Travis: A Soldier's Story

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Travis’s Book “Tough As They Come” is now Available for Pre-order!

July 1, 2015

 

Travis’s book, “Tough As They Come,” is now available for pre-order!  The book will be released October 27, 2015.  The book shares an in-depth look at the healing process that Travis went through to get to where he is today.

From the TravisMills.org website:

Thousands of soldiers die each year to defend their country. United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis Mills was sure that he would become another statistic when, during his third tour of duty in Afghanistan, he was caught in an IED blast four days before his twenty-fifth birthday. Against the odds, he lived, but at a severe cost—Travis became one of only five soldiers from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to survive a quadruple amputation.

Suddenly forced to reconcile with the fact that he no longer had arms or legs, Travis was faced with a future drastically different from the one he had imagined for himself. He would never again be able to lead his squad, hold his wife’s hand, or pick up his infant daughter.

Travis struggled through the painful and anxious days of rehabilitation so that he could regain the strength to live his life to the fullest.  With enormous willpower and endurance, the unconditional love of his family, and a generous amount of faith, Travis shocked everyone with his remarkable recovery. Even without limbs, he still swims, dances with his wife, rides mountain bikes, and drives his daughter to school.

Travis inspires thousands every day with his remarkable journey. He doesn’t want to be thought of as wounded.  “I’m just a man with scars,” he says, “living life to the fullest and best I know how.”

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Filed Under: Travis: a soldier's story - Blog Tagged With: Inspiring true story, SSG Travis Mills, Tough As They Come, True story, Wounded Warrior

Solo Step Supports Travis Mills & Countless Others

June 2, 2015

soloStep

Travis’s recovery was aided by the many doctors and nurses at Walter Reed Army Hospital, his own sheer determination, support from Kelsey, Chloe and family, and also made possible because of Solo-Step, a track and harness system that gives patients confidence when learning to walk again after injuries.  Today we are honored to feature Solo-Step through an interview with Vice President Brock Hutchinson.

How did Solo-Step get started?

Solo-Step, Inc. started back in 2006 when they acquired the patent from a father and son who first invented what we know today as the Solo-Step Track System. The son had lost his leg in a boating accident and was having a difficult time adjusting to his new prosthetic.

His father recognized the need for some sort of device to hang from the ceiling to provide fall protection for his son. After trying a few different set ups, they settled on a track and harness system, and it worked perfectly.

This powerful message resonated with myself and two of my business partners. We decided to acquire the company to spread awareness for people struggling to regain balance, strength, and independence.

We started off by introducing the concept to VA Hospitals around the United States to help wounded veterans learn to walk again. Soldiers began rehabilitating with a new-found confidence that allowed them to progress much faster than usual.

Here is a video of quadruple amputee, SSG Travis Mills using the Solo-Step at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

What happened after success in VA Hospitals?

Seeing this inspired us to expand our reach into private practice physical therapy clinics, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation hospitals, wellness centers, and even homes across nine different countries and almost all 50 states.

Tell us about the benefits of Solo-Step.

Some of the most powerful benefits the Solo-Step Track System can provide are a safe environment for both patients and therapists to participate in rehabilitation activities, the elimination of the fear of falling, and an increase in confidence that allows patients to improve functional outcomes.

What’s the best part of representing Solo-Step?

What I love most about Solo-Step is hearing all of the stories of how our device has impacted people and their lives in a positive way.

I’m reminded of a gentleman, Peter, in his 90s who was having a very hard time walking. By the third week using the Solo-Step Track System Peter was moving better, and by the fourth week he could walk backwards and had so much speed and strength in his gait he was practically jogging.

Here is a video of Peter when he first started his treatment program.

After one month of therapy using the Solo-Step Track System, Peter was able get rid of his walker and continue living his life to the fullest!

The confidence that the Solo-Step Track System instills in patients and therapists is paramount to the success of therapy.

Thank you so much for sharing the heart and mission behind Solo-Step, Brock!

The Travis the Movie team is especially grateful to Solo Step for the work they are doing to help veterans like Travis exceed expectations when it comes to physical limitations.  Solo Step has been a big supporter of Travis: A Soldier’s Story, and they even purchased 100 DVDs to send out to their customers!  (If you haven’t had the chance to purchase the film on DVD or Blu-Ray, follow this link here.)

Follow Solo-Step

To support Solo Step and to learn more about this amazing company, follow them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or LinkedIn.  For specific questions, they can be reached via email at info@solostep.com.

Filed Under: Travis: a soldier's story - Blog Tagged With: inspiring, Inverview, Mills Family, Solo-Step, SSG Travis Mills, Travis: A Soldier's Story, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Support the Miles for Mills 5K in Augusta, Maine on Memorial Day!

