On September 23rd, The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa was proud to donate a signature Heavenly Bed to a deserving American hero, Charles “Chaz” Allen from McMinnville, Tennessee.
 
Chaz Allen is one of the many who answered the call in 1998, when he joined the Army. A highly trained soldier, Chaz thought that the military would be his career. He served many tours overseas helping ensure our freedoms - but on January 22, 2011, life changed. While on a dismounted patrol in the Zhari district in Afghanistan, Chaz stepped on a 40 pound IED. He lost both legs immediately; one above the knee, one below and the blast took a piece of his elbow. Chaz retired from the military in 2014 and now lives with his family in McMinnville, Tennessee.

Amputees lose the ability to regulate their body temperature - a problem that is exacerbated with each inch of physical loss.  As a bilateral above the knee amputee, Chaz experiences great discomfort.  On a "good day", Chaz' pain levels are a 7 out of 10 ... and the inability to get a restful sleep only makes matters worse.   While in Savannah for the second annual “Race for the Wounded” fundraiser this past May, The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa hosted the Allen’s for one night.  While here, “…Chaz discovered that he actually had a restful night’s sleep – in fact, the best night’s sleep that he had enjoyed since his injuries in 2011.”
 
Megan Hostler, VP and CFO of Nine Line Foundation, Inc., informed The Westin Savannah Harbor of Chaz’s sleep situation and requested assistance, which Savannah’s Resort was delighted to provide. The Westin Savannah Harbor partnered with the Nine Line Foundation in accomplishing this charitable mission, now titled ‪#‎OperationSleepWell. The initiative serves to provide wounded American soldiers with Heavenly Beds to help with recovery and encourage our hero’s to SLEEP WELL.  The Westin Charlotte has since offered to provide a Heavenly Bed of their own to a soldier in need.
 
On September 23rd, the Westin’s Director of Grounds, Lynn Childress (a former Army Ranger and an invaluable member of The Westin and Troon Golf teams) , started his trek to McMinnville, TN to donate a Heavenly Bed to the Allen Family, a 600 mile journey. Upon hearing of Lynn’s mission, The Sheraton Nashville Downtown was eager to lend a hand and provided Lynn lodging that evening.    Arriving at the Allen household, Chaz mentioned to Lynn that they were in fact hosting a neighborhood family whose house was recently destroyed in a fire—further demonstrating Chaz’s good nature and character.