‘Road' to Recovery

In 2020, Dayne Lindsey was faced with the news that he might lose one of his legs. 

A decade prior, he was on a 7-mile circuit run as part of his active duty training in the Navy. Dayne had just made the first part of his run from the naval base in Newport, Rhode Island, to the halfway marker known as “The Wave” (a statue in downtown Newport). 

Then, the unthinkable happened. Dayne suffered an aortic dissection—a potentially fatal condition—in his right leg and had to receive emergency medical attention. After receiving care, he thought the problems with his leg were behind him.

Ten years later, Dayne suffered a complication in the same leg. When he arrived at Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, he could barely stagger up to the registration desk. Upon examination, he received some startling news.

“The doctor told me I had a blood clot in my leg that had developed from the previous dissection. He told me they were going to amputate my leg from the knee down,” Dayne said. 

Fortunately, the medical team made the decision to transfer him to another hospital where doctors were able to save his leg.

To celebrate, Dayne participated in the virtual DAV 5K in 2021, just 11 months after surgery. 

Once again, he made the trip from Miriam Hospital to Rhode Island Hospital, where his leg had been saved months before. Only this time, Dayne wasn’t transported by ambulance. He walked there. 

“I want to thank my family, friends, and the medical personnel for their care and encouragement along the way,” Dayne remarked. “To my fellow veterans—brothers and sisters—we can do this! Semper Fortis [always courageous].”

Are you a veteran with something to celebrate? Walk, roll, run or ride in the upcoming DAV5K and declare your own victory! Register today.