The Virginia Pilot reports about wounded warriors who find the healing effects of parachuting, thanks to the efforts of another wounded warrior, Jason Redman (Word.doc) who owns “Wounded Wear” a nonprofit clothing company;
Some came from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Portsmouth Naval Medical Center; others were from local military bases. A few have jumped before and returned for another dose.
“It’s peaceful,” said Brian Doyne, a former Army explosive disposal technician who lost his left arm and left eye in a 2005 explosion in Iraq. “It’s my Zen time.”
Now working for a defense contractor and living in Fredericksburg, the 32-year-old Doyne was preparing to make his 28th jump on Sunday. A licensed sky diver, he didn’t have to jump tandem, harnessed to an instructor in a parachute built for two.
“It’s the only time I’m not in pain,” he said of sky diving. “It’s the only time my body doesn’t hurt.”
Posts like this make me really proud of my fellow Americans for taking care of our wounded warriors.
Airborne!
Sometimes just getting OUT of the hospital can do wonders
Very timely post since tomorrow is National Airborne Day!
Wow, that made me cry. I’m a leg, but kudos…and AIRBORNE to them. That was really awesome…
I wonder what it would take to get something like that here in Los Angeles. I believe there is an org here that does surfing for severely wounded veterans and I think it’s great but having some more options would be good thing. I can see how the adventure is empowering and therapeutic for these guys.