Skip to main content

Military Health System

Unexpected Friendly Rivals

Image of A woman helps a person lifting weights. A woman helps a person lifting weights

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care

The Brooke Army Medical Center Soldier Recovery Unit is more than where support for wounded, ill, and injured soldiers receiving rehabilitative care takes place. In some rare instances, staff members find themselves in competition with a patient.

On Aug. 11, two members of the organization entered Fort Sam Houston’s Jimmy Brought Fitness Center, in a peculiar trainer-training the competition predicament.

BAMC SRU Adaptive Reconditioning Program specialist and retired U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Lorraine Currow, and retired U.S. Army Capt. Juan Torres Valenzuela reveled in the uniqueness of their situation. Both are members of their respective teams–Currow is on Team Navy, Torres is on Team Army–heading into the 2022 Department of Defense Warrior Games, held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, Aug. 19-28.

Currow knows exactly how adaptive reconditioning develops bonds among participants and staff alike. “There is no worse feeling than having your career stop in its tracks before you are ready,” she explained.

Her personal experience in a pain management program at Madigan Army Medical Center and at the Adaptive Reconditioning Program for Joint Base Lewis McChord changed her entire perspective on recovery.

Currow’s career began on active duty in the Navy as an air framer–aviation structural mechanic, then she enlisted in the Coast Guard. In 2013 she suffered a spinal cord injury due to a fall during a drug interdiction exercise, and a second fall in 2017, resulting in more damage, leaving her with several disc-related issues, nerve damage and a torn labrum.

Torres was commissioned through St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, becoming a second lieutenant in the infantry. He moved on to become a platoon leader with 1st Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

A malignant brain tumor is what brought Torres to the BAMC SRU. “I started my cancer treatment receiving 33 rounds of radiation and 12 rounds/months of chemotherapy,” said Torres.

His home of record is San Antonio, and he began the chemotherapy cycles at BAMC. “It’s a way better hospital when it comes to oncology, and I would have my whole family to support me in the case I needed anything.”

The struggles they share give Currow critical insight in personalized training for Torres and other soldiers in the SRU.

“I feel like I can be on a level of communication and understanding with my soldiers who are going through transition because of my gift of injury,” added Currow.

Adaptive reconditioning plays an important role in SRUs. Soldiers recovering in an SRU follow a dynamic plan of action focusing on the soldier’s future. They prepare soldiers to either return to their previous unit, move to their next duty assignment, or transition to civilian life.

Torres is a sterling example of how a well-run organization can make life-changing events a much smoother and accepted evolution.

“The SRU and the adaptive reconditioning program kept my mind and body busy,” he stated.

Torres said this was a huge motivator and helped him enjoy more time with family and not fall in the shadows of how his condition could be seen as depressive.

The Aug. 11 training day began at the Alamo Heights Natatorium. Currow was not only training with Torres, but she assisted other soldiers from the BAMC SRU in attendance with swimming techniques. Splitting duties between training soldiers and getting ready for the Warrior Games competition is a delicate balancing act.

“I have had to really stay committed to my training,” she explained. Some days she couldn’t train until 6 p.m., when she was exhausted, or she would start the day early at 4:30 a.m. She used weekends to incorporate archery training with local coaches.

Families and caregivers are closely involved in all aspects of the soldier’s recovery. Currow’s husband, a strength and conditioning coach who was a personal training and certified corrective exercise specialist is her biggest support.

“He has been with me since my injury and has helped me with every aspect of recovery,” said Currow. “I am thankful to be given a new normal and a way to give back with the Soldier Recovery Unit.”

Both Torres and Currow are vying to be the ‘Ultimate Champion’ of the competition.

The UC is the athlete who has earned the most points (based upon their individual results within their respective sport classification categories) in the following eight individual sport competitions: archery, cycling, field, indoor rowing, powerlifting, shooting, swimming, and track.

Warrior Games showcases the resilience of service members and the importance of adaptive reconditioning activities in their recovery. Being selected to their respective teams was an unexpected surprise. Now they find themselves in a friendly Army-Navy rivalry.

According to Torres, the competition between he and Currow is going to be one filled with them pushing each other and trying to prove their worth.

“She has her strong events and I have mine,” said Torres. “I’ll definitely be more focused in each event knowing that if I get beat by her, I will never hear the end of it!”

To learn more, or follow the results of the competition, visit the Warrior Games site.

You also may be interested in...

