I’m 65 years of age (66 on 29 Nov). Been an above elbow arm amputee since age 20 at Fitzsimmons Army General Hospital. Mine is a different story; too long to tell here. Let it suffice that I grew accustomed to seizing the right and opportunity to try anything that I thought that I wanted to do (or someone said I couldn’t). Can’t hasn’t been in my vocabulary. That’s the way we raised our kids. One didn’t make it beyond 14.

Had a really tough winter. Lost 20 lbs, the doctors at the VA finally determined it was a type of colitis, at the end of February.

I had already committed to a VA Rec therapy hard shell kayak class. Postponement was not an option. Completing the class this spring and summer was a high point.

I felt honored to be invited to a national Team River Runner trip on the Salmon River in Idaho. Fabled waters. I have inflatable paddling in my history, all after our 14 year old son died in my arms on my back porch. The river helped me heal.

Dave and Cynthia Robey did an awesome job of getting everyone and everything organized! The outfitter and guides were outstanding and very supportive.

This trip helped heal some of my self concepts. What a group! Such a tremendous experience to mentor younger vets. We were rockin’! Community came together almost from the beginning. A guiding concept for me as always been: You must be willing to risk. You may never know what it was that you said or did that made a difference in someone’s life. This always propelled me through my fears and self doubts.

By the end of day three, the wrist on my right arm swelled up and I was unable to paddle. I looked for other ways to contribute. In the end, the most important contribution was just being me and supporting my buddies. There will always be another day to paddle. There is only one opportunity to be a part of making a difference in someone’s life. Nature and the challenge of the river bring a person face to face with themselves in a way nothing else can; hence healing waters.

Your contribution to Dave Robey’s Team River runner vision of the Salmon River trip was an investment in therapy that can only happen there. When I couldn’t paddle anymore, I felt that I let Dave and those that recommended me down. Dave and others didn’t let that last long.

I personally want to thank you for your sponsorship,. You truly put something in your cup of grace. No one has told us who you are. It doesn’t matter. This is the closest that I can come to shaking your hand and saying thank you.