May 19, 2015

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Next Monday, in honor of Memorial Day, we invite you to join us for the 4th annual Miles for Mills 5K event in Augusta, Maine.  Register HERE!  Proceeds will benefit the Travis Mills Foundation, and fund the remodeling of the Veteran’s Family Camp.

TMF Retreat

The Travis Mills Foundation purchased the historic Maine Chance Lodge previously owned by cosmetics pioneer Elizabeth Arden.  We need your support to transform this property into a fully accessible veterans family retreat!  Join over 600 generous donors who have already given to the cause by making a donation here.

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The state of Maine has been so welcoming, supportive and kind to the Mills family.  Last year, First Lady Ann LePage joined us at the Miles for Mills 5K to help raise funds for the Travis Mills Foundation.

Don’t forget to Register for the 5K HERE!  And if you won’t be near Augusta, Maine on Memorial Day, you can still show your support for those who have served our country so faithfully by donating to the Travis Mills Foundation here.

Filed Under: Travis: a soldier's story - Blog Tagged With: Maine, SSG Travis Mills, Travis Mills Foundation

Support Carry the Load

May 13, 2015

Carry the Load

Today we are honored to feature Carry the Load, an organization with the mission to provide active ways to honor the countless military, law enforcement, firefighters and rescue personnel who dedicate their lives to keeping our country safe.

During the month of May, they have a campaign about bringing back the true meaning of Memorial Day.

Carry the Load was founded by two Navy SEALs, Clint Bruce and Stephen Holley.  Clint Bruce was an honorary chairman for the 2014 Veterans Day Film Premiere of Travis: A Soldier’s Story, and we are honored to share a little more about him in this video.


Clint Bruce from 212pictures on Vimeo.

To help Carry the Load with this vision, we invite you to participate in the National Relay, which provides an opportunity to walk for any portion of the 27 days to remember, honor, and celebrate our nation’s heroes.  You can join in the National Relay at any point along the route and walk for as long as you would like. There is no fee to participate in Carry The Load.  For more information on this event, visit this site.

Show your support for Carry the Load by volunteering your time, participating in an event or donating funds.  Learn more here.

Connect with Carry the Load on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

Filed Under: Travis: a soldier's story - Blog Tagged With: Dallas, Feature, True story

Travis: A Soldier’s Story is now on iTunes!

March 31, 2015

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We are excited to announce that Travis: A Soldier’s Story is now available for rent or purchase on iTunes!  In addition to offering the award-winning documentary on DVD and Blu-Ray, this film is now available online.

Producer Katie Norris says, “We have screened this film across the country, and now anyone can watch it from their living room!  It is an exciting time for Travis: A Soldier’s Story.”

Thank you to our loyal supporters for your ongoing enthusiasm for our very own American Hero.  We are honored to give back in a small way to a family who has sacrificed so much for our freedom.

If you do not have iTunes, it is downloadable for free through the Apple website.  It is available for both Mac and Windows products.

As with the DVD and Blu-Ray purchases, proceeds will continue to benefit the non-profit that produced the film,  Fotolanthropy, and also Travis Mills.  Thank you for your continued support.

Filed Under: Travis: a soldier's story - Blog Tagged With: Documentary, documentary film, Film update, Fotolanthropy, inspiring documentary, Katie Norris, Travis Mills, Travis: A Soldier's Story

The Travis Mills Foundation purchases Maine property for veterans’ camp

March 3, 2015

We are excited to announce that the Travis Mills Foundation recently purchased the Maine Chance Lodge – originally built and owned by cosmetics pioneer Elizabeth Arden – for their veterans’ retreat.
During their time at Walter Reed Medical Center, Travis and Kelsey noticed the incredible need for support – beyond just physical and financial – for injured veterans and their families. While they were honored for their service to their country, these soldiers faced personal battles in the hospital and back at home as they recuperated from their injuries and adjusted to life outside the armed services. Per their mission statement, the Travis Mills Foundation seeks to support combat injured veterans and their families through long term programs that help these heroic men and women overcome physical obstacles, strengthen their families, and provide well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Renovations have already begun on the property to help make it a fully accessible smart home for veterans and their families to visit. The foundation hopes the retreat can provide not only rest and a variety of recreational activities, but also spousal support and reintegration programs for wounded veterans and their family members. If you are interested in donating to the foundation’s retreat project, you can do so here – travismills.org/foundation/our-retreat

Filed Under: Travis: a soldier's story - Blog

Tuesday Feature: The Center for Brain Health

January 27, 2015

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Today we are excited to share with you about The Center for Brain Health, an organization that has been incredibly supportive of Travis Mills and thousands of veterans who were injured while serving our country.  The Center for Brain Health hosted a Travis: A Soldier’s Story screening, and has been supportive of the film throughout the entire journey.  This group was also an Honorary Chair for the Veterans Day event.  We invite you to share this information with veterans in your life who would benefit from the research and treatments they offer.

