PTSD: Hope through Sport and Connection

Photo courtesy of  Paul Oberle

June is PTSD Awareness Month and so far, we have shared some of the challenges faced by our military spouses and families. Today, we share a story of hope for those who struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Captain Adam Tanverdi, USAF (Ret.) is an inspiration to many who suffer with PTSD. Adam was medically retired from the Air Force due to his psychological struggles associated with combat. Unsure of his next step, he joined Hope For The Warriors® for a cycling event in 2008.

The event reintroduced Adam to more than just a sport that he had long enjoyed. As a pilot, he flew thousands of feet above the earth and far from the men he served alongside. During our event, Adam unknowingly reunited with fellow service members with whom he carried out missions – he in the air, they on the ground. The men were able to speak face to face for the first time, providing Adam healing and a much-needed connection.
Hope For The Warriors® continues to support those connections. Adam is an active member of Team Hope For The Warriors® and participates in Hope & Morale events with his family. As Adam says, “My wife and my son are affected by combat too.”  

Photo courtesy of Mike Moberly Photography 

Our continued support has allowed the Tanverdi family to thrive, despite Adam’s PTSD. 
Hope For The Warriors® focuses not on the injury, but the act of living with the injury. As a community, we can restore self, family, and hope to our service members, veterans, and military families.

Learn more about PTSD

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Shawdust: A Warrior's Wish®

Sgt David Shaw, USMC (Ret.) refused to be airlifted to safety after an IED reduced his convoy to rubble during his 2010 Afghanistan deployment.

He was only ten feet away and facing the blast when the explosion occurred, but he wanted to save space on the aircraft for more seriously injured Marines. Besides, he had a job to do. If he left his location, his unit would be unable to complete their mission. There was no doubt in his mind, he would stay. 

But the physical and mental repercussions from the explosion were severe.  David endured crippling back pain, ongoing headaches and tinnitus, as well as constant reoccurring fear and horrifying memories of the explosion.

When he returned home to join his wife Kimberly, in North Carolina, the pain didn’t go away- it got worse. After seeing a doctor, David learned that the blast had caused herniated disks and fractured vertebrae in his back, causing chronic and agonizing pain. He was also diagnosed with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury (TBI) causing him to suffer from short term memory loss and damaged cognitive skills. David sought help and began weekly therapy sessions but the physical pain remained.

He tried countless medications and techniques, but only one thing helped- woodworking.

Woodworking gives David the fulfillment in life he feared he had lost, frees his mind, and distracts him from the pain. Once only a hobby, woodworking has quickly become a source of income for the young family.

But to move forward with his dream of a woodworking business, David needed help. He turned to Hope For The Warriors® and the A Warrior’s Wish® Program.

He Wished for tools and some workshop space, which would allow his business to expand. He included a detailed business plan for his company, aptly named-Shawdust.  

Hope For The Warriors® is proud to grant this Wish and make it possible for this bright entrepreneur and brave veteran to achieve his dream of supporting his growing family with the fruits of this labor. 

Please help us grant this Wish by donating today.  Visit our donation page and in the comments, write “Shawdust.”  

   

Happiest Place on Earth: A Warrior's Wish®

Hope For The Warriors® granted a special A Warrior's Wish® this spring for the family of a wounded service member.  Bound to a wheelchair and managing severe PTSD, the veteran turned to us with a Wish that would help not himself but his loving family.  The father of five shared the stress that his family endured due to his injuries.  His Wish was for a family vacation to Florida.  Through another organization, their lodging was already set.  Hope For The Warriors® paid for the gas, food and tickets to theme parks in the area.

Hope For The Warriors® was proud to grant this Wish and love the happy faces on the kids' faces. 


Help us grant more Wishes....donate today!

PTSD Awareness Month: A Soldier's Son Shares

Photo by Charles Hutchins

Before war my dad was calm, collective, and slow to anger. He was a patient peacemaker and a mediator in our family issues. He was hardly emotionally compromised and never had road rage. He also hardly cussed and was very trusting and forgiving.

After war my dad goes from 1 to 10 in one step. He has severe road rage even from the smallest things a driver does. When he explodes he loses it. He cusses and says things he doesn't even remember. One time I wrestled him and accidently made him bleed. He threatened me.  Ten minutes later, while I was packing my things to stay the night somewhere else he asked, “Hey son, where you going?” As if nothing happened.

My dad has lost his relationship with his brother because he was quick to anger. That is not like my father. After war, my dad got so angry he kicked me out of the house.  An hour later he apologizes. Before war, my dad taught me to stay calm and think rationally but since back from war, he does the opposite.

I know I have endured things that other children will not have to deal with. Other kids don’t have to calm their father down in the car when they have road rage or listen to their dad say they are going to kill them. The reason they don’t have to endure that is because my dad went to war. And I’m proud because he did it with honor and he defended the red white and blue so other kids could have a normal child hood.

