Team Veteran Founder, Gordon Brown, had an amazing encounter with Guide Dogs of the Desert.
Veterans also experience blindness or visual impairment, thereby needing guide dog assistance.
Here is the video — http://youtu.be/HEomZ73xsTg — about the Soldier receiving his “eyes”. Thank you Bob Wendler, Sahika Riley, Paul Dagostino, Rowland, Valor and Anke.
Follow this story of a Veteran’s walk along a healing process.
One of the missions we are working on at Team Veteran. On Friday 1/3/14 we took a trip to Guide Dogs of the Desert located in Palm Springs, CA.
The Iraq Veteran that was being evaluated for a guide dog made a statement that really shook us to our core. He broke down many times during the four hour drive to the facility as he was describing his daily routine. He said when he wakes up in the morning and opens his eyes hoping to see the ceiling, he feels like he “just got slapped in the face” as he starts another day in darkness. Imagine starting your day that way…..as we discovered he was very nervous about this evaluation because what if he failed, he would have to rely solely on his cane or family forever.
I watched a Veteran take his first very timid steps as he held the handle of the harness attached to VALOR (a 2 year old black Lab) the guide dog. Within 10 minutes there was a “Cheshire Cat” GRIN on his face. He was so pleased and excited when he realized the dog stopped at every elevation change allowing the Veteran to then feel with his feet as to why the dog had stopped. His fear disappeared as fast as blowing out a candle and he became extremely excited about moving forward with a life filled with independence and mobility potential that a guide dog can provide.
What an incredible day, with a few well placed calls a separate trip to the facility to help set the process in motion. Three Veteran organizations; Team Veteran, Horse Rhythm and Guide Dogs of the Desert are working to help this Soldier regain his independence and security.
Now we can help a Veteran start the healing process so he won’t feel like every day starts with a “slap in the face”.Three Veteran Support organizations getting together to help a blind Soldier regain his “eyes” and his security. The Soldier is blind and also a PTS and TBI survivor. Today 1/19/14 we were at Horse Rhythm with Founder USAF Veteran Sahika Riley and one of her therapy horses Bella, Guide Dogs of the Desert Director of Canine Operations US Navy Veteran Bob Wendler with his Service dog in training Anke and Team Veteran founder US Navy Veteran Gordon Brown. The Soldier is involved with the equine therapy program at Horse Rhythm and has started the process of receiving his first Guide dog. The Soldier was very impressed with the fact that three different groups could get together and openly cooperate to support a Veteran. We were very blessed to be able to support this Hero Soldier.Notice Anke and Bella having their own meeting about how they will help this Soldier. Sahika and Bob are very dedicated to doing whatever they can to support their Brothers and Sisters, an absolute PLEASURE and Inspiration to work with them!! We at Team Veteran believe The First Cost of Freedom is Supporting Our Veterans!™Bob Wendler of Guide Dogs of the Desert with Anke, Gordon Brown [TVF] and Sahika Riley of Horse Rhythms with Bella
“Veteran Gets His Eyes!”
Click here to watch.
