meet the needs of patients receiving treatment at UCLA.

Surgeries will reportedly be led by Dr. Timothy A. Miller, Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UCLA, who is also a military veteran.

And one San Antonio veteran, Aaron Mankin – who underwent nearly 40 life-saving surgeries — not only served as the program’s inspiration, but reaped the benefits of Operation Mend by being its first patient.

Mankin, a full-time single dad of a 4-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son, said that Operation Mend “has shown my kids that Americans want to help.”

The Huffington Post reports that in November 2006, Katz and his late wife saw Mankin on CNN.

“Aaron’s face was extraordinarily devastated; it was in shambles,” Katz recalled. “From all of that, which would be catastrophic to most people, there was this immense wonderful personality. He told CNN that he had gone through dozens of surgeries. When asked what he was going to do next, Aaron, with his facial skin to the bone, looked up and said, ‘I have to fix the beautiful part!’”

Katz called it a “fortuitous” moment. Inspired by Mankin, Katz began to lay the groundwork for Operation Mend, a partnership program that flies patients from all over the country to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center to undergo face and hand reconstructive surgeries.

“My wife and I soon realized that there were dozens of Aarons out there,” Katz said. “These men and women deserve not only the best that the Defense sector has to offer; they deserve the best that the private sector has to offer as well.”

In September 2007, Mankin flew to Los Angeles where he began a series of 20 facial reconstructive surgeries at UCLA.

“They took the cartilage from what was left of my ears and put it onto my forehead. It looked like I had horns for several months,” Mankin said. “The cartilage became a ‘flap,’ which they peeled off, twisted over and folded down onto where my nose was supposed to be. Those horns became my nostrils. For several weeks, when I touched my new nose, I felt my forehead. Around my mouth, countless scar release procedures allowed me to have an adequate smile and eat a burger again.”

Mankin even opted for prosthetic ears. “In the morning, I glue them on and, at night, I take them off,” he said.

“Like contacts!”

The confidence gained by Mankin’s surgeries has given the veteran a sense of how he looked and felt before his injuries occurred:

Of the more than 50 other service members who have since undergone Operation Mend surgeries, he said, “Just look at their pictures and focus on the eyes. You can see a rejuvenated spirit behind those eyes.”

Mankin has another Operation Mend surgery scheduled for late November and anticipates it will be one of his last. “I guess I would say the marines, medical community, doctors and nurses saved my life,” he said. “My family kept me alive. And Operation Mend gave me a life worth living.”

A poignant tribute to our brave soldiers on Veterans Day, and every day moving forward.

Watch this touching video about Operation Mend:

Comments (32)

  • boone b
    Posted on November 13, 2011 at 12:14pm

    cool

    Report Post »  
  • KangarooJack
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:28pm

    The first few years that I saw ‘Skin Donation’ offered on my driver’s license donor specs. I thought Yuck! Then, I saw a program on how donated skin grafts help a burn victim to recover in stages. Heck, when I’m dead-I’m dead. If my skin (any organ) could help one of OUR Soldiers-they can have it with my blessing. I see how double amputees have those (I don’t know the proper name) “legs” that are more aerodynamically designed than an actual human leg. What a Wonderous Day and Age we live in!

    God bless those who strive to help our Veterans!

    Report Post » KangarooJack  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:03pm

    God bless all of the people who are working on this project for our soldiers. God bless our soldiers & their families. They deserve the best.

    Report Post »  
  • IntegrityFirst
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 1:40pm

    It makes me so furious to see that our soldiers come home after being injured like this to be completely shat on by this administration. I am so proud of our men and women in uniform that go out and risk their lives for our freedom, my freedom, and it just sickens me to no end that while they are out in the battlefield defending OUR liberty, our Command-in-Thief is stealing our freedom away from us at a rate faster than ever imagined. We should thank our soldiers every time we see them! There may be a day soon where they will need to choose to disobey orders and stand with the American people… (at least we know Obummer’s civilian army is freakin lame.)

    Report Post » IntegrityFirst  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 12:47pm

    What they deserve is the wages that Congressman and Senators make.. and then Congress and the Senate need to make what our armed forces make. After all our armed services works way harder than anyone in Washinton and put thier lives on the line too. God help our armed serviceman!

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • M24
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:20am

    Well Well Blaze Freedom Of Speech All Ok unless it Offends your liberal Readers Well maybe it Should ! Educate these people Gunny

    Report Post »  
  • M24
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:09am

    These Men And Women Will most Likely Not ask For Help , They are Taught To Improvise,Adapt ,Overcome . Its Up To All Of Us To Make Sure That They Are Helped In Any way Possible and if not Possible FIND A WAY!! These Men and Women are the Very Reason some of the Population can act like ********. We protect ALL Americans. If You have never been to a V A Hospital You Should Its Where Reality Sets In . They Do Amazing Things There! Brothers and Sisters Semper Fi OOA RAHH

    Report Post »  
  • platitude
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:21am

    hey all of you aynrand cult members. why, if you areanti collectivism, do you revere the troops so much? for their is no better example of a collectivist mentality.

    platitude  
    • Shane the Golden
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 7:14am

      your lack of compassion fueled by your complete ignorance is STAGGERING, but expected….

