Carlos, an army veteran, recently traveled to Boulder, Colorado, to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for his traumatic brain injury. He sustained the brain trauma while deployed to Iraq, during which he experienced multiple blasts from explosive devices. Although HBOT is an alternative treatment, which consists of a pressurized oxygen chamber, the therapy has alleviated Carlos’s daily headaches.

This veteran, like so many others, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, as well. Phiona, a black labrador retriever and service dog, helps with Carlos’s combat anxiety and other stresses.

Although signed up for a later fishing event in Alaska, Carlos was met in Boulder by a couple from the Freedom Alliance team. Together they trekked into the mountains for some hiking and sight-seeing in the Colorado wilderness, but when it started to snow, they backtracked to Boulder and hung out through lunch and dinner.

“We had some good conversation and it was a really nice time,” Carlos said. “We also saw some pretty country.”

Sometimes our job at Freedom Alliance is to get one-on-one with a vet just to listen and get acquainted when they come to town. This was the case with Carlos, who personally knew many vets who have benefitted from the work of Freedom Alliance. It was a really pleasant day for us, and we look forward to seeing Carlos again for the Alaskan fishing trip and other events.

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