Michael Simon
"With the exception of Boy Scouts and being involved in the Big Brother Program in College, I never felt that I had done much for my Community or Country. I always considered joining the Armed Forces as a Reserve Service Member, but never got around too. Then 9/11 happened which was the final push towards signing on with the Minnesota Army National Guard.
I was deployed with the 34th. Infantry Division(Red Bulls) to Iraq. Our tour was extended, so we spent approximately 17 months in a combat theatre. I was essentially on Active Duty Orders for two years: Sept 2005 to August of 2007 .
Was ecstatic to return home to be with my wife whom I married during the train up before going to Iraq. We did not spend more than a few weeks together combined during the first year and a half of our marriage. Was ready and excited to get back to life with the plan of starting a family and moving on with my civilian career. Things appeared great & was moving in the right direction.
Then the unplanned and unexpected occurred 9 months later. My wife was concerned and saw something was wrong. She said, ""You are not the man I married! Something is up and you need to talk to someone and get help!"" I assumed it was P.T.S.D. , so I made an appt. at the Minneapolis VA to talk to someone. After a lengthy mis diagnosis regarding my Mental Health and told I had a lousy attitude and M.R.I was ordered.
I was diagnosed with a huge Frontal Lobe Brain Tumor. Luckily it was benign, but had life changing side effects due to the size of the tumor. My civilian and military career were derailed. I went from being a workaholic to not being able to do much at all. Due to exhaustion I took an hour nap for the first two years after my 17 hour surgery and 6 month impatient Rehab. I felt my identity was gone and I was in a complete funk.
This all changed when I went to the DAV Winter Sports Clinic the next year. I got reintroduced to Alpine Skiing and felt like a Kid in a candy store. Six months later I attended the Summer Sports Clinic in San Diego and got back on a bike. I had always wanted to get into triathlons, but never got around to it because of my career and other obligations. A year later I completed my first triathlon. I was hooked from the first one and still going strong today.
Like most I am ready for the CoVid Pandemic to taper of, so we all can get back to participating together in local, regional, national races and Veteran's Events.
I am ready to start now!
Michael Simon
Disabled American Veteran"
Sports
- Alpine/Downhill Skiing,
- Cycling,
- Triathlon
City
- Stillwater