      Just Saying

      Report Post » Shane the Golden  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 7:47am

      Perhaps because the military is one of the very few things the Federal Gov’t is supposed to do…

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • Coralchristie
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 9:44am

      Interesting that you define their team spirit and individual valor as collectivist mentality. Sad that you can‘t tell or won’t recognize the difference.
      On the other hand…thank you to the doctors and nurses who lend their skills to help these men and women who have unswervingly and honorably fulfilled their commitment to their country. I honor all of you and thank you for your service and sacrifice.

      Report Post »  
    • abbygirl1994
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 12:52pm

      Platitude: Get thee hence Satan!

      Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • sissykatz
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 3:56am

    What a wonderful service they are providing. I am humbled in their
    presence, God Bless our Military. I wish I knew how to make a diffference
    in their lives. We are so fortunate to have Men and Women brave and
    devoted to protecting us. Thank you Veterans..

    Report Post »  
    • platitude
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 4:21am

      hey all of you ayn rand cult members. why, if you are anti collectivism, do you revere the troops so much? for their is no better example of a collectivist mentality.

      platitude  
    • sawbuck
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 11:44am

      @plat
      When you go to sleep this weekend.
      Its going to get cold.
      And that tent your living out of, they dont offer much protection.
      So make sure you zip -it -up – tight .
      And make sure you turn that propane stove on high.
      make sure their is no cold air flowing in….!
      I dont want you to “freeze” to death.
      Pass the tip ……to your fellow…. OCCUPISSANTS.

      Report Post » sawbuck  
    • Elena2010
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 12:09pm

      You CAN make a difference in their lives — donate to the USO, Fisher House, Wounded Warrior Project. You can also find an individual service member in the war zone by “adopting” one fm http://www.anysoldier.com. Be faithful and write.

      You can volunteer at a local VA hospital or clinic. You can read to the injured, play checkers, laugh with them, be a friend in a lonely place. Our clinic here has volunteers who have a table of fruit, donuts, and coffee.

      Report Post » Elena2010  
  • Sheepdog69
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 2:55am

    There is nothing more honorable than serving your country. These men and women don’t make foreign policy, they just follow orders. Forget about sports stars or actors/ singers, these brave men and women are the ones we should look up too!

    Report Post » Sheepdog69  
  • MrMagoo
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 1:32am

    What took you so long?

    Report Post » MrMagoo  
  • GBMBulletsSKNRD
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 1:01am

    I have little money but lots of time and a ride. What can I do to help? God bless our military men and women.

    WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

    Report Post »  
    • dino papparelli
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 1:14am

      I’ve found the Fisher House who is helping our wounded warriors. Please do what you can. God Bless Aaron Mankin and thank you sir.

      http://www.fisherhouseinstl.org/

      Report Post » dino papparelli  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 1:16am

      We can always pray and pass this story on. Send a card. Donate $5. Help spread the word in any way you can think of………….

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 1:23am

      I can suggest one other thing that anyone can do. If you live anywhere near a V.A. Hospital go visit. Spend a few hours just talking to the vets. I can tell you from experience that a V.A. Hospital can be a big lonely place sometimes. Super care! But the folks there only have so much time to just shoot the stuff with patients.

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
  • KingDork
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 12:57am

    Heroes deserve the very best treatment and the uttermost respect. Good article.

    Report Post » KingDork  
  • Californiasodbuster
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 12:54am

    Our veterans are my hero’s , Thank You

    Report Post »  
  • tkrnstr
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 12:46am

    It is nice to read good stories from time to time after reading many doom and gloom stories.

    Report Post » tkrnstr  
  • 82dAirborne
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 12:20am

    WARNING: Do not “Troll” this story. This is nothing but love. If you don’t care for the story – fine. Move on. I won’t be the only one cursing anyone who tries to undermine this article.

    Report Post » 82dAirborne  
  • godhatesacoward
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 12:08am

    God bless our Vets & our enlisted! My family loves you!

    Report Post » godhatesacoward  
    • redgypsy
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 7:22pm

      re:plat
      Looked up the definition:
      plat·i·tude
         noun
      1. a flat, dull, or trite remark, especially one uttered as if it were fresh or profound.
      Sounds about right, except that in this case it manages to be infuriating at the same time.

      Report Post »  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on November 11, 2011 at 11:57pm

    Thank You to our Men & Women in Uniform .
    To our Fallen Heroes we will never forget you .
    And this be our motto: “In God is our trust”
    And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
    O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

    Report Post » Robert-CA  

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