Jerry's Story
Being raised in a patriotic family, Walter “Jerry” Reid had always felt a sense of duty to his country. After high school, he joined the Air Force as an Air Traffic Control (ATC) Technician where he repaired and maintained equipment, while also training for combat deployment. In early 2003, he deployed to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) where he and his unit set up a mobile air traffic control system.
In his third year of active duty, Jerry became injured during physical training, experiencing an osteochondral defect that damaged his knee. This injury caused a great deal of physical pain and became severely limiting. After serving out his time, he retired as an E-4 Senior Airman and returned home.
Back to civilian life, his injury left him in debilitating pain. He went from being someone who jogged and exercised daily, to spending the next three years in a wheelchair. Stress from his situation resulted in personality changes, and he began to experience depression, anxiety, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Jerry sought both physical and psychological therapy in Sitrin’s Military Rehabilitation Program. In the program, he took part in various treatments, including ecotherapy, physical therapy, aquatic therapy, and Equine-Assisted Therapy, along with several Military-Civilian Coalition (MCC) activities.
In ecotherapy, he spent time outdoors doing activities such as hiking, building, and nature cleanup. Outside, Jerry discovered a sense of calm and peace within himself, which helped him work through his emotional issues.
Physical and aquatic therapy helped heal his physical pain by supporting his joints and increasing his movement and flexibility. Both water- and land-based strengthening exercises, including squats and weight repetitions, helped him regain mobility. Participating in cycling and yoga through the MCC also boosted his conditioning and endurance, as well as improved his social skills.
Jerry continuously refined these skills with natural horsemanship in Equine- Assisted Therapy. Using both verbal and nonverbal training cues, he built a bond with Montego, a Spanish Colonial Mustang, who was a good fit for his needs and personality. Reid used the therapy to evolve from simple gesturing and pointing exercises, to doing more complex trainings with Montego in the arena. Cognitively, their relationship helped lessen his anxiety, depression, and anger, while also building his coping and communication skills.
Moreover, Sitrin’s program aided him during a transitional period in his life when he became a single parent to his son, Daniel. He credits the program with helping him understand patience and communication he can use in his own life and in raising his child.
