Kellen Jason Kennedy and his parents Chelsea and Marine Sergeant Marshall Kennedy were awarded a year’s supply of Pampers upon the baby Kellen’s recent birth at Mercy Hospital in Rogers.
The gift came about when hospital officials heard the story behind Kellen Jason’s name. Two years ago Kellen’s father experienced a great tragedy when he lost both of his legs and suffered severe damage to his left arm after stepping on an IED in Sangin, Afghanistan.
In 2011 Sergeant Kennedy was on his fourth deployment since joining the Marine’s at the age of 17, and this time his destination was Afghanistan. Five months later he was hospitalized after a near fatal accident involving a mine field.
Kennedy recalls the details of the accident.
“It was June 13, a Monday,” he said.
Kennedy, a squad leader, was told by his lieutenant that a few locals knew where a cache of mines were located. Kennedy separated his squad of 11 into two groups to look for the cache. While one group was checking out the claim, his group decided to check the compound next to it.
“I was 6’5”. I took a knee and was leaning up against a wall and my foot hit a pressure plate and I was blown up,” Kennedy said.
When Kennedy regained coherence, he was helped by the navy corpsman medic, Jason Martinez, who helped save his life.
“He was lucky to have Jason,” said Chelsea Kennedy, who added she was happy to have a son she could name in honor of the man who helped bring her husband back home.
“Pampers believes every baby is a little miracle, said David Mullaly, Brand Manager, Baby Care P&G Walmart Global Customer Team. “We were very touched by the Kennedy’s story and felt this was the least we could do to give a little back to a family that has done so much to support all of us. We wish the Kennedy family the best, and congratulate them on the birth of little Kellen.”