My life as a police officer before the accident was, was very good. I really enjoyed what I was doing. It was my, my dream profession and my calling another vehicle cut in front of my police cruiser. I just felt like I got hit by a train. I had five surgeries, uh, eight rounds of back injections. The care that was provided through the force couldn’t have been any worse.
I equate it to being like in the military and, and, and injured and sent home, and then nobody speaking to you or, or checking in on you, and that, that’s kind of left a, a hole in my heart because I, I was willing to give anything and everything up to my life. For that career and, um, you get nothing in return.
He impacted. My family was de detrimental. My wife and I were, were pregnant and somehow she kept us together. I felt responsible. I felt guilty. I felt that I. You know, had I been doing 10 miles an hour or less, maybe it wouldn’t have happened. Maybe, maybe it is my fault. For some reason, I, I’ve lived this past year thinking that the accident’s just no big deal.
Um, it is what it is. Life goes on when, when, in fact, I’m realizing that it’s a humongous deal. That it’s, it’s the defining moment of, of my life and what, what I choose to do next will. Will determine the futures of my children. I feel very physically strong. However, my mind is incredibly weak and and damaged.
I would even go as far as, say, destroyed. My first conversation with, with Shields and stripes was just eye-opening to see that people actually cared about people like me, that we’re not just a number. I don’t feel like I’m a science project like I do with other counselors coming here and, and being allowed to utilize a facility at this.
At this level, it is truly once in a lifetime. Exercise is my therapy, is the one thing that I can constantly rely on and find happiness in. Combining physical training and mental health is, is vital. This program is giving me hope that I can get my mind up to speed, so to speak, and, and. And really find that true long lasting improvement and and purpose in life.
I realize that there are people out there now just like me, that have had traumatic experiences and it’s okay to talk about them. It’s okay to to think you’re a little messed up because you can get better. It’s not, it’s not the end. It’s just program shields and stripes in the people that founded and came up with it, did something that is truly unique and um, incredible.
Quotes:
- “My life as a police officer before the accident was very good. It was my dream profession and my calling.”
- “I equate it to being like in the military, being injured and sent home, and then nobody speaking to you or checking in on you.”
- “I was willing to give anything and everything up to my life for that career, and you get nothing in return.”
- “The impact on my family was detrimental. My wife and I were pregnant and somehow she kept us together.”
- “I felt responsible. I felt guilty… Maybe it is my fault.”
- “For some reason, I’ve lived this past year thinking that the accident’s just no big deal… I’m realizing that it’s a humongous deal.”
- “I feel very physically strong. However, my mind is incredibly weak and damaged.”
- “My first conversation with Shields and stripes was just eye-opening to see that people actually cared about people like me, that we’re not just a number.”
- “Combining physical training and mental health is vital. This program is giving me hope that I can get my mind up to speed.”
- “It’s okay to think you’re a little messed up, because you can get better. it’s not the end.”
