Porfirio passed away while visiting friends over the Thanksgiving holiday in Sikeston, Mo. He was 22.
“We are all deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Airman Porfirio,” said Col. Amanda Gladney, 88th Air Base Wing commander. “During his all too short time on this Earth, he truly made a difference both in trying to help create a free and stable society in Afghanistan and in stretching the boundaries of medical knowledge. He was a warrior and a patriot who gave his all to a grateful nation. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this very difficult time.”
Gladney awarded Porfirio the Purple Heart in one of her first duties as newly installed commander at Wright-Patterson.
Doctors took unusual measures to save Porfirio’s his life after he was shot three times in the back by an insurgent at Combat Outpost Spera, Afghanistan on Nov. 21, 2009.
After several surgeries, doctors at Walter Reed determined his damaged pancreas had to be removed. They worked with doctors at the University of Miami to salvage islet cells from his pancreas. Those cells were injected into Porfirio’s liver, allowing that organ to begin producing the insulin normally produced by the pancreas.
The procedure had never before been performed on a trauma patient.
The precise cause of death is unknown.
There will be a memorial service on at Chapel 3 in the Prairies at Wright Field at 2 p.m. Wednesday open to anyone with base access.