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theLOCAL
May/June 2016
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GARZA FAMILY
T
he Lone Survivor Foundation is a HEALING RETREATS nonprofit organization based out of The Foundation’s healing retreats provide a safe Houston, Texas committed to providing and relaxing environment where wounded service support to service members and veterans members can work through the consequences of struggling with invisible injuries of war such as war by connecting with others. Rehabilitation combat trauma stress, mild traumatic brain injury, for both individuals and family members is chronic pain, and military sexual trauma. Injuries addressed through psychoeducational groups, that may not be apparent on the outside, but can one-on-one counseling sessions, and therapeutic nonetheless wreak havoc inside the minds and lives outdoor activities like Equine Assisted Learning of those affected. Lone Survivor Foundation (LSF) (EAL), where horses play an integral role in the seeks to restore, empower, and renew hope for healing process. Studies have shown that retreat these wounded service members and their families attendees come away with an increased sense of through health, wellness and therapeutic retreats. wellbeing, reduced levels of stress, and are better Last year, our community was an integral force equipped to manage the day-to-day struggles of in the fundraising, donating, and building of their invisible wounds. the Lone Survivor Foundation’s first Foundation-owned retreat facility TESTIMONIES here on Crystal Beach. The Bolivar Last October, LSF hosted a couples’ Retreat Center has enabled LSF to The number retreat at its Bolivar Retreat Center. conduct more retreats, introduce new one thing the Of those in attendance were Mike, a programs, and ultimately help more Lone Survivor veteran of the United States Marine veterans and their families adjust to Foundation Corps, and his wife Claudia. A couple the effects of their wartime experiences. that for more than a decade had been gave us is Since its establishment in 2010, battling the debilitating effects of hope. Lone Survivor Foundation has hosted his PTSD. “It was like living a nighthundreds of fully funded therapeutic mare,” he says. “I couldn’t control it.” retreats across the country with an emphasis on Once very active and involved, Mike quit his job, service members and veterans from Operation resorted to drinking as a coping mechanism, and Iraqi Freedom. This year, LSF is expanding to secluded himself from his family altogether. His now include Pre-9/11 and Care Partner Retreats, wife Claudia recalls it having a very negative in addition to their already established individual, impact on their family, especially their oldest couples, and family retreats. LSF’s Marketing and son. “At that point I knew something had to Events Manager Jen Brown says, “Although we change,” she says. may be seeing a declining number of troops in In 2015, Mike was introduced to LSF and combat roles, the number of veterans reaching attended an individual healing retreat in Florida. out for help is increasing exponentially as the Claudia received pictures of Mike while he was number of service members separating from the away and says she couldn’t believe what she saw. military continues to climb. We are grateful for The despondent man she had come to know was the opening of our Bolivar Retreat Center which canoeing. “I just started crying. There was life has allowed LSF to expand our program to rise back in my husband!” up and meet the ever growing need for our When Claudia joined Mike at the couples’ services – and we intend to continue doing so.” retreat, she too experienced the restoration that