Learn more about PTSD

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PTSD Awareness Month: One Spouse Shares Her Experience

Photo by Vince LoPresti

If you told me a year ago that my husband was going to leave me, I would have never believed it. Not with everything we'd been through...multiple deployments, a long distance relationship until we were married, his transition out of the USMC, loss of jobs, tragic loss of family members...no, not us. We were in the 50% that makes it.

Unfortunately it all became a reality one hot June night in 2012 when life as I knew it, ended.

He had come back from Iraq years ago, after losing many lives in his company. He took about 2 weeks to get back into regular life and things seemed "normal."  It wasn't until years later when his temper worsened, the drinking started, and his priories clearly shifted.

I'd like to say it was a slow gradual change, and maybe in some aspects it was. But that's not what it felt like to me. He came home one night and told me he didn't know if he wanted to be married anymore. We started therapy and I was determined to work through it. That’s what you do right? We vowed to stay together forever, not just when things were going great.

The drinking continued to get worse. He occasionally didn't come home. The fighting got worse. Then all of a sudden, over dinner one night, everything changed. He said I was his soul mate. He wanted to work on things. And things got great.  Really great…for about 6 months. Then it all hit me.

I had changed so much, just to please him. All the emotional abuse, the lies, the drinking. I needed it to stop. I turned to our families for support. His family comforted him. He admitted things were not going well and agreed things needed to change. Two days later, he came home from work and told me that he wanted a divorce because I was making him miserable.

People that know me, could not be more shocked by the news.  I'm a care free, easy going person.  I give my all in every situation. How could HE leave me? I've been there for him through everything and this is how he thanks me?

It wasn't until nine months later when it all became clear. I had the privilege to attend a Hope For The Warriors® event and had the opportunity to meet men and women who were suffering from post-traumatic stress (PTS). To say it was eye opening and life changing would be a vast understatement. I learned there was nothing I could do to "get him through it." I realized that I was actually suffering from PTS as well. I also learned how complicated the stress disorder is. 

The ironic part is that he always said he was "fine."  He criticized others for blaming their behavior on PTS. I learned that it was so much easier for him to put all the blame on me and continue to not deal with everything.

I want people to know that it's one thing to support their spouse; but it should not mean that you give up your entire life and change who you are as a person. I'm sure I am not the only spouse to go through something like this and I am sorry that I will not be the last.

Learn more about PTSD.

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Memorial Day: A Poem

Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the Armed Forces.  Please take time throughout the weekend to honor and remember.

Cpl. Steven R. Koch, USA
Killed In Action: March 3, 2008

Memorial Day

 

At your side forever, even today

Wavering never, never to stray

Ground hallow of heroes that fall

All gave some, while some gave all

 

Gone but not forgotten, grief copes

Sadly the masses, ignore eternal hopes

Flags of honor wave to their sacrifice

Brave warriors, blood of watered ice

Courage, a trait to answer the fight call

Monumental respect shown on the wall

Beginning in the fires of freedom’s cause

Now a silent prayer in valued pause

Memorial Day, I know you stand firm

Ages of dedication each filling their term

Esteemed holiday, often just a vacation

Day of sorrowed heartache, of a nation

Pledging awareness everyday of the year

Not just one date, but wherever you share

That tribute to fighting for liberty’s light

Support the troops, never leaving our sight

No question where courage comes from

Honor those all, that provided the some

Always hopeful that it will never run out

Memorial Day, that’s what you’re about

 

Wm Koch Jr.         5-24-2012

 

 

 

Memorial 100: Route Included

Communities in Long Island welcome the runners as they pass through

For the route of the Memorial 100, street by street, view, download or print here.

What are your plans for this Memorial Day Weekend? A backyard BBQ, a pool party, maybe catching a movie?

But wait, Memorial Day was established so that we remember the men and women who have died while serving our country. What will you do to honor Memorial Day?

If you live in New York City or Long Island, you have the opportunity to be a part of an event that will honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

On Saturday, May 25, a group of service members, veterans and first responders will start at the tip of Long Island and run in pairs until they reach Ground Zero the next day. Along the way, a member of each pair will carry a flag, the American flag and a Hope For The Warriors® flag.

The Memorial 100 was organized by three Marines who deployed with 3rd Battalion 25th Marine Regiment to Iraq in 2005. Their battalion was tasked with training the Iraqi Security Forces and conducting stability and security operations in and around the cities of Iraq's Al Anbar province. The unit lost 46 Marines and 2 Sailors during the course of the six month deployment, making it one of the largest unit sacrifices in the war.

The runners approach Ground Zero

We invite everyone to join us along the relay route. At times, our runners will be tired and will appreciate the encouragement and the support. But they are running more than 24 hours to bring attention to their fellow brothers who have been lost along the way.

And for those that join us, the experience will be unforgettable.

For the route of the Memorial 100, street by street, view, download or print here.

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