Ride 2 Recovery: Profiles in Courage

Welcome to the first in a series of articles profiling courage and honor from some of the many Wounded Heroes Road 2 Recovery has come in contact with. It’s an honor and privilege to have worked with these brave men and women who have been severely wounded and who have had to overcame both mental and physical injuries. They have sacrificed so much to defend our freedom.

It’s a testament to their courage that each of them has not only overcome these wounds, but has gone beyond what most people thought possible. Many of them have dedicated themselves to showing fellow wounded warriors the way as mentors. Some have gone back to active duty to continue serving our country.

We hope you enjoy this series. Please feel free to share to share it with your friends and colleagues.

Capt. Ferris Butler

In December of 2006, U.S. Army Captain Ferris Butler was on patrol in Iraq’s Sunni Triangle when an improvised explosive device tore through his Humvee. Butler lost his left leg and most of his right foot. For 15 months, a glum Butler was confined to a wheelchair while doctors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., worked to get him walking again.

But before he could walk, he had the chance to learn how to ride a bicycle.

On March 4, Butler received his first “bike leg” prosthetic and promptly went for a ride in nearby Rock Creek Park with other Walter Reed military amputees,  and former pro cyclist and Mercury pro team manager John Wordin. Wordin had started a non-profit rehab program called Road 2 Recovery to support wounded warriors using cycling as a means to address the overcoming of their injuries.

With a little help and lots of encouragement, Butler made his way up some short but steep hills. Capt. Butler made those climbs on his bike just 30 days after his war-damaged left leg was amputated. He fought to save it, enduring 53 surgeries before it was replaced with a carbon-fiber surrogate.

Just 70 days later, a tanned and fit Butler talked about his next big challenge: A six-day, 480-mile Road 2 Recovery bike ride from Walter Reed to Charlotte NC and a lap around Lowe’s Motor Speedway before the start of the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race.

“The trip is not so much about having fun as it was about transforming your new body with something you can work with the rest of your life,” stated Butler.

Then this September, Butler had to have his other leg amputated because of a lack of stability in his damaged limb. He was not sad or depressed, just the opposite. He counted the days until his new prosthetic would show up and he would be able to resume riding his bike. He soon began riding a Star Trac spin bike that had been donated to Walter Reed through the R2R program.

As a double amputee, his goal this time is the upcoming R2R Texas Challenge beginning March 30th at the Center for the Intrepid, a place where other wounded warriors recovering from serious injuries are rehabilitated. Some of them will join Butler on the ride.

“I’ve just come to the realization that life is not over,” says Butler of southern Maryland. “I’m going to go on and do probably bigger and better things.”

More Info: TheRoad2Recovery.org

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