Geoff Quevedo, a combat veteran who sustained life-altering injuries while serving in Afghanistan, shares his profound journey of resilience and recovery. After losing an arm and a leg while sweeping for mines, Geoff faced months of intensive medical care, during which he grappled with the challenges of his new reality. Today, he dedicates his life to volunteering, offering support and guidance to fellow soldiers who have also returned from the front lines. Through his story, we explore the critical importance of acceptance, community, and the relentless pursuit of purpose, even amidst adversity. Join us as we delve into Geoff's experiences and the invaluable lessons he imparts to inspire others on their paths to healing.

Takeaways:

• Geoff Quevedo shares his harrowing experience as a combat veteran who lost an arm and a leg while serving in Afghanistan.
• The journey of recovery from severe injuries involves not only physical rehabilitation but also immense emotional resilience and support from the community.
• Geoff emphasizes the importance of acceptance in the healing process, highlighting how acknowledging one's disability is crucial for moving forward.
• He advocates for a proactive approach to life after injury, encouraging others to pursue activities that challenge them and foster a sense of normalcy.
• The podcast illustrates the powerful role of community support in the recovery process and the necessity of sharing one's story with others who have similar experiences.
• Geoff's story serves as an inspiration, demonstrating how motivation and determination can lead to a fulfilling life beyond the challenges of disability.

Mentioned in this episode:

Show Promo 4

Show promo featuring past guest.

Show Promo 3

Show promo featuring past guest.

The following is a productions original series.

Hello and welcome to Rock and Roll Live.

I'm Doug Vincent along with Eddie Rich.

Our podcast is dedicated to amplifying the voices of the disability community.

I am a polio survivor and Addie has cerebral palsy.

Still, I. I have not found the magic here yet.

My.

My usual question.

How was your week?

Did you have a good week?

You were.

You were traveling and work stuff, right?

No.

Yeah, work stuff.

I'm traveling this coming week.

This coming week.

This coming week is the travel.

I took a day off and I regretted it instantaneous.

Okay, all right, I'm sorry.

Because you've got like, what, two or three trips planned in the next few weeks?

I know.

Keep them all in my scrambled mind.

I'm sorry.

Go ahead.

I'm a busy bee.

Yes, you are.

Yes, you are.

But looking forward to the upcoming week.

Last week was trying to get ready for this week because I'm going to be like a ghost in the wall.

You know, I got an amazing opportunity.

We've talked about my adapt erg at work.

I am so super blessed and super lucky to be sent to the disability and conference coming up in Dallas this coming week.

Awesome.

That means my focus for the week is not going to be, like my daily work.

It is going to be networking.

And I have a really cool opportunity to represent my parent company and all.

That stuff, which is sponsoring the event.

We are sponsoring a part of the event.

Yes.

We are helping to sponsor a caregiver roundtable.

And I get to extend, you know, accept an award that I can talk about after I accept the award, all those kind of things.

But I get to represent the disability community more than the work being next week.

All right.

All right.

But the work will wait for you.

That is a promise, ladies and gentlemen.

A promise.

It was good.

It was good.

You know, kind of a typical, typical week.

Went to dinner with the car guys and all that.

Went to one of my favorites.

And we, you know, we kind of have a few that we just kind of circle around, and one of them's a little Mexican restaurant called Green Onion.

Yeah.

Very, very good.

Yeah.

And it was nice because I ordered the.

The taco and burrito combo, and I just.

I just knew the burrito would be big.

So I just had that night.

I had the taco and the rice and beans and then saved the burrito for a couple days later so I didn't have to cook.

So that always works out well.

I mean, isn't that a rite of passage of aging?

Is that you learn to order food that will count as two meals.

I feel like that's always what I do.

If there's anything I'm worried about it only feeding me at that trip, I don't order it.

I order something that I'm like, this must either convert into dinner tonight and lunch tomorrow or dinner for two days.

You know, they figured it out at.

We used to go to a thing like once a month at Sizzler, a meeting.

And.

Oh yes.

And I'm looking at the menu and I noticed that they had the Malibu chicken on one part of the menu.

And it was like at the time, you know, 13.99 is probably almost twice that now.

But.

But then on another part of the menu they had these combo specials and it was the Malibu chicken and the unlimited salad bar.

Okay.

For 13.99.

And I'm like, I mean, part of me wanted to say, hey, do you know that?

But I'm like, nope.

I would keep that quiet.

So every time I go in, I would get that and I.

That night.

And you know, Scissor salad bar has, you know, you can make your own tacos.

You can do all that stuff on the salad bar.

Yeah.

So I would do the salad bar that one night, take the Malibu chicken and rice and bread and all that home and have that another night.

But yeah, yeah, so.

And I've turned into a cliche, like an old person.

You know, I go to bed by 8 o'.

Clock.

I, you know, I take it up.

Early, you know what?

Right along with you, 40 years early.

Because I swear mom has always said I'm an old soul.

I'm owning it with my bedtime, my eating habits.

Look at us, for crying out loud.

Also in all of that, I've been kind of working on the website like I have been a few last few weeks, but I, I created a new category, transportation.

So there's a lot of reasons, resources, resources in there for accessible traveling.

And, and next, I'm kind of adding to the, the assistive technology and trying to get some more things in there.

Amazing.

Yeah.

As the person who does not drive and who has been working on my upcoming travel stuff, accessible travel stuff is super important.

Important to like not creating so much stress.

I get more stressed about the travel and getting to and fro than the event itself.

So hopefully we can help people with that.

Yeah, that's, that's my feelings exactly.

And then also we get letters.

We get letters.

Oh, so so many letters.

And it's time to share them with you.

You know, we, we've gotten more letters more consistently lately.

I just haven't had time to get to them.

But I thought I'd share one with you today is from Maria.

I just wanted to let you know, Doug and Addie, how much I appreciate you sharing your live talk shows with me as I continue to learn about the journeys and experiences of the individuals with disabilities that share their stories on your show.

So I appreciate that, you know, kind of self serving there, but I love those comments.

But, you know, if you have anything that maybe it's a little more critical, we'll take that too.

We'll, you know, we'll do whatever we can.

Yeah.

Improve what we're doing here.

So let us know.

All right.

Thank you.

A big thank you to this week.

It was.

I used to write that down because my brain doesn't remember, but I can go look at the calendar very, very quickly.

You know, who was it?

Becky.

Becky Curran.

Exactly.

Exactly.

You know, listening back to it, you know, I've said this, I know, a couple times, but you know, just when we're in that moment, it's sometimes hard to really kind of capture all of what they're saying.

So when I go back and listen.

Yeah, she just made so many great points.

Was so articulate in sharing those points with us.

It was pretty amazing.

So thank you, Becky, for sharing with us.

And are you seeing her next week?

Yes, I was gonna say I will see her on Monday night or Tuesday.

So Becky.

And Becky is part of the round table that Sona park is helping to sponsor.

And so we get to hang out a little bit and I look forward to hugging her.

You know, for me, I always say I want to hug people through the screen.

So yeah, this one Becky knows she can't get away from me.

Very good, Very good.

And.

And then also I think that's it.

Okay.

Oh.

Coming up today, we've got Jeff Covedo.

He is a veteran of the Afghanistan war and he's one of those young men that came home with a disability.

And we'll, you know, hear his story.

We're honored to have him on to share that with us.

And we'll do that right after we come back from this word from AGYAR Professional Training.

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From the Ag Yar professional training Studios, you're listening to Walk and Roll Disability Stories.

