Yoga instructor, entrepreneur shares road to recovery after traumatic injury and PTSD KTLV News by Genevieve Grippo April 14th 2018
"You go from hero to zero," said Aversa. "It's devastating."
CENTRAL POINT — The goat yoga craze hit the Rogue Valley on Saturday, but the four-legged guests weren't the only special thing about the session.
The session's instructor, Drew Aversa, is no ordinary yoga teacher. He comes from a background of inspirational recovery after suffering from a traumatic injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
"So many people are going through that today, and I wish they could just find yoga and get rid of ego, get rid of whatever stigma they have attached to this 3,000 year old practice that has continuously healed people," said Aversa.
The SOU grad started his working career as a firefighter in California, but a traumatic injury left him confined to a wheelchair.
"Yoga allows the mind and body to connect. It allows people to come together, it allows that pause in our day-to-day life to just be," he said. read more here
Retired Orange County firefighter walks across state for fallen brothers Click Orlando By Amanda Castro - Reporter/Anchor Posted: 12:18 PM, April 14, 2018
Tom "Bull" Hill raising awareness for cancer-related death benefits
MELBOURNE, Fla. - A retired Orange County firefighter is carrying the burden of his fallen brothers while walking hundreds of miles across the state to raise awareness for cancer-related death benefits.
Tom "Bull" Hill started his 700-mile journey in the Keys March 20. The 58-year-old has walked up the state and made his way to Melbourne Fire Station 74 Friday night.
On Saturday, he continued his journey up the Space Coast.
"It's an honor to carry these guys. That's the truth," Hill said.
Hill called it an honor and a burden as he stood over a table covered with photos of fallen firefighters and members of law enforcement. On the table were three large backpacks filled with more than 500 badges, shields and names of first responders who passed away.
The retired Orange County firefighter said he's keeping a promise and walking in memory of two fellow brothers who died from work-related cancer. read more here
A decorated colonel is set to be the first black woman to serve as a Marine Corps general Task and Purpose Jeff Schogol
Col. Lorna Mahlock was nominated on Tuesday to be the first female black general in the Marines.
Mahlock, 49, has served in the prestigious post of deputy director of plans, policies and operations since July 2017.
Her next assignment will be announced later if she is confirmed by the Senate, according to the Marine Corps.
In a history-making move, Col. Lorna Mahlock has been nominated to become the Marine Corps' first female African-American general officer.
Mahlock, 49, has served in the prestigious post of deputy director of plans, policies and operations since July 2017. Her next assignment will be announced later if she is confirmed by the Senate, according to the Marine Corps. She was nominated on April 10 to get her first star. read more here
Misdiagnosed veteran contends military medical records are missing WFLA 8 News Steve Andrews April 13, 2018
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. (WFLA) - From his bed at Florida Hospital North Pinellas in Tarpon Springs, Navy veteran Lonnie Kilpatrick has a message for the new secretary of the VA about spending money the right way.
"It's more important to take care of your veterans than it is to get approval for a bridge to nowhere," Lonnie said.
Arthritis the VA treated in Lonnie's back during the last four years turned out to be kidney cancer.
"Stage four, nothing they can do for me," explained Lonnie. "Make me comfortable, you know, maybe give me some drugs that will make me live a little longer."
This week, another blow.
The VA turned down his claim for Agent Orange disability benefits. read more here
Fight to take your life back PTSD Patrol Kathie Costos April 14, 2018 (editors note: filming escort of the Vietnam Memorial Wall tomorrow, so putting these up today instead of tomorrow. It is still the Sunday Morning Empowerment Zone, but just a day early. If that bothers you, watch these tomorrow.) The road sign is "Hope Road" and nearby they are working on the roads around it, clearly marked by "Construction Entrance." Would be nice if all of us saw the signs like that.
Finding a way to hope is always a process of constructing the way to get there. Feed positive thoughts into it and you'll get there a lot faster. You need help to kick the crap out of you so there is room for good stuff to get in.
My buddy Jonnie has been going to the American Combat Club in Downtown Orlando. His VA therapist recommended them because they are giving three months of free classes to veterans battling to heal. Besides, he enjoys the fact he can punch stuff without getting into trouble. read more here From PTSD Patrol Think of your brain like the engine of your car. Your Mechanic explains how your engine can get clogged.
"Fuel injectors deliver fuel into the cylinder for combustion. Clogged fuel injectors can be caused by debris or impurities in the fuel. Fuel injectors are responsible for getting fuel into the engine. ... The fuel is then ignited and the engine keeps on moving."
All the negative thoughts you put into the thing that drives you stops it from moving in the right direction. It doesn't matter how strong your body is if you don't have fuel to power it. It doesn't matter how smart you are if you're stupid enough to let the impurities invade your brain. Doubt, fear, anger, paranoia, hatred of others and hating what you believe you turned into, leave little room for all the good stuff to get in. You stay stuck. If it goes on too long, then you end up with a broken engine that could have been powering healing. When social media decided that talking about veterans committing suicide was a hot topic, they managed to add all the bad outcomes and none of the good. It is like using the wrong grade of gas to power your ride.
