Injured Soldier Visit

Today our Away Team deployed to meet up with an injured soldier with 3 missing limbs. The Away Team is part of the CF Injured Soldier Network - a peer support program for injured and ill CF soldiers with moderate to severe physical injuries. I was anxious to meet this young man, but it was a good anxious. He is the kind of soldier that refuses to give up. He decided to defy adversity by living, despite all his injuries. I can't identify this soldier by name, as I must respect his privacy and give both him and his family time to heal.
Healing is a process that includes both the physical body and the emotional battery that follows all the trauma. Its amazing how resilient our bodies and minds are when faced with the task of surviving. Courage can never be defined by the loud roar of a cannon or lion, it is uniquely the quiet willingness to say, I will try again tomorrow. Remember this quote by good Corporal. For you there will be a tomorrow. You will succeed, and you will live to walk again. I did.

Intrepid Means Courageous & Brave

I just returned from San Antonio, Texas where I had the privilege of touring the Centre for the Intrepid - a physical fitness facility for injured US soldiers. It's predominantly amputees, burn, and OSI patients. The centre is affiliated with the Brooke Army Medical Centre. The words bravery and courage come to mind when you say the word 'intrepid'. The Centre for the Intrepid is an amazing state-of-the-art facility that was specifically designed as the antithesis of a traditional medical rehabilitation centre. This is a truly refreshing place, and one that does not make me physically ill when I walk thru the front door. I was actually excited to be there and I really really wanted to climb the two-storey climbing tower. There was a boogie board with my name on it for the wave pool. Would have loved to try it. Not certain how I could balance on the board though with no knee - guess I would have to sit on my butt. There is no other program or facility in Canada that measures up to the Centre for the Intrepid. It's unfortunate that this facility and program are only available in the United States. Perhaps one day, I could do something to change that.

Never say never.

Signing off.

Oprah's Superwoman - 2 Oct 08

Today I was on the Oprah Show. I was part of Oprah's photo montage of'superwomen - a collection of North American women who had overcome barriers, obstacles and adversities of some measure, and still managed to get ahead in life and do amazing things. Alicia Keys debut her new song entitled, 'Superwoman' while the photo montage splashed across the screen. This was an amazing experience, and one that I will remember for a lifetime.