Tuesday, new day, you blessed will last.

We've told a lot of stories.

There's been so many glories.

We've seen incredible changes, each with beautiful changes.

Dog.

Yeah.

Dog.

Yeah.

Attitude, attitude.

It's another Tuesday, and we're gonna do it.

Tell another disability story, a walk and Roll life story.

Everyone's listening.

Always very soothing.

Welcome back to Walk and Roll Live.

I am.

Doug Addy is here as well.

And this is where the rubber meets the road.

We bring the guest in and we get to know them for sure.

Two of us.

That's right.

We yap on.

So we're going to turn things over primarily to Jeffrey Cavado and let him tell his story.

So first, well, there's your name.

How about where you're from, basically, and.

And your disability?

Hi, my name is Jeffrey, Jeffrey Cabedo.

I'm from the Central Valley, right here in California, around Tulare County.

I was born and raised in Cutler, the town called Cutler, and then moved to a town in Fresno county rent.

Currently I'm a double amputee, left arm above elbow and a below knee.

I was a sims amputee at the beginning because it was just my.

My toes that got blown off.

But that's where they had to make the decision on where I needed.

I wanted to be cut.

They told me they're right there at the toes.

So initially, they're just trying to save your life.

Yes, yes.

I was in a medically induced coma for a week.

Yeah.

And I have shrapnel damage from my waist down.

I have my.

When the bomb went off, it blew.

It blew my face.

So that's how you see the facial scars have traumatic brain injury from that blast.

All right, well, let's.

Let's table that for a little bit.

We'll get into that, but we want to.

We want to know a little bit more about Jeff in the early years, you know, the days and your life in Cutler.

And then you moved to the big city in Reedley, the bigger city.

Right.

So what.

What were you like as a kid and what were your interests?

Honestly, as a kid, I was a pretty good kid.

We just again, grew up Mexican family, first generation American So you know, it's just work, work, work, work for what you have.

You know, nothing in life is free.

Yeah.

You know, so that, that kind of mentality philosophy.

I was, I was actually trying to be like a doctor, you know, or something like in medical because you know, sometimes when my mom would get her my brother or you know, little cuts stuff, I'd get my little first aid kid and you know, I always wanted to be a doctor apparently.

And, and somehow it shifted back when again my, I started growing interest in the army and then my brother in law ended up joining back in I think 03 because he did the first trade of Fallujah back in 04 05.

So that inspired me and motivated me to join the service.

You have memories of 9, 11?

I have.

The only memory that I really have is when it happened.

We were, I was in school, I was in, I was in elementary school.

And then I remember just the whole school got called to go outside and go do the pledge of allegiance and stuff and then we just did the pledge of allegiance and then eventually going home and.

Yeah, that's all you saw on TV is war, war, war.

And I didn't know what that was or you, it's just you think something you see on tv.

Yeah.

You know, your older brother responded and, and you know, every little kid seems to want to emulate their older brother or sister.

So he was, he was my brother in law.

Brother in law.

Gotcha.

Okay.

He was dating my sister and stuff at the time when they first started getting together and you know, he deployed or went to the army and now they're married.

Obviously.

My, my oldest nephew or their kid just graduated high school literally like last week or two weeks actually after I saw you.

Yeah, I went to their graduation.

So.

Yeah, that's why I've been busy.

Yeah, I met Jeff through a friend of mine and his son in law was in the service and he was at the same party, you know, celebrating the little boy's birthday and we got to talking.

Obviously, you know, like I say I'm always stalking somebody to come on the show.

So I see one leg and, and one arm.

I gotta, I gotta see what the story is.

So I'm glad.

Josh and I. Josh and I went to basic training together.

I don't know if we got that far, but we went to basic training together and we kept in touch throughout all these years.

So.

That's awesome.

So I think you were telling me that day that the, the dream kind of shifted from maybe being a doctor to you really Wanted to be in the military and follow that.

Yeah.

So when.

So yeah, it was, it was, it was literally when my, my brother in left, you know, I started seeing like the cool little like from basic training, the cheesy, you know, U.S. army logo on the top and he would write my sister.

And then when he deployed, like, she would send them care packages and stuff like that.

And then just, you know, I'm like, what, you know, what is it like to be a American soldier?

You know, like again, you know, growing up the way we did, you know, predominantly Mexican household thinking and all that, like, oh, you know, American, American, American soldier.

And I'm like, that's so cool, dude.

You know, I'm just like thinking like, that's something to look forward to, you.

Know, and kind of a romanticized version of it though, right?

Well, what do you mean?

Just, just, you know, you don't see all the bad stuff.

You see the cool stuff at first.

No.

Yeah, you don't see.

Yeah, absolutely.

Just again, just like all you heard was the words and what you saw on tv.

Yeah.

You know, and then.

Or like, or.

And then again what you're trying to command your parents or how they're putting it down towards you.

Yeah.

You know, don't worry about it.

It's nothing to you or whatever it was.

Yeah.

You know, and I'm like, all right, cool.

There's nothing to me.

And then of course you started understanding again when my brother in law came back too.

And you know, he came back, you know, he was a combat veteran too, a combat engineer, and came back with, you know, PTSD and stuff.

Couldn't talk about it.

Especially again, we were talking about Vietnam veterans and stuff on how like they could.

We could.

We can't talk about it.

It's just like, oh, the war did this to you.

Oh, he's just crazy.

Oh, he'll get, he'll get over it.

And if you don't want to, that's his decision.

That, that was his kind of predicament, you know, especially, you know, him also growing up Hispanic and you know, like, oh, get over it and tough it up.

And you know, you chose to do that.

That was your job.

And so, yeah, that was kind of getting to see that side of it, you know, when he came back and you know, him, my sister, you know, how they worked through all that and you know, I was right there too.

And yeah, you know, got to see that this is crazy.

And I'm like, yeah, I saw the before, during and the after, you know, the effects on my brother in law and you know, I'm like, you know, I still want to go, all right, like if he can do it, if he can do it, I can do it.

He's 42 and I'm 34.

Okay.

So I mean, it's like one generation.

He's two years older than my sister.

It's one generation.

So yeah, he's closer to my age.

Because I was a T. I taught middle school when, when September 11 happened.

It was my second week of teaching middle school ever and I had moved to Georgia with Teach for America.

All the phone lines were busy.

Similar to you, like go outside and do the pledge of allegiance.

My school had a bomb shelter underneath of it because of the old of it and because I'm in Atlanta.

We were very close to the cdc and at the time there was the worry that they were coming for the cdc, whoever they were.

Right.

Because what was happening.

So they made us take the kids to the bomb shelter.

Here I am, I'm 21.

I suddenly feel very 21 because all these kids are saying, what's happening, what's happening?

And all we're hearing from the office is take the kids to the shelter and you're gonna stay in there until somebody tells us to come out.

Suddenly I wasn't miss Rich in front of the classroom.

I literally was like, I want my mom and I'm cross country.

So it's interesting.

That's why I kind of wanted to understand the story because I was like your brother in law and I might have been similarly aged.

Like we were both putting these, you know.

You know, that that's both those stories, you know, kind of tell you.

Nobody knew what to do.

You know, we didn't know really what to do at the radio station.

The morning show was on when it happened, so they covered it really well.

And the rest of us just wanted to do something.

And we remember back then everybody gave blood and they don't even know why they were giving blood.

You know, what's that going to do for your own community?

