BDF Soldier Private Martells Is on the Road to Recovery

Belize Defense Force Private Cory Martells is on the road to recovery and is expected to be back in action in a few weeks. Private Martells was one of the eleven soldiers injured in a major traffic incident back in August. He was admitted to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital with a broken femur and urgently need of surgery; however, to have the procedure administered, Martells needed eight pints of AB negative blood, a rare blood type. Martell’s family and the BDF sought the public’s assistance in looking for donors whose blood was compatible. According to Commander of the BDF, Brigadier General, Azariel Loria, their efforts were not in vain.

Brig. Gen. Azariel Loria, Commander, Belize Defence Force: “When the mom went to the airwaves and asked for that support the day after unfortunately we didn’t have that amount of blood that was required from the BDF because it’s rare. We got about four from the BDF and eight pints of blood were needed at the time for his surgery to take place, surgery on his leg because he had a broken femur. So the public responded marvelously. Instead of getting our eight pints we got about twenty and more and more people were calling in to try to see if they could donate but we got more than enough and we are very grateful to our soldiers and the public at large that came and supported us with the blood needed. So Private Martels is recovering and he is doing good and in the coming days or weeks he will be rejoining the band, he is a member of the Belize Regular Force Band so once again thanks to everybody that supported in the donation of that type of blood.”