SNOHOMISH, Wash. — In the Air Force, Keith Sekora served as a combat arms instructor and shared his wisdom with airmen so they could be prepared for combat. But it still wasn’t enough for Sekora, so he joined the ordnance disposal unit and deployed to Afghanistan. He grew proficient at disarming bombs and dismantling mine fields, which attracted the attention of the enemy.

During a mission with a special forces unit, Sekora was loading a large munition into his truck for future disposal when he felt something akin to a baseball bat striking his back. When the medic couldn’t find an entry or exit wound, Sekora was cleared for service.

Less than 32 hours later, the result of the injury was finally revealed. The neck guard on Sekora's body armor had pushed into his neck, slightly tearing his artery and dislodging blood clots. In rapid succession, Sekora had four major strokes and 18 mini-strokes. Sekora’s injuries included posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), memory loss, vertigo, and loss of feeling on the left side of his body. He spent eight months at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and then another year at Madigan Army Medical Center. Currently, Sekora’s condition does not allow him to regulate his body temperature causing him to always be overheated.

Lifetime Heating and Air Conditioning heard Sekora’s story and enlisted those around them to provide the comfort Sekora was needing. Gensco provided a significant contribution towards a Trane XR16 Heat Pump and coil, Honeywell donated their latest T10 Wi-Fi thermostat, and Always Current Electric donated the electrical circuit and disconnect. The team at Lifetime donated the labor and materials for the new system.

“We hope it will assist in bringing comfort to the Sekora family and serve as a reminder of the gratitude we all have for Sekora’s service and sacrifice,” said Dwight Miller, co-owner of Lifetime. “All of us at Lifetime Heating and Air Conditioning are truly honored to provide these services to one of our nation’s heroes. We pride ourselves in being active in our community and for improving the lives of the people in it.”

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