But you just felt compelled to do something.

And I know we went to the blood bank, me and one of my other colleagues, and we went to the VFW and interviewed guys just.

I don't even know if we actually ever put them on the air.

We just wanted to feel like we were doing something.

So.

Yeah, I can imagine where, you know, you still wanted to do something.

Yeah, well, I wanted again, he, my brother in law pretty much gave me hope, you know, and again, you know, it's you know, as a kid, that's all you fantasize is having a good job, good career, you know, be a cop, you know, you know, make.

Get a big house, you know, all that kind of stuff.

And, you know, and I'm like, if he can do it, I can do it.

You know, he's Mexican, you know, he's a soccer player.

He's, you know, he's, you know, I'm like, I can do that too.

I'm a soccer player, you know, and I'm like, I can do that.

You know, I was working at my uncle's restaurant, you know, at a very young age.

So I'm like, you know, money and working was more physical labor, obviously, in the Hispanic culture is very big.

And, you know, obviously there you make money, you go to school, and that's what it was.

So I'm like, all right, well, you know, he did it, I did it, and he gave me the inspiration and the motivation.

I know you don't like hearing that these days or obviously, especially when I first got blown up, because, you know, again, your mentor, not really your mentor, but the guy you looked up to, you know, or you know, is the one reason why you got blown up.

And I'm like, no, that's not the reason why I got blown up.

Like, so, yeah.

And I tell him all the time, I'm like, you don't need to blame yourself, man.

Yeah, you don't need to blame yourself, man.

Like, you know, like, if anything, again, like, you motivated me and little, little me would be happy, would be proud of, like, the cool little gadgets and the toys and the places I've been and, you know, everything now, you know, and again, it takes a long time or a different perception to.

To make you, not make you.

But have you acknowledge that, you know, and because again, we're hard on ourselves, especially being disabled and all this and obviously the past, the bad divorce stuff, you know, it makes you think of things.

And you're like, no, I shouldn't feel bad for this.

And.

And I don't, you know, and takes me a while.

But yeah, I'm like, no, I don't feel bad for making my decisions.

And you know, and I tell my brother in law, you shouldn't either, again.

What did you do?

Nothing.

You just literally did your.

Your dream and your job and whatever you did.

And I'm like, and I'm like, you gave me hope.

And I said, you know what?

I'm gonna do it too.

Yeah.

Everybody has a path, right?

And it.

The Path is the path and how it unwinds is not.

There's no energy to be spent on blame because the energy is finite.

Right.

So the blame does nothing.

You're an independent entity and you made a choice because someone inspired you.

Is, does it totally suck that it turned out a different way than you thought it would?

Absolutely.

Is there a lot going forward?

Absolutely.

So I think it's.

Oh yeah.

In spend of energy.

Right.

So did you choose the army because your brother in law was in the army?

Yes, I did actually.

I like to, you know, especially being from the Central Valley, predominantly Mexicans or Hispanics, when they're like, oh, join the Marines dreams.

And I'm like, yeah, because you guys watch Blood In, Blood out, you know, and then you watch them go in the Marines.

I'm like.

And they're like, why'd you join the Army?

I'm like, oh, because my brother in law.

Yeah, that's really, that's really what I say.

Because obviously in the movie he, he goes to the Marines.

Right, right.

So you go down, you enlist and in boot camp and all that good stuff starts, huh?

Yeah.

Where I met, where I met Joshua Harrison.

I met him at boot camp.

I know him before.

And I, we get told as soon as we get to Fort Drum, New York, we're going to deploy in a month.

Did you feel like over that?

What now you're talking three to four months.

Grow up a lot in that time.

I was kind of telling Addie about this, you know, and the differences between upbringings and then what the military teaches people.

You know, I was taught, you know, work ethic, you know, discipline, respect, tough love, love, you know, all that, you know, growing up, you know, and you know, so going into the military is mainly like, all right, how do you incorporate that into the military now?

You know, being physically fit, you know, not complaining, not asking questions and like respecting your chain of command.

I'm like, oh, cool.

It's, it's easy.

And you know,.

Boundaries.

Yeah, yeah, it's home.

And I'm like, at the time, I'm like, cool, like push ups.

It's, you know, running and all that.

And you know, now you get to learn weapons.

Obviously we didn't grow up in my family.

We didn't grow up around weapons and guns and all that, you know, so.

Oh, dang, I don't know how to shoot and I Guess we're gonna figure it out.

You know, barely call, you know, Call of Duty, you know, the video games, that kind of stuff, but very different.

So, yeah, that's where I really learned.

That's really probably the only thing that really.

That the army really taught me was weapons and vehicles and all that.

Obviously just my shooting guns, like, twice before then, you know, before the army and, like, working on my 93 Honda.

Honda Accord was probably the only type of shooting and mechanics I ever did.

So, Joe, army, yeah, definitely taught me weapons and vehicles and, you know, and history, American history, you know, the flag and, you know, the wars and how it was fought, you know, how what happened.

You know, that kind of stuff, that different perspective on what schools actually teach you, you know, in history.

And obviously they don't want to teach you war history, but, you know, the little bits and pieces that they did, you know, where you finally put it together, it's like, oh, that's pretty cool.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Then you're deployed.

Where do you go?

We got deployed, so we fight.

We barely went to.

So getting there, obviously going to Germany, Fluent in Germany.

Waited.

Went to Kuwait, waited there, like, two days, and then went to Afghanistan, to Qahar Airfield.

And then from there we waited.

You know, we're getting brief, we're getting PowerPoints, we're getting, you know, mini trainings here and there, you know, on prepping us for what's to come on the next year.

Deployment that we're supposed to be there.

We're supposed to.

We're supposed to be there a whole year.

So they're just trying to, like, all right.

For, you know, that kind of stuff.

What area you're moving to?

The Argonaut Valley is the valley we ended up going to at first, and then, like, halfway through deployment, they ended up moving us to this place in Kandahar province called the Maiwan district.

So from there is where my guys finished the deployment.

Of course, when I got blown up, it was November 30th, so they said like four or five more months.

Yeah, like three or four months.

You had been there.

You started in April, so you had been there like six, seven months.

Well, I was a mind detector, so I used to find the IDS and caches and stuff.

I was appointment.

So I was the one leading.

Leading the formation.

Yeah, that's what I was going to ask.

How that kind of.

How did that looks?

So you're the guy that leads everybody else and what equipment behind you?

Equipment in front of me.

We're dismounted, so we're walking.

We're.

We're a light infantry unit.

In order to get a point A to point B in Afghanistan, since they're putting all the IEDs and the bombs and stuff, you know, you can't just casually walk and go to the village.

So I was the appointment with the.

With the Valen operator, with the Valen machine or the minehound machine that they both gave me.

Yeah.

To uncle.

Fancy metal, or not even fancy, but metal detection machines, you know, helping lift something, you know, and then you're just hoping.

And again you go off of your instinct and you go off of your little dummy courses that you had and eventually finding one, you find another one, then you find another one, and then, of course, keep getting better and better at it.

You know, you figure things out.

You start looking around you.

So you did this for seven months, successfully, and then what happened that day?

Do you feel like, do you remember that day, I guess, first of all, and then do you remember where things kind of went awry or just.

Is that lost?

I remember everything up until the point.

And then from there it was just everybody's stories.

Yeah.

Because, yeah, obviously whatever hit my face put me in a medical induced coma for a week.

Yeah.

So.

We're clearing out a compound we knew because for ID as an ID warehouse.