DOD Reduces Health Care Waste by Reusing Crutches

Article
12/15/2022
Military personnel using crutches

When military facilities faced a national shortage of an essential mobility aid, they launched a grassroots initiative that not only ensured patient care, but also created a new waste reduction model within the DHA.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care | Coronavirus & the MHS Response

Striking Out With Adaptive Reconditioning

Article Around MHS
12/15/2022
Military personnel at bowling alley

Debilitating injuries can end livelihoods - including Military careers. Meet the Soldiers who find healing - physical and emotional - by enjoying one of America's favorite pastimes.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care | Warrior Care

Marine Corps Veteran Stays Connected Through Service

Article
12/14/2022
Marine Corps veteran Adam Foutz with family

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Adam Foutz's calls on his life experiences, his faith, and determination to continue his service to the military and veteran community.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care | Veterans Health Care Services

MHS Leader Davison Reflects on New Path for Pain Management

Article
12/9/2022
A U.S. service member gets treated for chronic knee pain

MHS pain management enters new era with a broader approach to pain care than traditional methods.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care | Pain Management | Physical Evaluation Board

As a Military Family, We Do What We Do with Faith, Hope, Love, and Prayers

Article Around MHS
12/8/2022
Capt. Luis Avilla with his family.

The average military family could relocate ten times or more. There are changes in schools, jobs, and homes. But that's the easy part. See how one military family, like so many others, held it together when the going got very tough.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care | Real Warriors Campaign

Warrior Care: The Military Adaptive Sports Program

Video
12/7/2022
Picture of Coach Patrick Johnson

Meet Coach Patrick Johnson, a veteran of the U.S. Navy who medically retired 13 years ago. Today he helps run Walter Reed's military adaptive sports program and coaches multiple crew teams in the National Capital Region. To learn more about military adaptive sports program, visit health.mil/warriorcare.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care | Warrior Care

Retiring Wounded Warrior Continues to Serve His Military Community

Article
12/6/2022
U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Blake Conley and family

Despite a career-ending cancer diagnosis, U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Blake Conley prepares to retire after more than 20 years serving his nation with a positive outlook and a desire to keep serving.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care | Warrior Care

DoDI 1332.18: Disability Evaluation System (DES)

Policy

This instruction establishes policy, assigns responsibilities, and provides procedures for referral, evaluation, return to duty, separation, or retirement of Service members for disability

  • Identification #: DoDI 1332.18
  • Date: 11/10/2022
  • Type: Instructions
  • Topics: Warrior Care

It’s all About Adapting…When it Comes to Disability

Article Around MHS
10/19/2022
Meagan Gorsuch participates in downhill skiing

Meagan Gorsuch, a Kirtland U.S. Air Force Base military spouse, knows all about adapting to her disabilities. She has been deafblind since birth. See how she has adapted to a world that can still be a challenge for the disabled.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care

U.S. Space Force Family Attends First Warrior Games

Article
10/19/2022
Space Force captain with raised archery bow and arrow  shown in profile competing in her first Warrior Games.

U.S. Space Force Capt. Nichole "Nikki" Evenson competes in her first Warrior Games with the support of her family and the U.S. Air Force Wounded Warrior community.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care | Mental Health: Seeking Care with TRICARE | Warrior Care

Horse Therapy Helps Wounded Service Members Find "New Normal"

Article
9/13/2022
Horse on left with ARNG Spc. Yesenia Flores, at an equine therapy program used by Fort Campbell's Soldier Recovery Unit.

Horse therapy is one way Fort Campbell wounded soldiers move toward recovery.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care

Return to Duty: An SRU Soldier's Story of Recovery and Resiliency

Article Around MHS
9/12/2022
Fort Stewart Soldier Recovery Unit insignia

Capt. Viola Howard, an Iron Guardian at the Fort Stewart Soldier Recovery Unit, injured herself during her tour of duty in Germany and was transferred to Fort Stewart She set her mind to recover, rehabilitate, rebuild and ultimately return to active duty.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care

Wounded Warrior Reconditioning Paves Way to Invictus Victory and More

Article
7/29/2022
An athlete rower

New veteran reflects on his experience at the last Invictus Games as a recovering service member and how DOD adaptive sports programs got him there and aided in recovery.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care

From Recovery to Resilience: Navy Service Member Shares His Story

Article
7/22/2022
Two people with a shotput

Navy RSM shares how military adaptive sport programs helped him during his recovery from cancer.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care

Wounded Sailor Ready to Lead Navy Wounded Warrior Marksmen to Victory

Article
7/8/2022
Roel Espino and Retired AZ3 Elizabeth “Ellie” Smith at Navy Warrior Games Training Camp

Adaptive sports allow athletes to pursue new goals. Team Navy’s Shooting Coach Roel Espino shares his journey from athlete to coach.

Recommended Content:

Warrior Care | Warrior Care
<< < 1 2 3 4 5 > >> 
Showing results 1 - 15 Page 1 of 5
Refine your search
Last Updated: February 01, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery