What Resilient Squad Means to Me

I have a special place in my heart for Resilient Squad, and for Rosie and Edgar Rodriguez for the amazing message and community they created.

As I adjusted to my disabilities and my new limitations, Resilient Squad was my lifeline. I was bedridden and needed to believe that someday I'd be able to get back to the mountains again. Their pictures of squad members hiking- including somebody who used forearm crutches!- and their message of resilience in the face of adversity gave me hope and strength in a time I needed it the most.

A couple of years after finding such comfort in their pictures and messages, the story would come full circle when I shared a picture of myself walking in the mountains with my forearm crutches and wearing my squad shirt. It was my turn to share my story of rising with resilience! I finally got to tell Rosie and Edgar what their work meant to me, and they shared my story on their page.

This sharing led to other Resilient Squad members reaching out to celebrate this resilience with me, and they have continued supporting me on my journey in the years since. Every time I wore that shirt, I knew I had my squad cheering me on. They gave me a place to belong, even from a thousand miles away.

Never underestimate the power of sharing your story or your message. You never know who needs it, or the impact it could have on them.

Thank you Resilient Squad, Rosie, and Edgar, you'll always be my heroes!

Get your Resilient Squad gear here!