Before I came to Operation Comfort I was both a physical and mental train wreck. I was about to give up on myself and fall back into the dark place of depression. They introduced me to hand cycling. The first time out I was grinning from ear to ear like I have not done since I was a child. Everyone treated me like a long-lost friend, and they remembered my name. They gave me hope and encouragement. When I needed someone to talk to they were there for me. Today I am physically and mentally much better and it is easy to smile and laugh. I honestly believe they saved my life. I have never had anyone give so much to me in live and support. They are my new family and my best friends. Operation Comfort (OC) is the very definition of ‘take action’. They do not sit passively on the sidelines, rather they get to the heart of what a wounded veteran needs and then does everything possible to help. I was first introduced to OC when I was rehabilitating at the Centre for the Intrepid, following the loss of my left leg above the knee. Janis, and her team, introduced me to Hand Cycling, which was my first taste of adaptive sports. Ever since, sport has played a huge part in my recovery journey, keeping me strong, and physically and mentally fit. I took part in two hand-bike marathons with OC, before trying my hand at Sled Hockey. Hockey was something I had no interest in trying, however, OC saw the potential in me and encouraged me to give it a go. From my first moment on the ice I knew I had found my sport – something I was passionate about, and made me feel truly alive. OC committed fully to supporting me in playing Sled Hockey, paying for equipment, competition fees, hotels and transport costs. They even paid for me to attend the National Sled Hockey Team try-outs. In 2014, I was part of Team USA, who won Sled Hockey Gold at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi. Seeing Janis from OC there cheering me on, alongside my family, was such a special moment, and one I’ll treasure forever. In fact, I have OC to thank for my family being able to attend Sochi as they worked tirelessly to ensure those I care about could see me serve my country once more – this time on the ice. have continued to play with the US National Team, and hope to once more represent my country and compete for Gold at the 2018 Winter Paralympics Games in Pyeongchang. The support OC has given me goes so much further than sport. From helping me develop my auto-motive skills to taking my family and I on trips to help us heal as a family; they have been there for every step of my recovery. Janis and the OC Team are so much more than a charity – they are part of my family. I can never repay OC for all they have done for me. And it’s not just me – they have been, and will continue to be, there for so many other Veterans in my position. They walk alongside us and help us to see that we’re able to achieve anything we set our minds to. They helped me see that I am not broken, I am not disabled - rather I know that I am strong, and I am able to live beyond my injury.Operation Comfort, I cannot describe this organization in one simple comment / quote without you first knowing my background. I was an active tri-athlete. I am a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, deploying numerous times which have had a major lifetime impact to my body, mind and spirit from injuries sustained in the line of duty throughout my 30 years of service. My injuries progressively got worse and I lost the ability to race and train. My morale and overall disposition was headed south quickly without the ability to stay physical active due to chronic pain. Operation Comfort opened my world and saved my life by introducing me to adaptive cycling through a clinic they held at the VA. They have taken me to various events all over to participate in cycling events. These events both challenged and rebuilt my spirit. I now ride and train on a regular basis, I have even been able to compete again in adaptive cycling events. The staff at Operation Comfort is beyond words, their compassion, enthusiasm, they have become like family. My fellow riders have also become family just like the military family that I left when I retired. Operation Comfort for me is beyond what words can describe, but I have tried. I would recommend this organization to anyone that needs to get active again or stay active.
What Operation Comfort did for our local wounded and injured service members in San Antonio, Texas is something that I will never forget. I was introduced to Operation Comfort back in 2009 while rehabbing at The Center for the Intrepid (CFI) on Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. While I was rehabbing at the CFI, I participated in many adaptive sports like wheelchair basketball, amputee golf, sitting volleyball, and sled hockey. Sled hockey is one of many therapeutic programs Operation Comfort has to offer for wounded and injured military veterans that could potentially benefit their mental, physical or spiritual health. Many programs include automatization, amputee cycling, and yoga. However, when Operation Comfort introduced the sport of sled hockey to me, I immediately fell in love with the sport, and I would ever imagine hockey would exist in this Texas heat! Chris Leverkuhun, one of the local wounded veterans and a staff member of Operation Comfort, asked me if I would be interested in joining the Rampage Sled Hockey Team. Now, knowing how expensive this sport can be in general especially traveling to different states to compete, I felt blessed and humbled to have veterans like Chris and Operation Comfort that would offer to cover for the entire travel just for me to compete and hopefully help us to get better individually. The Rampage Sled Hockey Team is an all military veteran team that will be traveling to different states and cities to compete against other sled hockey team in the midwest. Not only Operation Comfort work tirelessly day in and day out to seek for potential donors, sponsors or donations that would like to support the sled hockey program, they also have done various of selfless act and support for the community of San Antonio and many other communities out there. Without Operation Comfort, I wouldn’t be where I am today and I can’t thank Janis and the entire staff for their unconditional support of our troops. I wouldn’t have two Paralympic gold medals if it wasn’t for OC who supported my journey to make the national team since I joined the sled hockey program in 2009. Thank you OC for believing in me. Thank you for giving me a purpose again.
Testimonials
