Skip to Content

Veterans Day Spotlight: “Suga’s Comeback” — A Tribute to Service, Strength, and Second Chances

Mr. Arrowood

By Megan Kon, Public Affairs Specialist, VA Southeast Network

This Veterans Day, we honor the courage and resilience of all who have served — and we shine a special light on one of our own: Mike Arrowood, a 77-year-old Navy Vietnam Era Veteran whose fighting spirit continues to inspire the halls of VA Augusta Health Care System.

In June 2023, Arrowood faced a battle unlike any he had seen before. Admitted to the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Unit in critical condition, he underwent bilateral above-the-knee amputations due to severe gangrene. Compounded by gastrointestinal complications, he became bedridden, confused, and unable to eat or speak clearly.

But Veterans are built to endure. And Arrowood — affectionately known as “Suga” by the nursing staff — was not alone in this fight.

As one nurse put it, “We loved him back to health.”

With the support of a dedicated interdisciplinary team, Arrowood began a remarkable recovery journey:

  • Physical Therapy helped him regain strength and mobility, transitioning from bedrest to daily use of his power wheelchair.
  • Occupational Therapy introduced him to adaptive boxing, where he quickly became a regular—and the unofficial “boxing promoter” of the unit.
  • Speech Therapy worked to restore his speech and swallowing abilities. His first milestone? Earning back his favorite treat—“magic cup” ice cream—twice a day.
  • Recreational Therapy reconnected him with the community through shopping trips, bowling, and even a visit to the local fair.
  • Social Work and Psychology teams helped him regain access to his finances, empowering him to shop independently and reclaim his autonomy.

“From ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ to ‘The Thrilla in Manila,’ every boxing match needs an enthusiastic promoter. Not only has Mr. Arrowood been that for our Adaptive Boxing program, he also does so for our spinal cord unit as a whole,” said Julie Blakey, his occupational therapist in the Spinal Cord Injury Unit (SCIU). “The progress he has made while with us is exemplary of the comprehensive care we offer our Veterans. Watching that care transform the trajectory of his life has been such a joy.”

To celebrate his incredible progress and birthday, the SCI team threw him a surprise party, complete with an ice cream cake, new foods to try with his speech therapist, and a special gift: boxing shorts. His reaction? Pure joy. “You would've thought he won the lottery,” his social worker Brianna Guy said with a smile.

Today, Arrowood is thriving. He’s up in his wheelchair daily, eating regular meals, participating in therapy and social activities, and cheering on his fellow Veterans with unmatched enthusiasm. His SCI team has become his second family, and he’s become a beacon of hope for others on their own recovery journeys.

This Veterans Day, we salute Mike Arrowood, not just for his military service, but for the strength he continues to show every day. His story is a powerful reminder that healing is possible, that community matters, and that the fighting spirit of a Veteran never fades.

He is home. He is loved. And he is a champion.