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Rivers of Recovery, Part 1

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  • Description

    Vets tell their story of how group has helped them heal

  • Duration 7:31
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That's the special edition of Hannity now as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down thousands of men and women are returning home with injuries.

Now some of physical wounds that you can -- but some like posttraumatic stress disorder or PT SD are invisible.

Now while I was out Wyoming I got to joined Vice President Cheney as we went fly fishing with a remarkable group.

That provides rehabilitation to combat vets with both kinds of injuries now it's called rivers of recovery.

And before we get to the fishing trip let's take a look at the great work they do every day.

There's a recovery is outdoor -- recreational therapy program.

And uses outdoor activities such as fly fishing camping.

Running -- combined with me -- design curriculum to help.

-- combat veterans -- From psychological and physical injuries.

-- fishing trip and we also -- some yoga breathing exercises relaxation techniques.

So.

You're having an anxiety.

Flashbacks from you know.

Different ways to cope with that they're bringing.

Injured soldiers in -- or guys that suffer from -- yesterday.

And they bring him out here for few days -- -- with rivers of recovery before and it's a great program and Justin and -- -- with guys today.

He's got to artificial legs -- legs and he's an awful qualified certified guy known Snake River and he knew at all.

As a sergeant Marine Corps.

-- in Afghanistan from a third to her the that push play today the and it blew off both my legs and -- my right arm pretty did.

Lest someone saw Justin was on June 23 2008 that's that they lost both his legs.

That -- the last Thomas on the memory is stuck in my head was.

Of him laying on the ground their knowledge -- known.

Being able scene again kind of starts in the chapter you know new memories good memories instead of you know warfare and and bloodshed.

Eight weeks after I got hurt is your -- -- every trip by official with a whole new thing for me.

As the very first time I went and download this became addicted to fly fishing last chairman of the full time position aggressive.

Addicted it.

I was part of the invasion force in Iraq I was injured in 2003.

I had a left shoulder replacement and 2008.

I've been diagnosed with posttraumatic stress it's I was on a cocktail of antidepressants and payments for my shoulder at one point I weighed 230 pounds I never fly fish before came to the program.

Isn't.

You know -- life changer for me I'm no longer on any Mets at all.

And you know I've lost.

-- -- -- What differentiates rivers of recovery really is the idea that we use the outdoors and these outdoor activities that build.

Sense of confidence and self empowerment.

It's the perfect platform to bring in.

These techniques that help them manage to mitigate posttraumatic stress anxiety depression yeah.

There all packed the war.

The UP USB we get TD act we have the can't -- if she's.

Anything can happen year old would hear anything while I'm actually -- had some hearing -- from hand injury.

I've also been Agnes with eight kids stay in black -- I am so as you know -- -- facing yet to be theory theory -- built a lot of confidence in those areas that.

I the united states army in my unit have really been working to.

Recuperate from and they cannot let me present myself -- my hand in gaining confidence it's -- change but it.

It would be less dress.

And most -- -- coming up from any source are Afghanistan.

And other things that.

That happened out there he sits -- a -- Mixing short tempered you know not a nice person out in the civilian world.

I've been through different types of counseling -- depression.

-- -- -- -- -- A moment right on the plane I was like I don't -- You know.

But I hear about the experiences of these soldiers out when -- come -- -- like I wanna be members of the story.

-- -- the airport came over.

And I I took all that negativity just you don't win them.

Coming out here like this you know.

Calming.

These surveys very -- the first night they don't know each other -- About lunch the next day after apparently is catching fish.

Like the difference for ten years this -- John don't mean you know -- today at this weekend.

-- -- -- you know that's right.

Rivers of recovery is medically proven it's basically all about healing there's very visible outdoor elements but then behind the scenes.

It's specifically designed curriculum.

A lot of these guys can come to us and they talk about how a couple weeks prior they they were looking at weapons pistols you know thinking about ending -- all.

And then they come here and after the fourth day there emotional and you know they've worked through some of their issues and they talk about going back in and helping other guys.

We're losing eighteen kids every day.

To suicide.

It's it's really turned into an epidemic and we didn't do something about it gives -- a whole different look -- -- sit in a hospital room he can't.

Do any thing I got out here and realize I can still get outdoors and still.

Two things I used to do we were giving feedback success.

This is the first time I've slept seven consecutive hours in the four years I've been back from combat or it's the first time I don't feel my heart.

Is speeding out of my chest.

The key to -- some things like this is to just give.

You know these guys -- out and to show them that.

You know there's other things other than.

Sitting around their -- -- just.

Getting out being myself feeling built building confidence with people again it felt really really good -- just making relationships and being yourself and just nine.

He pitches -- -- for that.

At first I was.

Look -- will negatively -- -- now like I can't wait the next thing.

I love a -- here right now money.

-- great ways that somebody can sort of reenter society.

Find something that's fascinating thing to do.

And what you're hooked up you know there's some really helps me focus on something other.

The past.

Where bad things.

What would you broke.

Good he can pull this thing.

Now rivers of -- truly great organization but they need your help so that they can help more these veterans out.

And just go to -- website rivers of recovery dot org to learn how you can help has come.

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