Army Veteran returns to National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
U.S. Army Veteran Brian Wells suffered a head injury so severe that medics didn’t expect him to survive. For this soldier, starting the healing process would require him to redefine his life.
A life-changing injury
While Wells was deployed in 2005, a bullet penetrated his helmet, causing him significant skull damage and leaving shrapnel in his brain. He underwent extensive surgery and miraculously pulled through, serving for an additional 12 years.
“I got lucky; I could still talk,” he said. “I had to learn how to walk again. My left side and left hand are still damaged.”
Wells also underwent reconstructive eye surgery at the time of the injury, yet he later lost his sight for about two years. When he moved from New York to eastern Colorado in 2019, Wells believed the high altitude positively impacted him because 90% of his vision returned.
Reconnecting as an athlete
Today, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado, supports Wells in maintaining his health.
He wears hearing aids and lives with memory loss, yet his recovery has been a journey of determination and achievements in the face of adversity. He also rediscovered a hobby he enjoyed before his injury and started snowboarding again.
This year, Wells will join other athletes from across the country for the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, Colorado, April 1-7.
Impact of this national event
Every year since 1987, the Winter Sports Clinic draws Veteran athletes to Colorado. Each of these individuals has experienced traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, visual impairments, amputations or other severe disabilities.
The weeklong event gives Veterans a chance to overcome perceived limitations through adaptive skiing, sled hockey, scuba diving, rock climbing, education and other recreational activities.
The camaraderie and therapeutic nature of the clinic allow Veterans to experience freedom in a safe, supportive environment. It also enables Veterans to embrace their competitive side, explore their limits, connect and have fun.
“I love to ride with amputees and other people with injuries,” Wells said. “We have something in common. The Winter Sports Clinic is only for wounded Vets, so for me; it’s the perfect place for me. You meet great, lifelong friends.”
Wells, age 44, loves how the Winter Sports Clinic supports Veterans and creates opportunities for them to try new activities.
“There are so many cool events,” he said. “They teach you how to do the sports and provide the gear for you. It opens your eyes to what you can do, things you never thought possible. They make you feel like a champion.”
For Veterans who are interested in participating in future Winter Sports Clinic, contact your local VA recreational therapy team to learn more.
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April Love is a writer-editor on the VISN 19 Creative Task Force. She began working for VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in 2016 and lives in Aurora, Colorado.