About the Organization      “The Center for BrainHealth and Brain Performance Institute are committed to empowering one of our greatest national assets – military service members.  Warrior initiatives at the Center for BrainHealth and Brain Performance Institute aim to arm veteran and active duty service members with the necessary tools to achieve successful, enriching and fulfilling personal and professional lives by proactively optimizing brain performance, building resilience in cognitive brain function, and reversing losses in cognitive capacity. By removing barriers and building bridges, we are helping America’s brave fighting men and women, both in and out of uniform, successfully reintegrate into civilian life and enjoy the quality of life they so courageously defend.” (source)

Programs Available     

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Study  The Center for BrainHealth is studying the efficacy of a novel, innovative therapeutic approach to treat veterans diagnosed with PTSD.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Study and Decision Making Study     Peer-reviewed research from the Center for BrainHealth has shown that guided brain training significantly improves higher-order cognitive performance in civilian adults with TBI.  The impact of this research could enhance veterans’ mental productivity, improve cognitive capacity as well as rescue the long-term burden of disability on families and society as a whole.  (Learn more here.)  To learn more about the virtual study available to military service members ages 19-65, click here.

High Performance Brain Training at the Brain Performance Institute   The Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (or SMART) program, developed at the Center for BrainHealth, is based on more than 30 years of neuroscience research. The brain-training program equips veteran service members with an essential toolkit to become strategic learners, deeper-level thinkers and innovation generators.  

Brain Performance Institute     The programs mentioned above are offered at the Center for Brain Health, but they is also reaching warriors nationwide through the Brain Performance Institute. Since its launch, they’ve reached more than 500 warriors in 8 states.  Learn more about the program in this video:

We are incredibly grateful for the vital role the Center for Brain Health is playing in the process of offering healing to men and women who have served our country.

Connect with the Center for Brain Health!     Twitter     Facebook     YouTube

Filed Under: Travis: a soldier's story - Blog Tagged With: Center for Brain Health, Dallas, Travis: A Soldier's Story, Wounded Warrior

Tuesday Feature: Adaptive Training Foundation

January 20, 2015

Today we are honored to share with our #travisthemovie fans about the Adaptive Training Foundation, founded by retired NFL Linebacker David Vobora.  When Travis retired from the army and moved to Texas to be closer to Kelsey’s family and to continue his recovery, David began training Travis at his gym, Performance Vault, and helping him continue gaining strength and mobility.  David is a huge part of Travis’s recovery and has been personally inspired by his “Never Give Up, Never Quit” attitude, founding Adaptive Training Foudation because of his work with Travis.

Vobora Quote

Organization’s Purpose     The Adaptive Training Foundation was founded to provide individuals with physical impairments the proper facility and training necessary to achieve their health goals. David Vobora and his team use modified training programs that utilize body weight exercises and sophisticated weight training equipment to achieve weight loss, increase mobility, or to increase strength.

The Mission     Adaptive Training Foundation’s Mission is to restore hope through movement to those with physical impairment by creating opportunities for adaptive athletes to train and compete.

How it Works     Borrowing from multiple training systems, David customizes an individual plan specific to the client’s application.  Assessing risk to find the least jeopardizing ways to reach maximum improvement, David’s innovative approach creates a plan packed with things no one else is doing.

Understanding how the body moves and knowing what athletes should be feeling, he performs exercises alongside the client, educating the athlete on the what, why, and how of the regimen.  Using a wide scope lens David leaves no rock unturned. Addressing every aspect of training, recovery, and nutrition he uses cutting edge research to give his clients the best opportunity to be successful.

David’s resume features a unique cross section of elite including Professional, Olympic, College, High School, Youth, Military, Firefighter, Police, Wounded Warriors, Adaptive Athletes, and all Tactical Athletes. His work with Navy Seals, Traumatically Wounded Veterans, and the Carrick Brain Center makes him one of the most versatile trainers in the Country.

Make an Impact Today!     ATF is committed to making this program 100% FREE for its applicants!  This means there is an incredible opportunity for you to step into their story as they battle for a life of vitality and hope!  These remarkable men and women inspire and motivate with their courage to overcome.  Sponsoring a 9-week training program is $4500, but there are so many different ways your support can help!

Donate to the Adaptive Training Foundation

Connect with the Adaptive Training Foundation on Facebook!