So a bunch of IEDs, a bunch of caches, that's where they would go.

And we were finding things left and right.

The days before that day, we were clearing for a couple of hours already.

I had one area.

My.

My partner had another area, and we're already done, and then we're all sitting down.

And then his squad leader is basically antagonizing him and like, you know, doing, like, pointing down the alleyway.

And like, you know, pretty much what was being said to him was, I bet.

I bet there's something down this alleyway.

Oh, I bet there's.

You know, we should check it out.

We should check it out.

And.

And then he's prepping his machine, and then his squad leader sits down.

And then I. I'm like, well, and I go over there and I look at him and I'm like, what are you doing while you're prepping your machine?

And he's like, I'm just gonna check this alleyway real quick so we don't got to do it tomorrow.

And I'm like, why go back and forth?

Of course things are said, you know, him being macho man.

I'm being macho man.

And I'm like, no, I'm not gonna let you go down alone, man.

What happens to you happens to me.

And then he's like, all right, let's go.

And then.

So we did.

Eventually we did.

And we get to the end of the alleyway, we get a hit on the machine, and my left arm was forward, my.

My left foot was for my legs, and he was uncovering whatever he got a hit on.

And then the IED went off.

But that part of it you remember that you had located something.

Yeah, we had found something, yeah.

Because I had.

In the middle of the alleyway, he found.

He got a hit, but it ended up being nothing.

So every time he would.

He got a hit, he would hand it to me.

So, yeah, when he was like, here, hold the machine when he got the hit at the end, because obviously the last thing you need is the machine to fall on the ied.

Yeah.

The times that, that we had the option to take our stuff off, like our, our mags or whatever, we would take them all.

I didn't set off an ied.

You know, accidentally falling, you know, dropping your phone will set off an ied.

So, yeah, imagine.

So that's why.

Yeah, I was carrying the machine when he was probing at it, and that's when the bomb went off.

Did you guys trigger it or was somebody viewing this from afar and triggered it?

I don't think.

Yeah, see that, that question has came up multiple times.

I just think it was definitely an IED that was put there.

They were using non metallic materials and stuff in the area too.

So, yeah, it was just.

They would leave it there and just like your batteries on your.

On your remote, you know, eventually the battery will die.

So, yeah, when they would put it, they would be like, oh, it'll last like a month or two.

And then, yeah, sometimes, yeah, we would find multiple IEDs that were.

Were active, but the battery was just dead.

And we're like, oh, dang.

So close.

Yeah, yeah.

And then that's when you're like, dang, the battery was just dead and like, oh, wow.

Like, yeah, eventually.

Yeah.

And so, yeah, we didn't know.

I couldn't tell you what it was.

Obviously my partner can't tell you what.

It was, but he perished.

He.

He lived for five and a half years and then he committed suicide.

He was a double leg, double leg amputee, above and below the knee.

The hand that he was using to probe got split in half.

But they were able to save it.

Unfortunately, he committed suicide five and a half years later.

Sorry to hear that.

Yeah, it's been.

It's been a road, and it's been tough.

And obviously, again, his, you know, again, he had a hard time dealing with his disabilities and people staring at him.

And, you know, his.

His partner at the time, too, wasn't helping.

And obviously he hated the.

Hated why people would ask.

He hated why.

Why.

Yeah, he hated why people would look, because obviously he wasn't done being a soldier.

Neither was I, but obviously he had a harder time dealing with it, and I always kept trying to talk him out of it, and he's always, you're too motivated for me.

You're too positive for me.

And.

And he's like, this sucks, man.

I'm like, yeah, it sucks, but at least you have me, you know, And.

But, yeah, it wasn't enough, but probably one of the obviously most extreme cases that we've ever talked about here, but this is why we talk about all the time on this show.

It's.

It's our mantra now is, you know, find your community.

You know, find people who have gone through this so that you can talk about it.

You can kind of get it out and know that, you know, even us, you know, Addie and I, we've grown up with this, and we've, you know, had the stairs since before we can even remember, and, you know, people asking questions.

Yeah.

Little kids, you know, they.

They have no filter.

They'll just, you know, oh, in the kids.

And.

Yeah, but you.

You know,.

We could get.

Go ahead.

We could get into that.

Well, I mean, if we're talking about the disabled community, we can get into that right now.

Well, I definitely.

I wanted to real quick, again, want to go through, you know, when you woke up and.

And how rehab was that kind of thing.

Okay.

Yeah, if we could.

Yeah, we'll come back to that part.

Yeah, we'll come back to the disabled community part, because.

Yeah, that'd be pretty good.

Yes.

That's probably the biggest reason when I woke up, Jeff, is because we want to hear about, you know, how you're doing today and what you're doing for the community.

Yes.

So go ahead.

Let me.

Woke up.

Yeah.

When I.

When I.

Apparently also trying to get up after the blast.

And then when I woke.

When I woke up and finally knew what was going on, that's what I was like, why am I in a blue room?

Why?

Where.

Why.

Why is there this and that?

Like, we're, you know, we're living out of our trucks, we're in dirt, we're in Afghanistan.

You Know, what are we doing in a room?

And that's when.

Yeah, you know, nurse walks in and drops.

Drops everything on me.

And that's where I'm like, that's where.

Yeah, you're very.

I'm very shocked as a 20, a recent 20 year old, you know, I'm.

Like, yeah, you're like, hold the phone.

This is like, what do you mean?

In the alleyway?

Yeah, yeah.

I'm like, what do you mean?

I'm like, I was jumping eight foot walls and a beast.

You know, I was, you know, doing this and how am I blown up?

And then it just, it was a trip, you know, realizing it.

And then, you know, first thing I'm asking for is my partner, my, my brother, my sister, my family.

I'm like, you know, I'm like.

And I'm like, there's no way he made it.

There's no.

I'm like, I was standing over him.

And then they're like, no, he made it.

He's alive.

And then since we were sarcastic, you know, again, we have a mantra.

We had a mantra and a saying.

Well, it was more the Rangers mantra in the saying, but we altered it because we like to piss off our commander.

It was rangers lead the way, all the way.

And the other guy said, or the other guy says, all the way.

So I'm like, do you see any rangers in front of us?

He's like, no.

And so we switched it and said, minehounds lead the way.

And we're all the way.

And just, we do that in front of the commander to piss him off.

And so I, I had my family and his family go ask him and the nurses like, hey, you know, tell him this and see what he says.

And so he would tell me or he, he would tell him the response all the way.

And I'm like, right, yeah.

And so eventually, he was my strength.

I remember that.

He was, he was my strength to finally get out of bed.

Because they didn't, they didn't let us see each other even be on the phone.

Like, I'm like, I want to know for real.

Like.

And they're like, no, until you're on your wheelchair transferring, then you can go see him.

I'm like, that's BS man.

I'm like, you guys, I'm like, I just want to see him and stuff.

And.

But that's what motivated me to.

I was on a feeding tube, a chest tube catheter, you know, the, the drain, the, the blood, the draining the drains from both your nubs.

So I Couldn't move at all.

My kneecap was broken too.

So I'm basically like this the whole time.

So when I was asking, they're like, you need to remove all these things little by little.

So you go see him.

So finally the chest tube came out, catheter came out, feeding tube came out after certain calories a day, you know, and that was my motivation right there.

Like, little simple goals.

That first goal was to go see them.

And that one was, I'm like, I don't care.

And getting out of my bed was tiring enough and getting in wheelchair was tiring enough.

