By Shannon Collins DoD News, Defense Media Activity
SAN DIEGO, Nov. 7, 2017 — After losing his arm and leg in
battle, a Hawaiian soldier being treated at the Naval Medical Center San Diego
told his doctors that more than anything else, he wanted to surf again.
Almost 10 years later, the hospital's surfing clinic staff
has assisted more than 1,500 wounded, ill and injured service members from all
service branches in their recovery through surfing.
"I remember at the time, I told him we're going to go
surfing but I had no idea how we're going to go, with him missing an arm and a
leg," said Betty Michalewicz-Kragh, surf therapy program manager and
exercise physiologist with the Health and Wellness department at the medical
center, also known as "Balboa."
Michalewicz-Kragh said she looked for ideas on the internet
and eventually called a Brazilian above-the-knee amputee who came to San Diego
and assisted Michalewicz-Kragh in training the soldier for five weeks.
The patient started surfing. "And as a result of him
going surfing, many other wounded warriors have gone surfing, and it's been an
amazing journey," she said.
Today, adaptive surfing is more mainstream, with its third
world championship taking place in December in La Jolla, California.
Michalewicz-Kragh said when the clinic first started using surfing therapy, she
only thought of the physical benefits, such as the cardio ability and
strengthening the posterior muscles.
"We ended up realizing the benefit surfing has for
post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues," she added.
"It's been an amazing journey."
Finding Fitness, Friends
Surfing is like a medication, and all the side effects are
good, Michalewicz-Kragh said. "A person may come here to surf but they end
up finding a community," she explained. "The side effects will be
that his fitness level will be better, his cardiovascular ability improves, he
gets stronger, and he meets a lot of people. The community integration aspect
is really important, so there are many benefits to surfing."
She said patients don't need to know how to surf before
showing up and they can attend the swim clinic beforehand. "Our goal for
the patients as they come to the program is to find out how they can make their
life better by surfing and to have the ability to surf and become a better
surfer," she said. "You will not be Kelly Slater after six weeks, and
not after 12, but you will have the tools to know how to practice and learn how
to surf on your own safely and independently."
Beach Yoga
Before surfing, patients can also take yoga classes at the
beach, thanks to Navy Cmdr. Lori Christensen, the Navy medical center's
preventive medicine department head.
"I always check with them at the beginning of class as
they check in, where they're hurting, so I can make sure they focus the class
on things that will be beneficial to any particular needs they may have and
then ask them afterward," Christensen said. "I've had feedback from
some patients who say that this is the only thing they've found that helps them
feel better, and some who say, ‘I hated yoga, but now I love it,' so that's
encouraging. It's a great setting. It's not me; it's the beach."
Christensen said programs such as the surfing clinic are
important for wounded warriors. "It gives them hope and confidence, which
will help them with their depression if they have it," she said.
"It's giving them hope that they can get better, confidence in their
abilities to do so, and then ability and new skills and new talents."
Volunteers
The patients can go through the six-week program twice to
learn surfing, and those who transition out of the military and stay in the
local area can continue with the program. About 50 surfers -- retired
firefighters, police officers and military, along with the Del Mar lifeguards
-- volunteer to work with the patients in the surf therapy clinic.
Former Air Force Sgt. Warren James, a Vietnam veteran, has
been volunteering for the past two years. "I'm really good at teaching the
beginners," the former avionics technician said. "It's very rewarding
for me, and I can see it's very effective for the patients."
James, who repaired radios and radar equipment on F-4, C-130
and C-40 aircraft during his military service, said he enjoys volunteering with
service members and fellow veterans. "It's overwhelming sometimes. They
have injuries, and I didn't really get injured, so I feel for them," he
said. "I saw a lot of bad things, and I don't say much about it, but it's
really good to be able to talk to somebody else about it. I know how they feel
… I didn't have PTSD, but I can sense when they do, and it's really comforting
to help them and know that it's helping me, too."
Surfing clinic participants gain confidence as they make
progress in the surfing clinic, he said. "If they had a physical injury,
they recover quicker," he added. "They take less medication. It's
just a really good program."
Patients' Opinions
Retired Marine Corps Sgt. Toran Gaal, a bilateral amputee
who lives in Valley Center, California, said surfing brings him closer to those
he lost in combat. He was injured in an improvised explosive device blast in Afghanistan
in 2011.
"To be in a place like the ocean, it allows me to be
closer to those people and feel like I'm lifted up," Gaal said. "I
feel like I'm around them when I'm out there. I feel like they're around me,
watching over me, making sure I'm safe. The ocean allows me to feel close to
them, as well as gain relationships with some of the volunteers to be
happy."
The surfing clinic is about surfing and reintegration into
the community, Gaal said. "It's not just about gaining independence and
going out and surfing. It's about reintegration and transitioning," he
said.
"It's just a sense of family for me, and my wife knows
that. She knows that when I'm around these people, I come back happier because
I enjoy being in their presence and the negativity is not there. They're all
positive influences," Gaal said.
Marine Corps Cpl. Leighton Anderson, a Gardena, California,
native who was injured during an MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft crash in
2016, said he enjoys the surfing clinic as well.
"I always wanted to learn how to surf, since I'm from
California," Anderson said. "I tried it three times in my life and
never did it. I was like, ‘Let me try it through here,' and then after that, I
was hooked. It was pretty sweet. I love it. Everybody's really nice and
supportive."
Anderson said surfing helps him physically and mentally.
"I had so many barriers, because once I was injured, I
was like, ‘I don't know if I can do that. I might hurt myself.' I have a little
PTSD, and I didn't think I would enjoy anything. Once I tried it, I broke down
a lot of barriers I had mentally and physically. I had weak tendons in my hand
and foot, but with surfing they're starting to get better. And mentally, it
makes me happy. It's just something everybody should take on."
"Surfing therapy is amazing," James said.
"The program works, because it keeps them not thinking what they would
normally would be thinking when they're at a medical appointment. But here, we
just talk about other things, and that's why it works.
"It's different," he added. "I definitely
suggest getting in the water, even if you have no experience at all. Just come
to the beach."
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