Local Purple Heart recipient shares important message about suicide
KKTV 11 News
By Dianne Derby
Dec 28, 2018
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) - A local veteran's message about suicide is now spreading around the world.
11 News viewers have shared Kenny Bower's story over and over again on social media. The three-time Purple Heart recipient and former Army Ranger has been through more than 600 combat missions overseas. On one mission he was blown up and left paralyzed. He even flatlined for 97 seconds. More than 150 surgeries later he's proving no obstacle is too big to overcome.
One of the first things you notice about Kenny Bower is his unstoppable smile and positivity.
"If you can accept that life isn't easy and it's hard, you can overcome anything. You can make it easy with a good mindset," Bower explained.
Behind Bower's bright smile is a man who once considered ending it all. Fourteen years ago his vehicle was blown up during a deployment to Iraq. Nine soldiers died, two survived. Kenny was left burned and paralyzed.
"I was told I would never walk again. I would be lucky to even get feeling back," Bower recalled.
Kenny credits a firefighter who stayed by his bedside, helping him to push forward.
read more here
I needed this. I woke up in a very depressed mood. I had been on vacation and unplugged so that I could spend time with my family in New England. I didn't know what was going on, and to tell the truth, I did not want to know.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very draining thing most of the time, especially when it seems that nothing changes for our veterans. I often wonder why I still try to change the outcome when there is not much support for the work I do. Then, stories like this reenforce the fact that veterans like Kenny Bowers are out there doing whatever they can to help others heal, and that is exactly why I get up in the morning. This is what all of them want to do and that, that is priceless. Want to be inspired? Watch the video especially if you need to find hope again. It gave it back to me!