Travis Mills American serviceman, disabled Country: USA

American soldier, disabled

Some soldiers are fortunate enough to return from war without a scratch, adorned with medals and awards, while others are brought back in sealed zinc coffins. Travis Mills was somewhat lucky - he managed to avoid the latter scenario. However, his luck ended there. Mills lost both his hands and both his legs in the war. He had been to Afghanistan three times, with the first two trips relatively uneventful. It was the third trip that proved fatal - Mills accidentally placed his backpack directly on an improvised explosive device. Recovery from such injuries took a considerable amount of time. Only this week - six months after the explosion - Mills was able to return home to his native Vassar, Michigan. Rehabilitation procedures are still ongoing, but Mills clearly has no intention of wasting any time. In recent weeks, he has participated in a charity walk in New York and celebrated his daughter's first birthday at Fort Bragg military base. His hometown welcomed him with open arms, as he and his family proudly served as grand marshals in a celebratory parade. Travis stood proudly in the jeep's bed, smiling and waving his left prosthetic limb, while soldiers in the crowd shouted names of those they recognized. Travis Mills' name was constantly being shouted by the crowd. The entire town is adorned with yellow, red, white, and blue ribbons, with even the local bank electronically designating Mills as a local hero. The support and recognition from his fellow townspeople were beyond Mills' expectations. His family, too, didn't anticipate such overwhelming support. What happened to Travis Mills is extraordinary in many ways. Many lose body parts in war, and many lose their lives, but few manage to lose both hands and both legs while still surviving. Of course, Travis had to forget his former life, but he has embraced his new life with all its complexities. The most difficult part, of course, was finding an answer to the question "Why did this happen to me?" Now, Mills has come to accept that sometimes bad things simply happen without any reason. This realization has not diminished his optimism or faith in himself. Travis Mills knows better than anyone what pain feels like and how to cope with it. The doctors at Walter Reed Hospital did the impossible; they saved Travis' life, even though he lost his limbs. He was provided with all the necessary prosthetics, and while it wasn't easy to adjust to them, Mills diligently trained every day and has become quite proficient with his new limbs. It is said that someone who loses all four limbs needs about two years for complete recovery. Travis is determined to shorten this period and become a fully integrated member of society as soon as possible. He currently has no specific plans for the future - he could become a teacher or even a military instructor at Fort Bragg. Overall, Travis looks towards the future with optimism.