Therapy without Walls: TBI Winter Sports Camp

Whether participants are standing, sitting, skiing, or boarding, everyone is there with the same thing in mind: to enjoy a great day on the mountain. “You are no different than anyone else on the mountain. That’s what I like the best,” says Mike Bradley, 26. Bradley is one of four newly injured soldiers from the Tampa, FL, Veterans Hospital who has a traumatic brain injury (TBI), serious brain damage that was caused by a roadside bomb that repeatedly “rattled” his brain. The four are participating in Challenge Aspen’s first winter sports camp for TBI and Polytrauma (TBI plus additional injuries) Veterans.

The People
The four guys are sitting around talking about their day on the slopes and swapping military stories. It’s hard to believe that these guys met only a few days ago. After I remark about how they seem to be old fraternity brothers, Bradley bursts out, “We are. There is such a sense of camaraderie. Just knowing that the other person has gone through what you went through brings a type of brotherhood.”  Bradley served as a medic during the war before suffering his TBI.

“It’s frustrating going from being a medic and looking after others to others having to look after you.” The discussion moves to coping with the difficulties and frustrations associated with TBI and being the “walking wounded.” Since people are unable to actually see the disability, Bradley says that people tend to lose patience when he stumbles over words or forgets a meeting, but “participating in a program like Challenge Aspen makes me realize all that I’m able to do.”

Rashad Johnson is a below-the-knee amputee. He is snowboarding for the first time and loves it. A teenager came up to him on the slopes while Johnson was adjusting his prosthetic. As he started asking questions, the young man seemed in awe of what Johnson was able to do. “I like that I’m able to break the stereotypes. I like going beyond people’s expectations. My instructors have helped me do that.”

About Challenge Aspen
Located in Snowmass, CO, Challenge Aspen’s mission is to give each person a life-changing recreational adventure, challenging that person to carry the courage and new skill into other areas of their lives. Anyone can participate. “Our goal is to introduce new winter activities so they can develop a lifelong love of outdoor sports through this unique experience,” says Sarah Volf, Challenge Aspen’s REC program director. Challenge Aspen offers year-round specialized and unique programs to people with various disabilities, and scholarships are available.

Therapy without the walls
After months of treatment and rehabilitation, the soldiers’ skills are put to the test, and they probably don’t even realize it. A large component of recreation therapy is facilitating carry-over from therapy to the community—taking what you have learned in therapy and applying it to the real world. A trip like this is “problem solving at its finest,” says Jeanene Griffin, a recreation therapist at the Tampa VA. “They had to problem-solve traveling, barriers, following a schedule, money management, and more.” One guy with limited movement in his left hand learned to put on gloves. Griffin offers this advice, “Find resources for whatever activity you are interested in and pursue it. Don’t underestimate your potential; the possibilities are endless.”

For more information on Challenge Aspen and their year-round programs, go to www.challengeaspen.com.