I mean, you know, first time and you're just like, oh my God.

And so drugged up and.

Yeah, you know, at first listen, it's.

It seems like, man, they seem like they're, they're, you know, kind of heartless and, you know, but I think they know that that's the kind of thing that will motivate you, right?

Well, yes and no, but it was more of the heartless part, I would say, because even when I was asking for a mirror to see my face, like, I'm like, can I see my face?

And they're like, let's talk to mental health first, you know, before you're able.

Because of course, you know, that's what.

And I get it, I understand it, you know, that's when people freak out and start pulling things out and, you know, then.

Which, you know, again, it's understandable.

Yes.

Yeah, absolutely.

And anybody that's been there, done that, and seen a family member or a loved one will tell you that, like, you know, what makes you think that way?

You're crazy.

No.

And again, again, you're sexy, you know, you're, you know, the peak of your prime there, you know, jumping eight foot walls, you know, combat, you know, and yeah, talk about having your world like flip upside down, you know, now you can't even transfer out of your, out of your bed, you know.

Yeah.

What a shot.

Yeah, that was a pretty good, serious wake up call.

Yeah.

So, you know, once you come out of the coma and you know, then you're starting to kind of get your head wrapped around all of this.

Is there another aspect to the, to the recovery?

You know, they're, they're healing your wounds, but now they're obviously cognizant of your, you know, your mental health.

So there.

Support groups.

What did you go through.

At the beginning?

You're talking about the beginning, right?

Yeah.

The beginning of your recovery post.

Well, yeah, so we were still at Walter Reed, but That's the Maryland, obviously, where all this is happening.

And same thing with, like, the decisions of my toes, my amp, my science amputee.

My family was, you know, they had to consolidate my family.

And then my family was asking me like, geo, what do you think?

You know, and obviously they're like, he's a runner.

He's, you know, go, go below knee right away.

And I'm like, ah, you know, I thought at the time more was better.

And I'm like, no, I'm gonna try this out first and then I'll just cut it later.

And yeah, I gave it a good five years on the science amputee amputation and then eventually ended up being a bk.

But all that right there too, with the same thing with the damage to my mouth.

I couldn't eat nothing at the time, so it was just a feeding tube or it was just yogurts because of the hole in my mouth.

I had it since the last.

Put a hole in my mouth, put dentures, all this.

And yeah, I could.

I had to be very selective on what I ate, especially with the infections.

Everything's still open, so you don't want an infection in my mouth.

And.

And of course, every time I was trying to eat something, I was overly eating it because I was just excited to be eating something again.

And so that was pretty hard, you know, not eating stuff at the beginning, not being able to see a bunch of floaters that I had on both eyes.

My retinal rupture on my left eye, too, was.

Was.

Yeah.

And, you know, and again, you're sexy again.

You know, my brother.

My brother likes to say that, you know, the bomb.

The bomb fixed my face more handsome.

Yeah, you can count on a brother to say that.

Yeah, exactly.

That's a brother comment.

Yeah.

Oh, good.

Oh, yeah, that's an older brother comment right there for sure.

And.

But yeah, I mean, I was there for just two and a half weeks at Walter Reed and got transferred to Palo Alto va, where I. I got.

I started to get cleared for my poly trauma.

Since I took hit to the face of my traumatic brain injury.

And on top of everything else, of course, that's where they were putting all the combat guys in the polytraumic innocence.

Clearly, at the time, I didn't know polytrauma meant multi, multi, multi X injury.

Okay.

And that's where I got to understand that.

And then traumatic brain injuries.

And, you know, of course, you don't know what an amputee is until you see it on a movie, you know, growing up or whatever.

And, like, oh, you're not supposed to look at disabled people, you know, or whatever.

But, yeah, now here I am, you know, being one of them, and now I'm like, all right, well, now I'm an amputee.

Like, how is this gonna look?

And, you know, now I don't have a hand, you know, so every time I would move, why am I moving my arm?

You know, like, you know, but getting to be part of us.

Well, no, we'll go.

We'll get there later.

But part of challenge athletes and stuff, meeting other disabled people, like, seeing, you know, people that were born and pretty much raised in disability, you know, and how they try them better or different than, like, us that, like, kind of like your.

Your buddy that got shot or whatever, us that are get blown up, you know, we're.

We have all our limbs.

We're perfectly fine.

You know, we're.

We're all this stuff, and then it gets taken away from us, you know, and then there goes your arm and your leg.

You got to relearn everything that goes.

That hits your head.

And now you got to relearn the Alphabet and, you know, how many months there are in a year, you know, and who your parents are, and.

And that's where it's like, damn, this is crazy.

You got to relearn all this stuff again.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I've said it many, many, many times.

Is that, you know, I've grown up with it, so I don't know any different, you know, and so the.

The mental part is really the tough part, right?

I mean, even as extensive as your wounds, you know, you.

You tell me.

You know, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I'm sure the emotional part is a bit tougher than the physical part.

Well, we can get into that in a later part of it, but, yeah, it's still at the beginning because, yeah, obviously now it could be different, but, yeah, anything.

Next question.

Regarding the beginning.

Well, yeah, because I think we're almost there to, you know, to hear more about the work you're doing now.

I want to hear that, but I just.

I think we'll just finish up with, you know what, your rehab, when it started in earnest, you know, once you got out of the hospital, is that where you really started to learn how to navigate this new life?

So.

All right, now going.

So now going into the.

The San Jose Polytrauma.

Va. That's where I started, you know, doing occupational therapy, physical therapy.

That was, you know, now it's starting to, like, what's your amputated life gonna look like?

And, you know, the whole.

Now you're an amputation now.

Focus on, you know, now you're disabled.

You're not an able body person.

And it's like, no, no, no.

And then you're like, yes, yes, yes.

You know, you're trying to say no, but of course your body is reminding you yes.

Now you're taking medications.

Now you're taking blood thinners, you know, because I had 16 units of blood pushed through me to save my life, you know, blood transfusion.

And.

And so.

And then again, the therapist, you know, I think we talked about this, Doug, where that was where my first argument with somebody was.

It was my occupational.

Not going to say her name.

Physical therapist.

I'm going to say your name.

But, yeah,.

She was like, you know, again, I was barely starting to put pressure on my signs.

Amputation.

And I was like, it hurts.

It hurts.

You know, I'm crying every time that I.

Come on, try it.

And I'm like, believe me, I'm trying to.

And then I just couldn't, right?

And then I just.

There's a realization where I'm like, man, I may never walk again, you know, Man, I can't even put pressure on it, you know?

You know, the first time, actually finally stepping on it.

And then, you know, she's right there tapping my shoulder and say, it's okay.

It's okay.

Let it out.

You know, that whole stuff.

And then I'm like, all right, all right.

And then she's like, you know, I had a broken ankle once, you know, and, you know, I know what it's like not to.

Not to walk, you know, And I'm like.

And I just look at her.

I'm like, no, you don't.

Your ankle got better.

And I'm.

This isn't gonna grow back.

Yeah.

She said that?

Yeah.

Yeah.

And then.

And then I am, you know, in my little manual wheelchair, like, getting all mad, you know, just rolling away, and I'm like, you know, eventually I.

The next day, I apologize to her.

I'm like, look, I'm sorry I snapped at you.

I'm like, just.

I'm like, clearly, I'm in my moment.

I'm in my feels on it, hitting me finally, physically, you know, I'm finally trying to be optimistic, get up out of bed and stand up, you know?

