INSPIRATIONS BLOG

Daniel Ennett – Invincible quadruple amputee – inspiration

Date: June 23, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG

Daniel Ennett

When Daniel Ennett, of Canada, was five years old, he was stricken with meningococcal septicaemia — a combination of Meningitis and Sepsis, a life-threatening complication of infection. It led to the loss of both his arms and legs. Facing and surpassing challenges became his norm.

Now 22 years old, Daniel is a psychology major and sociology minor and the University of Alberta. He chose his curriculum because he likes figuring out the motivations and justifications behind people’s actions.

Kirstie Ennis – Wounded Veteran, Competitive Athlete – Inspiration

Date: June 3, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, prosthetics

Sgt. Kirstie Ennis entered the Marine Corps at the age of 17, planning on a 20-year-long career in the armed forces. She knew from the beginning that she wanted to work on helicopters.

Kirstie Ennis – April 2016

Six years later, in June 2012, during her second tour of duty in Afghanistan, she was in a helicopter with her fellow soldiers, going to resupply ammunition, transport soldiers and help those near the mosque overthrown in Musa Qala, Afghanistan. Suddenly they realized something was wrong – a crash was imminent.

The helicopter hit the ground, shattering to pieces. Ennis’ body was shattered too – she tried to stand but her leg couldn’t support her, her mouth was full of blood, the teeth on the right side of her face and her jaw were gone. Because of damage to her brain, she couldn’t be given any pain medication. She was transported by helicopter to a British hospital where a plastic surgeon worked on her. With the objective of getting her strong enough to go back to the US, she underwent almost 40 surgeries in various countries outside of Afghanistan. Her first return to the US was to Washington DC and finally she was transported to a medical center in San Diego.
For the first few months in the hospitals, she couldn’t eat, drink or do anything by herself. Because her brain shook so much when the helicopter went down, Kirstie’s injuries were mental as well as physical – her memory and comprehension abilities were affected. . (source: http://www.people.com/article/kirstie-ennis-marine-veteran-recovery-story)

Invictus Games 2016 – Inspiring Destigmatization of Visible and Invisible Injuries

Date: May 12, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, prosthetics

When Prince Harry attended the Warrior Games in Colorado in 2013, he saw how the power of sports could help wounded warriors physically, socially and psychologically. He envisioned bringing this power to an international level. invictus_games_2016

The first Invictus Games took place September 10-14, 2014 in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Over 400 competitors from 13 nations competed in 9 sports. (read more about the 2014 Invictus Games).

The 2014 Invictus Games helped to remove stigma around physical injuries and Prince Harry hopes this year’s Invictus Games can do the same for invisible injuries. He and President George W. Bush hosted a symposium on Invisible Wounds at this year’s Games in Orlando, aiming to destigmatize post-traumatic stress.

Brandon Holiday – Athlete, Community force for the Disabled, Inspiration

Date: May 10, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, fitness, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, prosthetics, resources, Support

Brandon Holiday and Tyson

Brandon Holiday grew up athletic – playing various sports, tennis, baseball and training in martial arts. He also grew up with Systemic Lupus, Primary Addison’s and a blood clotting condition (Antiphosolipid Syndrome). After college, he became a police officer but an injury in the line of duty and medical complications from Systemic Lupus forced him to leave the police force. The changing symptoms of his disease made it necessary for him to adjust his life. Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself and causes symptoms like chronic fatigue, pleurisy, high fevers, restlessness, and loss of kidney function.

In 2006, after four months in the hospital battling with blood clots, wound care and hyperbaric chamber treatments, doctors had to amputate his left leg below the knee. Reaching out for help facing his challenges dealing with his injuries and disease led him Challenged Athletes Foundation who awarded him a grant to travel and attend the Extremity Games. It was life-changing for him.

“I realized that there had to be more than just accepting you’re depressed and here is some medicine to help.”

Julian Torres – Wounded Warrior and Inspiring Mountain Climber

Date: April 30, 2016

Author: Brooke

Categories: adaptive sports, amputees, INSPIRATIONS BLOG, prosthetics, Support

Julian Torres trained in the mountains of California (source: modbee.com article by Jeff Jardine )

In August 2009, Marine Julian Torres got orders to report to Jacksonville NC to join the “Never to Quit Battalion” 2nd Battalion 6th Marines. He became a Machine Gun Squad Leader, and in January 2010 was sent to Machine Gun Leaders Course. Hand-picked by the battalion commander he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Torres was sent to Marjah, in the Helmand Providence of Afghanistan to fight the Taliban forces and in less than a month, his life was changed forever when an explosive device blew off both of his legs at the knees.