 

Filed Under: Travis: a soldier's story - Blog Tagged With: Adaptive Training Foundation, inspiring, quad amputee, Travis Mills, workout

Meet the Director and Filmmaker Behind Travis: A Soldier’s Story, Jon Link

December 16, 2014

The heart of Fotolanthropy, the non-profit that produced the film Travis: A Soldier’s Story, is to tell inspiring true stories of people who have overcome adversity.  Using professional photographers and filmmakers, Fotolanthropy seeks to share stories that will encourage and inspire people around the world.

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Fotolanthropy’s Chief Filmmaker, Jon Link, with the non-profit’s founder, Katie Norris, Chief Storyteller

The photographers and filmmakers volunteer their time and talents to make Fotolanthropy stories, and we are incredibly grateful.  Today on the #travisthemovie blog, we’re highlighting the director, cinematographer and editor behind the award-winning documentary, Jon Link.  He says, “Volunteering my time for such a large scale project with Travis: a Soldier’s Story proved to be the most challenging and the most rewarding project I’ve ever worked on.”

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behind the scenes with chloe

With over 16 years of experience in film production and broadcasting, and a passion for films that inspire and challenge viewers, Jonathon’s film work has taken him all over the world.

After studying film and broadcasting at Evangel University in Springfield, MO and North Central University in Minneapolis, Jon went on to work at–and eventually assume ownership of–Element Media in Milwaukee. At Element, Jon worked on a variety of commercial and non-profit projects, including several short documentary films for Milwaukee-based sports attorney and philanthropist Craig McKenzie. These projects took Jon to Russia, Greece, Italy, Belgium and France, documenting the lives and careers of several international athletes, as well as Mr. McKenzie’s work with youth and adolescent cancer patients in the Milwaukee area.

In 2008, Jon served as Editor, Edit Supervisor and Graphic Designer for Drug Wars – Silver or Lead, a graphic documentary depicting the violent drug wars waged in Mexican border cities such as Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo. The film was an official selection of the USA Film Festival, Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival and West Hollywood International Film Festival.

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In 2009, Jon and two colleagues founded Four Story Creative in Dallas, Texas. Their work includes Last Stop, winner of the Best Short Film award at the 2011 LifeTree Film Festival, as well as the music video “The One You Need” for recording artists Shane and Shane. They also traveled to Port-au-Prince following the devastating earthquakes in Haiti to document missionary organization YWAM’s work in the recovery and rebuilding efforts.

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Jon also owns Jonathon Link Studios.  He has filmed and produced several short films with Fotolanthropy, as well as work on fine art wedding and family films in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  Jon says, “Having my own business gave me some freedom with a flexible schedule.  And I took that opportunity to put it toward films that inspire others. Looking back I can say I’ve that through volunteering and giving, I’ve made some of the closest friendships and done my best work.”

Team

 “Working on Travis: a Soldier’s Story with Fotolanthropy has taken me on a journey I never could have imagined.  I’ve met some pretty great people along the way that I hugely respect and that have had a pretty big impact on me, like David Gale (film producer and founder of MTV), Gary Sinise (film producer and actor, aka Lieutenant Dan from Forrest Gump) and President George W. Bush.,” Jon says.

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Jon Link, Katie Norris, Gary Sinise and Reece Norris

Katie Norris, Travis: A Soldier’s Story Producer says about Jon,  “This film would not have been possible without Jon’s dedication and passion towards this project. He has truly given the world a gift by sharing his talents.”

To learn more about becoming part of Fotolanthropy’s Fotocrew, please visit the Fotolanthropy site.  To-date, Fotolanthropy has told over 20 stories, and they are looking to continue with sharing new inspiring true stories in 2015.  If you are inspired by someone’s story of overcoming adversity, please consider nominating them here.

Filed Under: Travis: a soldier's story - Blog Tagged With: Fotolanthropy, inspiring documentary, Travis: A Soldier's Story

Dallas Veterans Day Highlight Video

December 3, 2014

We are incredibly grateful for the support Travis: A Soldier’s Story received at the final red carpet screening in Dallas on Veterans Day. Our sponsors, honorary chairs, host committee and participants made this an evening that won’t be forgotten.  Special thanks to our sponsor, Splendor Films, for capturing this evening on film and sharing the video with us.

Dallas Veterans Day Screening of Travis: A Soldier’s Story from Fotolanthropy on Vimeo.
 

 

Filed Under: Travis: a soldier's story - Blog Tagged With: Dallas, Documentary, Fotolanthropy, Travis: A Soldier's Story

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A Fotolanthropy Production

Fotolanthropy is a non-profit organization that captures inspiring true stories through photography and film. To learn more, visit: fotolanthropy.com.

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