Stand up, you know, and.

And I'm like, I can't.

And I'm like, so for you to say, you know, I had a broken ankle and so I'm like, yeah, you got better in six to eight weeks.

I'm like, hey, I still, mine still hasn't grown back.

That is an appropriate response though, Jeff.

That is, I mean, I, I didn't go what you went through.

You know, I, I was a year old and you know, I had crutches and braces since I was a year old and.

But I, when people say that to me and I've had people say my brother had a broken ankle once.

So I know what you, not even them, you know, your brother went through it, so you think you know what I'm going through.

It's like, come on.

So, yeah.

Appropriate.

Yeah, I know, I know.

I can, I can help you transfer.

I can help you transfer because of my brother.

Like, no, fool, you can.

No, this is personal.

Yeah, so you, you went through that and, and you know, and that's a long, hard fight that, that people don't see.

You know what I mean?

They kind of see the, the result of where you are now.

And you probably feel like you're still making progress, right?

I hope.

Well, yeah, you know, again, you never as you, as, you know.

Well, I mean, we're never really truly fulfilled, you know, especially with people, you know, people will stay where they're at.

But I feel like again, as long as there's a beat in my heart and breath in my lungs, I don't think I'm done yet.

And, and that's where again, the story becomes more motivating and.

Okay, well, going back to the, see, going back to the San Jose and the poly trauma from there.

From there I finally, I finally get transferred.

Now that they cleared me for tbi, traumatic brain injury and stuff, I get to finally start my actual recovery as Baboa Naval Medical Center, San Diego.

That's why I stay here in Temecula because, okay, I did all my recovery at Balboa Naval Medical center and that was pretty much the beginning of all my surgeries, therapy, actual therapies, prospects, minus all the surgery life saving surgeries that I had in Germany.

I don't know, the ones in Walter Reed were the amputation of my foot and you know, patching up my, my mouth, that kind of stuff.

Putting an actual like metal bracket in, in my mouth so it can help with the hole in my mouth.

That, that was only the minor or the surgeries that San Jose did and Walter Reed.

All my other surgeries were at Balboa Nava Medical center where I was getting basically surgery once or twice a month for pretty Good.

While I've probably had over 40 some surgeries now, a lot of them on my face, my face, my nose.

My nose was broken, too.

My jaw was broken, have a hole in my mouth, the scars on my face, my retinal rupture, my.

My shrapnel damage from my waist down, my broken kneecap, all that stuff.

So, yeah, that's where I did all my surgeries, basically right here at Balboa Naval Medical center, and then finally got out once the army was like, all right, we already did all your major surgeries and stuff.

It wasn't a decision of mine.

I wanted to stay in and still go back and deploy and, you know, do all the.

All that stuff again.

Even when me and my partner for.

Even when me and my partner first got blown up, we both said, like, nah, patch us up and send us back, like.

And even the nurses were like, yeah, that is.

They're like, you're crazy.

You're crazy, you guys.

I'm like, no, you don't know what they're going through right now.

I'm like, and their two best mind detectors are in this ICU room.

I'm like, no, send us back.

So when the army was like, you can't go back.

You gotta.

If you stay in, you got to do an office job and never deploy again, all that.

I'm like, nah.

You think if I wanted to do that, I would have done that at the beginning?

I'm like, n. I'm like, no.

I'm like, no.

I'm like, if I'm not going to do that, I'm like, sign my papers, take me out.

I'm like, I'm done.

Yeah.

Then that's.

Yeah.

So you get out of the military, but then you have to kind of find a way to find a life and.

And.

And find a path forward that doesn't just sink you into despair and the things.

And you find what.

So after I get out of the army, same thing, same.

Same questions were in my head.

I'm like, what am I going to do now?

You know?

And so I started volunteering right there in San Diego still, because I still stayed close because I still had surgeries and stuff lined up after I got out.

So I still stayed there because I was still doing therapies, volunteered for kids stuff right there in San Diego for soccer and then for karate or just go and help out, whatever they needed me to.

And then I ended up meeting somebody that worked at SeaWorld part time.

And they're like, oh, you should apply.

You know, seasonal's coming up.

Because I'm like, all right, what else am I good at besides being a soldier?

And since I've been working at the restaurants, really young kids.

So I was like, restaurant, you know, So I worked at a restaurant right there.

It was called Cafe 64, I think, at SeaWorld.

So I worked there in the kitchen in the front and the line, cashier.

And then as a bartender, you got paid another $25 more when you do those shifts.

So I'm like, put me as a bartender.

So you're like, I did.

I'm doing.

Yeah.

Then to me.

Then to me, I'm like, you know, I'm like, I'm already retired and stuff.

So, like, you know, it's funny, you know, going to the workforce and, you know, you get those.

Those managers and stuff.

And like, oh, you need to go to work.

Oh, you need.

I'm like, dude, I'm like, you need to be out?

Or, like, you want to stay extra hours or half an hour or an hour?

I'm like, no, give it to the other kid going to school or whatever, you know, And I'm like, I'm just coming here for extra party beer money.

Like, you know, like, time.

Yeah.

To get out of the house.

Give it to the college kid that's 21 also and, you know, trying to pay for their college tuition, like.

And that's when they're like, oh, you think you're better than us?

I'm like, no, it's just.

I don't need the money.

Give it to.

You're like, I'm sharing the wealth.

Yeah.

I'm like.

I'm like, yeah.

I'm like, it's.

I'm like, It's SeaWorld, man.

I'm like, really Relax.

Like, calm down.

But, yeah, I was just happy.

I was just happy to be there and working.

And then, yeah, just.

It was funny, too, because sometimes when the other managers would come in, I remember at first it was like, hey, you need to get your arm out of your shirt.

And I'm like, I would if I had it.

Yeah.

And, you know, like, yo, yo, you.

Need to get a clue.

Yeah, here come all the.

All the jokes, you know?

And it was funny.

Like, this cut her hand by accident because she tried to reach for a knife that was falling, and I was next to her, and I'm like, all right, cool.

She cut her hand, whatever.

And I started doing it and then started cutting the cake and she left and.

And the manager came.

She's like, hey, you can't do it since you don't have.

Since you're non cutting hand, you wear the, the metal glove or whatever in the kitchen.

So you don't cut your.

You don't cut your hand.

Yeah, it was.

It's a metal glove that they put on, so if the knife gets it, it just slips.

And so she was like, oh, well, since you can't.

Since you don't have a metal glove on your hand, you can't cut the cake.

And I'm like, well, it's not like I can cut my hand anyways.

Yeah.

And so right there, very hard.

Yeah.

And that's where again, the whole people.

Where people are under no.

Don't understand or know how to address disabilities first came in.

Of course, my one, the kitchen manager that was a Navy vet was like, bro, like, come to the back.

It's all right, I got you.

And he's like, you know, you can sue her and stuff like that.

I'm like, no, I'm like, for what?

I'm like, for, you know, I'm like, you don't know.

Yeah, she don't know any better.

That's just ignorance, you know.

And then I'm like, it's all right.

Like teaching moments.

See, that's where again, like with all this to say disabled stuff, you know, I want to have teaching moments because again, they don't know this stuff.

And see, like, oh, because you're not wearing a wired glove.

I'm like, well, clearly it's meant to not cut your hand.

Like, and I don't have a hand to cut, so I don't know.

So when it was funny because.

And I have a picture of this somewhere.

I'll find it.

