Tough As They Come: One Soldier’s Story
Motivation
Tough As They Come is the true story of SSG Travis Mills. On April 10, 2012, while on patrol in Afghanistan with his men, Travis halted his troops in an area they had just finished sweeping for mines. When he set his pack on the ground beside him, it detonated a buried IED. Thinking he was dying, his thoughts were for his men who had been wounded in the blast and their medical needs. Fighting back the fear that swept over him, he determined to leave this world with dignity as an example to his men of true courage. But death did not come that day. His men were a
ble to stabilize him, get him on a helicopter, and effectively save his life in the process. That day, Travis Mills became the fourth surviving quadruple amputee in American military history.
Travis has made a remarkable recovery in spite of the extent of his injuries. Several things were notable in the process of enabling him to regain a level of independence that would have been unheard of just a decade ago. All of the medical professionals that aided in the trauma of his injuries, assisted in his rehabilitation, and enabled him to regain his mobility with state-of-the-art prosthetics are a testimony to the tremendous health care available in America.
The support Travis received from friends and family was also integral in his recovery. His wife refused to leave him, in spite of his insistence that she move on with her life without him. She informed him that she was with him for the duration. His brother-in-law remained with Travis through the early days of his injuries while he was being stabilized and prepared for a return to the US. His father-in-law quit his job so he could take daily shifts sitting with him in the hospital. The impact of the encouragement of Travis’ friends and family on his rehabilitation is unmistakable.
His perspective is unique. He tells the story of his accident as “a case of the Monday’s”. In his own words, “I refuse to let one bad day at work ruin my entire life.” Travis does not see his disabilities as being more debilitating than what anyone else is facing. He believes life creates obstacles for each individual to overcome that are unique to each individual.
His attitude is inspiring. His ability to find humor in spite of circumstances played a vital role even in the darkest times of his recovery. He has used his experiences to help others with debilitating injuries find hope amidst the overwhelming life changes they are facing. From visiting the Boston Marathon bombing victims in the hospital to starting his own foundation to help combat-wounded veterans, he is constantly seeking to be a source of inspiration in the lives of other people.
His determination is motivating. From the moment he decided he was going to put his heart and soul into recovery and return to a normal life as husband and father, his drive fueled his rehabilitation. His recovery became his full-time job as he tackled the arduous task of relearning how to do most everything in everyday life.
After reading this book, we are inspired and motivated to be thankful for our veterans and their families and the sacrifices they have made to maintain our freedom and to convey that to them whenever possible. We are inspired and motivated to not let excuses become the obstacles that hinder us from living out our dreams. We are inspired and motivated to be a source of inspiration and motivation to those with whom we come in contact and help them overcome their hindrances and live a full and complete life.
Thank you SSG Travis Mills for your sacrifice, your story, and for sharing your life with us.
Read As Tough As They Come. Trust me, you’ll feel better about whatever you may be facing.
This review is unsolicited and posted with the express written permission of Team Travis Mills. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide this review and hope to encourage individuals to read the book. Click to purchase Tough As They Come
