2017 Jeffrey Cole

JEFFREY COLE

Tissue Recipient

Age 27 ~ Woodstock, Georgia

Park Ranger for the National Park Service

Honored by AxoGen Inc. at axogeninc.com

Jeffrey Cole enlisted in the US Marine Corps at the age of 19. With a strong determination to serve and defend his country, his enlistment marked the fifth generation of military servicemen in his family, but the first to become a Marine. On August 17^th, 2010, Jeffrey was on routine patrol with his Marine unit in Afghanistan when they faced escalating gunfire that badly wounded Jeffrey’s left arm. Jeffrey underwent surgery to repair his ulnar nerve by replacing the damaged nerve tissue through nerve allograft. This gift of tissue donation allowed his nerve to regenerate, restoring function and sensation, and helped save his arm from amputation. Jeffrey is now retired from the military, but continues to serve his country as a Park Ranger for the National Park Service in Washington, DC.

Jeffrey’s Story

In 2009, at the age of 19, Jeffrey Cole enlisted in the US Marine Corps, with a strong determination to serve and defend his country. His enlistment marked the fifth generation of military servicemen in his family, but the first to become a Marine.

On August 17th, 2010, Jeffrey was on a routine patrol with his Marine unit in Afghanistan when they faced escalating gunfire that struck and badly wounded Jeffrey’s left arm severing his brachial artery as well as his ulnar nerve. Initially, the injury led to a fight for his life, but once stabilized, he quickly realized it would be a fight to save his arm. Significant damage to his ulnar nerve left Jeffrey with a severe loss of nerve function and very limited use of the injured arm.

In late August 2010, Jeffrey underwent surgery to repair the damage to his ulnar nerve by replacing the damaged nerve tissue with processed nerve allograft. Helped by someone he did not know who had chosen to make their last act one of generosity, this gift of tissue donation allowed his nerve to regenerate restoring function and sensation through much of his ulnar nerve distribution and helping to save his arm from amputation.

Jeffrey is now retired from the military, but continues to serve his country as a Park Ranger for the National Park Service in Washington, DC. Jeffrey is deeply grateful to the gracious donor who helped him in his time of great need.