But when I was in the kitchen cutting strawberries, you know, again, you're supposed to have a cutting glove when you're cutting something, you know, ppe, whatever.

So I'm there I am putting the wire glove on my knob.

Oh, my nose.

And everybody there was like, no, you didn't.

And I'm like, well, I have the wire.

I have to wear it.

That's the right.

But.

But see that, that proves your resiliency, has lived through your traumas and your tragedies and your.

Whatever we want to call it, your challenges.

I don't.

Well, humor again.

Humor, sarcasm, dark humor again, that's all the stuff I was raised into and then the army and then Afghanistan.

I'm like, dude, if it's gonna suck, hey, you better have some good jokes and some good music.

No, a hundred percent.

Right.

But I feel like those of us that exist in this rank, we're also whether when you're born with it, you just come out of smart ass.

We just don't know how to turn it on until we're older.

But if you like, you get handed a smart ass card and that's how you know, you stay alive or you stay resilient or that, whatever.

I always feel like, I feel like that's why I enjoy the company of others who have been through a lot of stuff because we all are dark and have a good sense of humor about things because it's just not that.

I think the same.

The exact same way.

Yeah, the exact same way.

Say, this is, this is SeaWorld, people.

I have literally been sur world country.

Can we please.

Well, what's fun, what was funny is that again, when I get confronted by people too, you know, again, yes, this is me being bi.

Very biased.

You know, I was cashier, I was cashier.

And clearly it's the summertime, the lines out the door, you know, this lady, older lady, you know, mid-40s, maybe 50s, you know, comes in looking nice, obviously San Diego, you know, everybody's, yeah, looking nice, whatever, coming in and she comes straight to the cash register and she's like, hey, is there a line for disabled, for disabled people?

And I'm like, oh, no, there isn't.

You know, the walkway, the, the waiting line is wide enough for wheelchairs, whatever, you know, you got to give them that disclaimer, no.

So whatever, blah, blah.

And then she's like, oh, well, I'm disabled.

That's why, you know, and I can't stand for long.

And so beat her.

And then again, she's wearing the most uncomfortable shoes.

So of course there I go outside, I'm like, you know what?

And then I teachable moment.

And so I go around, I go around the, I go around the desk and I pick up my pants.

I pick up my pants and I'm like, ma', am, I'm missing my leg too.

And I'm like, and you're, you're coming to SeaWorld in the summertime.

This is what I told you.

Coming to SeaWorld in the summertime.

So you know, there's going to be lots of lines.

Your shoes are already very uncomfortable.

I'm like, I'm sure it's already 2 o' clock in the Afternoon.

You've been walking this whole time since you've been here.

And I'm like, so please, if, if your feet hurt so much, there's a, you can, you can rent a wheelchair or you can go sit down and have your family members come and bring.

I'm like, cuz it's not fair to the other 70 people waiting in front of you in line for you just to get ahead of it for, for no reason, right?

How did she take that?

And then see when, and see when I said that, when I said that I saw her 30 minutes later coming down the same line, there she was.

And she's like, I'm sorry for that.

And I'm like I get it, I get it when you need it and when it happens.

And believe me, I, I, I'm for it too.

Especially having one hand, you know, I need help too.

And, and whenever I'm in my wheelchair too and my nub's busted like.

But again, unfortunately we have to sit in line, you know, and we have to be there too.

And how hungry are you?

All right.

The community wants, or we have our own.

The community wants equality.

There you have it.

You get to stand in line too.

So.

Yeah.

When did you, you know, find then?

It sounds like you're, you're kind of getting close to it here.

You're found where you can volunteer and kind of give back.

So it was so SeaWorld basically what?

Well, well while doing that, getting out of the army.

So it was basically taking one step, going to the other, going the other, going to the other.

And basically that's literally how I ended up where I'm at today.

And even then I'm not nowhere.

I like to say I'm the great value motivational speaker, you know, the knockoff brand.

But when I got donated my house, you know, Homes for Our Troops donated my house to here in Temecula.

And it was to me at the time, you know, now I'm moving from San Diego to Temecula.

I'm like, what do I do?

You know, I want to stay close to medical care and I'll go back to Fresno, stay here an hour away from all the medical care I've ever received.

So I'm like, okay, get my house.

And then that's when One day Homes for Our Troops brings up that they're starting a running team.

They want to start a running team.

Team, Homes for Our Troops.

And that's, that's when Disneyland had the, the races and stuff, the part of them.

And one day, one day too I was.

I was going.

Going to the local store right here, the 7 11, and I'm like, buying my, you know, my little 12 packs.

And then I see these two ladies in front of me wearing Temecula adult soccer league, and I'm like, you know what?

I'm like, hey, is it okay if I try it out if I play?

You know?

And they're like, yeah, come on Tuesday, and we'll see, you know, where we can put you and whatever.

I'm like, cool.

So that was.

Soccer was the first thing that I really got into again.

And I'm like, all right.

So I showed up not knowing what to expect, buy my cleat, all this.

And I'm like.

They're like, hey.

And of course, the only disabled person amputee around everybody that's able body, you know, all the.

If my knee wouldn't have hurt in high school, I would have made pro, you know, both guys and girls, you know, the 40 year olds that didn't make it.

This 30 year old.

Yeah, all them are all there, you know, and, and.

And there I am.

I'm like, hey, man, I'm just here for a hobby.

I'm here for a good time.

I'm like, I just want to run and play.

I'm like, I don't want special treatment.

I want you guys to.

To treat me like a normal soccer player, you know?

And I'm like, let's see what I got.

I'm like, I don't know.

I haven't really played competitively.

When I did try in San Diego, I only played one game, and then I had surgery, and then I was out for a month, and then I tried to play again, and I was out again because I had another surgery.

So that's why I stopped.

And then I'm like, all right, let me try to play it again.

And so here in Temecula, I started playing soccer, and I played it for a good two years, two and a half years at the Temecula adult soccer League.

And at the same time, I was getting traction on, oh, now you're playing soccer.

Like, hey, you want to start?

You want to run?

And I'm like, sure, put me down for a half marathon.

And they're like, you know, half marathon's 13 miles.

And I'm like, yeah, I can do it.

And they're like, you haven't even ran or trained or not.

I'm like, all right, just sign me up.

I'm pretty sure I'll do it.

And these other two amputees that signed up with me to do it, dropped out the.

The two days before.

And they went to the 10K because they're like, hey, man, that's too much.

That's too much for us.

And I'm like, you know what?

I'm gonna do it anyways.

Like, let's just see.

And sure enough.

Sure enough, I did a half marathon.

I did 2 hours and 42 minutes with no training, no nothing.

Just literally just showing up, waking up,.

Balls to the walls.

That's the training that it was.

Yep.

And I.

And I just ran and I just ran and everybody.

I surprised everybody there because even my problem prosthetist, like, you haven't ran and you're running 13 miles.

Like, I'm like, yeah, that's.

That would be my biggest concern.

I know my, My will, my.

Your leg couldn't handle it.

But.

But that.

That was okay?

Oh, yeah.

See, at the time, I was already.

I was already four years as an amputee, you know, So I was like, oh, yeah, I got this.

And then I leg all the time, every day, all day.

You know, I'm walking all the time.

So I'm like, oh, yeah, I got this.

And it was literally, call it dumb luck or cocky arrogance again, the stuff that's kept me alive and going throughout these years, but it was.

It was positivity.

It was more like, no, I got this.

I can do this.

