In 2013, I went in for my second brain operation—the first was in 2005—to remove cancer that was invading my cerebellum. The cancer wasn’t the only thing the doctors removed; they also removed part of my cerebellum. I learned while fighting the cancers in my brain I had 17 strokes, so I’m not sure how I’m still alive, but I’m grateful I am. Besides not having a full cerebellum and the after-effects of the strokes, I have misfiring of signals to my right arm, hand, and leg. I also have misaligned muscles in my right eye, causing almost constant movement of my retina.
After that second brain operation 11 years ago, I was permanently retired by the U.S. Navy and labeled disabled. With all that, I never let any of it stop me from living life, and from serving. After 2013, and waking up after my medically induced coma, I decided that I was kept alive for a reason. And I figured that was because I was to dedicate my life to serving others. So I searched for ways to do that and stumbled on Team Rubicon in 2014.
Since I joined, I have been on nearly two dozen operations and have even held down many of those operations as a logistics section chief and food unit leader. I’ve trained as a sawyer and an incident commander, and have recently done recon for some of the disasters that have hit the Midwest. I’ve also served my fellow Greyshirts as a Volunteer Leader, for these past 10 years in a few roles, eight of those as the Ohio logistics lead. Besides Team Rubicon I hold roles in local non-profit organizations locally in my hometown of Cincinnati.
To date, my favorite op was Operation Silver Sun, Team Rubicon’s response to Hurricane Florence. I served on Silver Sun in New Bern, NC. It was my first time deploying on a Type 1 disaster as a logistics section chief and I knocked it out of the park. My favorite Greyshirt interaction was there, too, when another Greyshirt, “Pops,” told me I helped save his life. I made him my deputy and he did an awesome job—heck my whole team did.
With my disability and serving as a Greyshirt: I love how serving challenges that and challenges me. I love Team Rubicon and love those who I have met. I’ve made many friends, brothers and sisters. I love the mission, and love how Team Rubicon helped me take control of my life, and helped me with my personal mission to serve others.
