Learning To Walk Again

PowerPoint Show by Andrew

Matt Krumwiede is a sergeant in the U.S. Army. Two years ago, while on patrol in southern Afghanistan, he stepped on an (IED) improvised explosive device. Fifteen pounds of explosive tore into his body, destroying both his legs and badly damaging his torso and left arm.

Medics on the scene and a quick Medevac flight saved his life but started him on a long, painful journey toward recovery. More than a year later, he has undergone around 40 surgeries and is now learning to walk with prosthetic legs.

His end goal is to once again be a soldier in the infantry.

Reuters photographer Shamil Zhumatov, who was embedded with Sgt. Krumwiede's regiment, happened to be present on the day he stepped on the IED and took several photos of the immediate aftermath, including the painful impact on both Sgt. Krumwiede and his uninjured comrades who remained in the field.

Earlier last year, Reuters photographer Jim Urquhart started meeting up with Sgt. Krumwiede, documenting his recovery in Texas -- his support system of therapists, family, and friends, and the daily trials of recovering from such a traumatic set of injuries.

Sgt. Matt Krumwiede on patrol in Zharay district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, on June 11, 2012. The next day, Krumwiede stepped on an IED.

A U.S. Army soldier secures an area as his colleague treats Sgt. Matt Krumwiede, wounded by an IED.

Soldiers secure the area, while a medic treats Sgt. Matt Krumwiede shortly after he stepped on the IED.

Soldiers carry a badly wounded Sgt. Matt Krumwiede towards a Blackhawk Medevac helicopter.

Fellow soldiers carry him into a Blackhawk Medevac helicopter.

A soldier reacts as he sits inside an armored vehicle after his comrade, Sgt. Matt Krumwiede, was wounded by an IED.

A blood-covered M4 rifle, belonging to Sgt. Matt Krumwiede, lies on the ground in southern Afghanistan.

Soldiers react after their comrade Sgt. Matt Krumwiede was wounded.

A year later: Sgt. Matt Krumwiede (front row, white shirt) at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, on August 1, 2013.

Krumwiede makes his way to the entrance of the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, on August 1, 2013.

Krumwiede attaches his prosthetic legs.

Krumwiede practices walking with prosthetic legs.

Walking practice at the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical.

Occupational therapist Kelley Wells works with Krumwiede, who is playing a drumming videogame during occupational therapy.

Krumwiede plays a drumming videogame during occupational therapy.

On November 2, 2013, Krumwiede pulls himself up into a truck at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas.

Sgt. Matt Krumwiede is handed a shotgun during a skeet shooting event.

Krumwiede waits to shoot during a skeet shooting event, on November 2, 2013.

Sgt. Matt Krumwiede sits in a jeep as he hunts with his friend Sgt. Jesse McCart at a hunting ranch outside San Antonio.

Krumwiede hunts with his friend Sgt. Jesse McCart at a hunting ranch.

Sgt. Matt Krumwiede sits in pain while his friend Sgt. Jesse McCart and his mother Pam Krumwiede talk, after a day of hunting, on November 2, 2013.

Matt has a wound tended to by his mother Pam, after a day of hunting.

Sgt. Matt Krumwiede of the U.S. Army takes a phone call as his hand is massaged by his mother Pam Krumwiede, after being admitted for an infection at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Pam Krumwiede massages the damaged hand of her son, Matt, after he was admitted to treat an infection.