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Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Harry Hands Over Invictus Medal To Hospital

Prince Harry has presented an Invictus Games gold medal to the UK hospital that saved the life of a US soldier.
Sergeant Elizabeth Marks, 25, asked Harry to give her prize to Papworth Hospital in Cambridge when he placed it around her neck at the Games in Florida last month.
The combat medic, from Arizona, had been treated at the hospital for respiratory distress syndrome in 2014, shortly before the inaugural Games in London.
Her gold for 100m freestyle swimming was one of four she won in the pool in at this year's event.
Invictus Games Orlando 2016 - Behind The Scenes
Handing it over in a ceremony at Kensington Palace, Harry - founder of the Games - told the Papworth team: "A huge, huge thank you to all of you."
He said Sergeant Marks was "over the moon - she's very excited about the process".
Sergeant Marks broke down in tears when she told him about her treatment at Papworth.
Britain's Prince Harry smiles after he presented Elizabeth Marks of the U.S. a gold medal on the pool deck during a medal ceremony at the Invictus Games in Orlando
Harry added: "Something else that she told me while we were in Florida - I don't know whether you'll agree to it or not - she said that it was a blessing in disguise landing in London and going to Papworth because Papworth is undoubtedly the best place for someone having this condition."
He asked the medical team: "Am I right in saying she was given about a 35% chance of living?"
Lead clinician Dr Alain Vuylsteke replied: "That's generous. We used a machine to support her and keep her alive, while antibiotics and other drugs were helping her to fight it."
Harry and Elizabeth in conversation during the Invictus games in Orlando
Sergeant Marks, who still serves in the military, suffered a serious hip injury in 2010 while on tour in Iraq, leaving her with no sensation in her left leg.
She took up sport as part of her recovery and continues to swim even though it renders her temporarily blind and faint because of her lung condition.
Papworth plans to launch the Elizabeth Marks Fund to raise money for its critical care unit, where the medal will go on display.
Professor John Wallwork, chairman of the hospital, said the medal "means an awful lot for the staff and the people that looked after her".

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