I had the opportunity to meet with the Warrior Angels Foundation cofounders Adam and Andrew Marr along with their father at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. My wife and I gave what we could because we believe in their cause.
The foundation was a glimmer in their eye, just getting off the ground, not even 2 years ago. Imagine my surprise and the tears I wept reading through the struggles and triumphs of 10 Warriors who fought the odds and the circumstances of a corrupt political system that wanted to use them while they still have value and then toss them to the curb. So you believe in the Wounded Warrior Project? Right. Go research how much money they consume as an organization before they spend any money on the people the foundation was created to help. Where do you think that money goes? This isn't a conspiracy theory. This is pure fact. Do the research.
I was in the military. I've been around hard men. Trust me when I tell you, the juxtaposition jumped at me between the resolution of Andrew's heart to overcome his own obstacles, driven desire to help others, contempt for the hundreds of inept programs, and something else… Something that reminded me of my own autistic little child. Hyper-aware. As if his fight-flight sympathetic response was on full-bore and he could not turn it off. Hundreds of nights I've sat with my bewildered little girl to calm her down and give her assurance that she can slip into silence and sleep. I would find out later that MRI brain scans of PTSD victims and autistic children look remarkably the same.
Here is Andrew's email in its entirety.
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Chris,
I am a hard man but I wept as I put this together. I wept for the lives and families saved, I wept for the lives and families we have lost, I wept for the hundreds of thousands who still need support. The unseen wounds of combat have come at a great cost. There is hope, Warrior Angles Foundation (WAF) is only getting started.
Below you will find 10 stories containing a brief background and 2 candidly answered questions.
These life changing stories were made possible from your contributions. You can measure the value it has produced for yourself better then I could attempt to explain it. From the heart, thank you.
Please see WAF's 2015 year end review and future objectives after these heart warming stories.
1: I'm a married with four kids, a 24 year veteran of the US Army. I spent over half my career in the Special Operations community, and deployed in support of the war on terrorism and other overseas contingencies over 8 times.
(Q) What was your quality of life like prior to starting your personalized protocols?
(A) Despicable, horrid, non-existent. I was just spinning my wheels and looking for a way out. Constantly fatigued, and lethargic, made me very depressed.
(Q) How has your quality of life improved since your personalized protocol was implemented?
(A) I feel better right now than I have in five years. I'm still going up hill, but I can see the top. I have the energy to make up for five years of physical and mental neglect. This protocol has put me in the appropriate mental state to get physical again and I am doing it! I am very grateful for the opportunity to receive this treatment. Before I knew that it existed (Joe Rogan Experience) I was literally loosing all hope, nothing I had tried was pushing me ahead. What I can attest to is that there are NO silver bullets out there; however, this protocol is the closest thing to it, because of the continued personal contact with Dr Gordon and Andrew Marr, I am a work in progress, yes, PROGRESS, which is more than I had been in the past five years. If it were not due to this protocol, I highly doubt I'd be here today, it has pushed me over the hump and got me going, saving my life! This is just a very small but meaningful thanks to all the supporters out there making a difference!
2: Just a regular special ops dude who now focuses on being a father.
(Q) What was your quality of life like prior to starting your personalized protocols?
(A) I didn't want to live. I was angered, depressed, and in pain. I had no quality of life.
(Q) How has your quality of life improved since your personalized protocol was implemented?
(A) I feel like me again. A person. Life is worth living. This foundation is amazing and I love that I received help and that they are helping others out there.
3: I'm 23 years old, I currently work in the Medical Marijuana Industry and compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I currently live in Orange County, CA. While in the military I was an 0311 Infantry Marine and stationed at Camp Pendleton.
(Q) What was your quality of life like prior to starting your personalized protocols?
(A) Terrible. I was constantly depressed, anxious, and had zero control over my thoughts. My mind would constantly wander and think about the craziest things that never happened. I would wake up every day with sweaty palms and had the hardest time falling asleep. Constant bouts of uncontrollable anger were the most common occurrence for myself.
(Q) How has your quality of life improved since your personalized protocol was implemented?
(A) There are no words to describe how positively my life has changed in less than a year. I have complete control of my anger now. I no longer live with anxiety or depression. I'm able to have healthy relationships & think thru situations clearly. Long story short, I'm a completely new person now. Thank you for everything. Because of this treatment I'm competing in Jiu Jitsu and operating one of the most successful MMJ deliveries in Orange County. I am forever grateful.
4: I'm a 30-year-old college student and former Army vet with 4 combat deployments. I left the Army after ten years as a SSG, I was an EOD team leader in a Special Ops unit.
(Q) What was your quality of life like prior to starting your personalized protocols?
(A) There was no quality of life before treatment, I simply no longer wanted to exist.
(Q) How has your quality of life improved since your personalized protocol was implemented?
(A) Quality of life has improved greatly, now I just struggle with regular day to day stresses. Whereas before I couldn't handle anything I was just numb to the world.
5: Served as a NCO through most of the 1980's in the 2nd Ranger Bn. and HQSTARC Texas National Guard. After 911 worked in the contracting world for the Department of State and private individuals. I currently work as an Estate Manager and Designer/Project manager. I have a fiance and son from a previous marriage.
(Q) What was your quality of life like prior to starting your personalized protocols?
