Benefit for Matt

Sergeant Murphy wheels himself back to his hospital room. U.S. Army Sergeant Matthew Murphy spent summers on Camano Island at his family’s cabin while growing up.

Murphy’s grandmother remains on Camano Island.

He joined the Army four years ago, about the time he married his wife Kalah, to provide financially for his family and serve his country, said his aunt Patty Genovese of Chicago, the family’s spokeswoman. They have two small children and another due in December.

Murphy is stationed at Fort Lewis and was deployed with the 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division to Kandahar and Zabul provinces of Afghanistan in July.

Now family friend Lorri Garske of Camano Island is organizing a fundraiser after Murphy, 25, was a victim of an 800-pound roadside bomb in Kabul on September 14 where two of his buddies were killed. Since his unit deployed 17 have died, helping to make October the deadliest month since the war began in 2002.

U.S. Army Sergeant Matthew Murphy before accident. Murphy lost his right leg above his knee and sustained serious injury to his left. He received 13 units of blood and was put on life support before being stabilized and transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

“They told us they didn’t know if they could save his other leg,” said Genovese.

However, his leg shows signs of healing and although he was released from the hospital last week, he will undergo physical therapy and rehabilitation for the next two years, said Genovese.

“Benefit for Matt,” a soup and salad feast, is being held at Stanwood American Legion Post 92, 26921 88th N.W., on Nov. 14, 4 to 8 p.m.

There will be a raffle and auction with weekend getaways and other items.

Donations are still needed such as goods and services, said Garske.

For more information, or to make a donation, e-mail Garske at atseasanjuan@ aol.com.