So same thing with my recovery and everything else.

Everybody, I'm sorry, just.

You alluded to it, but.

So now you do motivational speaking, go to Advanced.

You do peer support as well?

Well, kind of.

Oh, yeah.

That's where.

So the running part, Running in soccer was what gained pretty much traction.

And then that's when Homes for Our Troops did a video of me too.

If you Google, if you YouTube me, I think I told you that you see a couple videos of me with Homes for Our Troops Independence Fund.

And then obviously Urban Valor when he came out on the.

The latest podcast.

And it was, it was mainly all that.

And when I got offered an off road wheelchair, that was when they're like, hey, you want to get presented off road wheelchair on Fox Friends and Family.

Friends and Family or whatever.

And they didn't need to coach me or, or nothing.

They're like, we liked how you responded.

We like how you are with the media.

How would you like to be a motivational speaker?

We have one more slot we'll be having training here coming up in North Carolina soon.

I'M like, wow.

For real?

Like, I was tripping.

I was like, for real, me?

And they're like, yeah, we think you can handle it.

Like, you're very genuine.

You're very direct.

You can say it on a fly.

Once they get you comfortable enough, I'm like, all right.

And so for a whole week after that, I went to North Carolina to get briefed, I guess, on motivational speaking.

And then after that, yeah, it was just like, hey, do you want to do this?

And again, like I told Addy, I'm like, and I told you, too, though, when I first met you.

It's talking is not the problem.

It's getting me to shut up, you know?

And that's where they're like, all right.

Like, yeah.

And then they're like, hey, do you want to do this?

You want to do that?

I'm like, yeah, sure.

Hey, do you want to run?

Do you want to run a run a 5k?

And mind you, I don't train and run, and I just.

I don't lick an almond for my diet or nothing.

I just show up and run just because the thrill and the adrenaline of running is what gets me going.

Yeah.

You know, that's my thing, is running.

Running and.

And being able to do it and see again.

I.

My partner's not here.

The fallen brothers.

And now you know that I've been part of Challenge Athletes foundation, too.

You know, the people that can't walk and run.

You know, like, I could do it because I can.

You know, people take that for granted.

And how I got involved with Chees foundation, it was same thing with my.

My prosthetist.

He's very close to Challenge Athletes Foundation.

Nico Peter Harsh Prosthetics here in San Diego.

He was the one that was like, hey, you want to try to do a run with us?

I'm like, sure.

And so I did a half marathon for the Ironman.

Again, not knowing what to expect.

They're like, we're going to do a triathlon.

Whatever.

Like, you don't have to swim or bike.

The other guys will do that.

And just got to be ready to run.

And I'm like, okay.

You know, thinking it's like Disney or whatever.

And they're like, I'm like, waking up the morning of Iron Man.

I'm like, okay, maybe I should have done more research, because I'm like, right?

I'm like, this is huge.

All right.

This is huge.

A big event, all this.

I'm like, where do I go?

Where do I start?

And they're like, oh, you just wait.

I'm like, what?

And they're like, yeah, usually one person doing this, but since we're, they let us do a triathlon.

And I'm like, oh, that's cool.

And so when I did that, I'm like putting on my headphone, like I'm laying down, not even stretching, training, drinking water, nothing.

So they're like, aren't you going to be training?

Or I'm like, no, I'm like, I'll get up once they're like 40 minutes out, I'll start stretching and stuff.

And so I'm putting on my headphones and they're like, I hope you take those off before you start.

And I'm like, why?

And they're like, oh, if you, if you use your headphones in your run, it'll disqualify your whole team because Iron man don't let you use headphones.

And I'm like, so I'm gonna do a half marathon with no music.

And they're like, yeah.

And I'm like, oh.

And so, yeah, there was my first time doing a half marathon with no mute, no headphones, no nothing.

So there I am running, running it.

And I actually PR'd that one.

So I now instead of 249, I did 242, 2 hours and 42 minutes.

And.

And so from there they're like, oh, you want to come back again?

And so I.

And they're like, oh, how about you?

That's when the next year after that or after that?

Iron Man, Obviously that July is what when I started going and stuff.

So when I did it, when they got to me of doing the weekend for the challenge athletes in San Diego to help with the run clinic, when they're having a weekend thing, challenge athletes, they're like, hey, it'll help you.

It'll benefit you.

Getting out of the house.

What.

What better way than to run and, you know, help other disabled people run?

And I'm like, yeah, sure.

So there I go, you know, I'm over there getting ready, not knowing what to expect, you know, there I am on, you know, no sleep, you know, on a two day party bender, three day party bender, you know, and there I am, like going to the morning of.

And then I'm like, you see these little kids with their little prosthetics, you know, result, five years old, you know, are you gonna teach me how to run?

And I'm like, I'm like, hell yeah, buddy, I'll teach you how to run.

Yeah, I'm like, yeah, I'll show you how to run.

Like, yeah.

And, you know, you get to see different people's different stages of the running, you know, being amputees and stuff.

And they're not amputees, just people with.

With spinal injuries or whatever.

Whatever their injury is.

You know, you get to see the differences in it.

Especially me being a below knee.

You know, you see the other below knees that don't have the prosthetics that I have or the.

The piece that I've had or whatever.

And you see, how did you do, man?

I'm like, I'm like, hey, man.

Like, I just didn't quit, didn't give up.

And, you know, I perfected everything that I try to do in the mirror.

You know, every time I went to therapy, I applied myself, you know, I listened, I did all this.

And I'm like, you'll get there too, you know, and then you get to see your younger self through these people, you know, crying and, you know, their families are right there.

Is everything going to be okay?

And again, like, oh, no, my son's not disabled or my daughter's not disabled, but it's like, yes, they are.

And yes, you.

They're around, you know, and you see the relief in the families crying and all that.

And especially me speaking Spanish also.

You know, they're like, yeah, they don't have people around there that were speaking Spanish to them, so they were more uncomfortable, like, oh, yes.

Or whatever.

And so when they're like, hey, can you help them?

And I'm like, yeah.

I'm like.

And so I would ask him like, hey, it's okay.

You know, you can ask them whatever you want.

I'm like, or ask me.

I'll ask them.

And they're like, oh, my God, thank you.

It's just, you know, we.

We feel bad.

And obviously that's what.

Clearly just speaking for me in the Hispanic culture, too, like, a lot of us don't want to be.

Don't want to cause more waves or be an inconvenience or, you know, or we don't know, or the unknown, you know, like, to stay in our lane.

But I'm like, no.

I'm like, this is Challenge Athletes Foundation.

This is literally where you need to ask these.

Yeah.

Questions.

Where you need to like, is my son gonna be all right?

Yeah, you get to see a dude like me and other double leg dudes that have been in this have been doing it or an actually Paralympics or actually doing track and field.

And then I'm like, see they were right here too.

You know, the first four months, five months, like, I was there.

I'm like.

And I tell them too.

I'm like, yeah, it sucked.

I'm like, but that he's gonna need you, she's gonna need you, your support.

And if you're not gonna be there, then I'm like, don't sugarcoat it.

I'm like, don't.

And that's when they're like, damn.

And I'm like.

And that's where you realize you're talking to them through them, you know, like, damn, how do you know what I've been telling them?

And I'm like, you know, it's just.

That's usually the go to for a lot of people.

A lot of people, families that have dealt with people with disabilities, like, they choose to ignore it.

They choose to minimalize it.

They choose to like, oh, no.

Yeah.