(A) Difficult... as a highly focused and disciplined person I was forcing my mind and body to perform regardless of how I felt physically or mentally. Physically I was finding it hard to recover from exercise and seemed t be in a chronic state of fatigue. Mentally I was finding it hard to focus, multi-task and modulate my emotional response.
(Q) How has your quality of life improved since your personalized protocol was implemented?
(A) The above stated difficulties have greatly diminished or have gone completely away.
6: I was an Infantryman deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010. I am engaged and have a 1-year-old daughter and an 11 year old step son.
(Q) What was your quality of life like prior to starting your personalized protocols?
(A) Lack of energy and motivation. Headaches, inability to focus and concentrate. Mental fog. Loss of strength and ability to recover from workouts
(Q) How has your quality of life improved since your personalized protocol was implemented?
(A) I feel sharper mentally. My short term memory has improved.
7: Medically retired Senior Chief (SEAL) after 15 years of service in the Navy.
(Q) What was your quality of life like prior to starting your personalized protocols?
(A) Mentally, it was actually getting much better from the BTC (treatment via the Brain Treatment Center), but physically still dragging. Low energy, lack of motivation.
(Q) How has your quality of life improved since your personalized protocol was implemented?
(A) Biggest improvement is the overall feel of being healthy again both physically and mentally. I am currently off all medication I was taking upon exiting the military.
8: I am a veteran, I have a family, infantry.
(Q) What was your quality of life like prior to starting your personalized protocols?
(A) Terrible
(Q) How has your quality of life improved since your personalized protocol was implemented?
(A) God bless you guys for all the help. Huge part in saving my life.
9: I served in the Marines from 1991 to 2001 as longshoreman and admin clerk. My wife is prior Air Force and now works at the VA in Blind Rehab. We have three kids; our oldest is in the Marines and is stationed in Okinawa.
(Q) What was your quality of life like prior to starting your personalized protocols?
(A) I was very irritable, anxious, unsocial, and I tended to internalize my anger and frustrations. The internalization was meant to protect my family from hurtful comments. I was getting intolerant of people and mistakes, which drove me father away from interacting with anyone.
(Q) How has your quality of life improved since your personalized protocol was implemented?
(A) I'm a little more calm and resilient. While traveling to new areas, I'm significantly less anxious. I go to bed later and wake earlier ready to start my day, versus wanting to just lay in bed. I have more good days than bad days, as I don't perseverate on issues during the day. I find myself wanting to do more activities, versus just wanting to relax. I find myself wanting to listen to a variety of music, rather than just the same playlists or radio stations while working. I stopped drinking, drinking alcohol, anything with caffeine, excess sugar, and medical cannabis, to ensure the results of being on Dr. Gordon's regimen were legit. So far, so good--you need only ask my wife and kids.
10: I am Hispanic male and I came from single parent household. Growing up it was just my sister and I. My mother sacrificed much of her life to ensure my sister and I never struggled, and for the most part she has succeeded. Growing up, I was an active kid, riding my bike or roller blades around the city. In high school, I wrestled all four years and played football my last three years. In the Marines, I was a machine gunner and I was in a CAAT unit (combined anti-armor team) and MAT unit (mobile assault team). I served two tours in Iraq and one domestic deployment in the states.
(Q) What was your quality of life like prior to starting your personalized protocols?
(A) Before my treatment, I was struggling to maintain focus, develop and hold new memories, and I isolated myself much from the world. My sleep quality was poor and I felt drowsy the next day. The VA had me on medication, but that did more harm than good. To help myself sleep I resorted to medical marijuana.
(Q) How has your quality of life improved since your personalized protocol was implemented?
(A) Since my treatment, I have seen a cognitive change for the better. I am more aware of my conscious decisions and abilities. My energy level, while slowly improving, is definitely more natural rather than consumed stimulation such as coffee. While overall improvement is slowly progress, I am satisfied to see and notice the improvements. Thank you for everything y’all do. I have struggled for years (since 2008/9) to get help. After years of fighting, I am happy I am receiving help, especially help away from the VA. Thank you.
REVIEW OF WAF'S 2015
In a relatively short time WAF has gone from 0 to 1, creating something where there was nothing. Our system allows us to treat Veterans anywhere taking personalized medicine to a level never before realized, separating WAF from the 40,000 plus other military/veteran support organizations (charitywatch.org).
This has allowed Dr. Gordon and WAF to converse with senior legislators, the secretary of the Veterans Administration, key agents with the Department of Defense, countless medical providers, and other military and veteran support organizations.
In WAF’s first year over $100,000 has been raised aiding in the treatment of over 30 service members and veterans, but its not time to celebrate. We have a combined waiting list with over 600 veterans. The VA does not offer this treatment nor will they pay for it, yet. There is still much to be done.
The Future:
We will continue to use disruptive technology and tactics to improve quality of life for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) while working to secure our endorsed evaluation and treatment process within the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Veterans Administration (VA) or until new technology dematerializes, demonetizes, and democratizes the current health care system.
To free the medically oppressed,
Because families can’t and the VA won’t.
Andrew Marr
Warrior Angels Foundation Co Founder and CEO
PS. If this compelled you in any way please share it with those who are unaware of our efforts.
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