Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Elite Athlete, Volunteer, Olympic Medalist, Nurse, Recreation Therapist, World Traveler, Educator, Army and Air Force Veteran … Kate Callahan, by any standard, has lived life to the max. From an early age, Callahan has hammered through every challenge and obstacle thrown at her with the refined and readily available tools of focus and determination.

Callahan was born in 1965 in Montana, the place she still refers to as “home.” Since her father was an officer in the Air Force, she and her four siblings moved all over the country and, she “was always the new kid.”  Although she didn’t really like school for this reason, she loved playing softball, a sport she still enjoys today. Her athletic strength, raw talent, and naturally keen intelligence would take her higher than she could have ever imagined.

Inspired by her father, Callahan enlisted in the Air Force in 1983, just after she graduated from high school. Tapping into her extraordinary acumen, she worked in the School of Aerospace Medicine as an aerospace physiology instructor. She enjoyed her work, but was looking for leadership opportunities. She then transferred to the Army, where she used her nursing degree to serve in the Middle East as a Combat Medic then a Flight Nurse. In 1998, while working in the ICU, she met her spouse, whom she married in 2015.

Callahan’s military journey took an unexpected turn when a complicated surgery left her paralyzed and knocked her off track in 2000. It took some time, but Kate persevered and returned to her old self: focused, determined and ready to re-enlist in life. Callahan continued her education while recuperating in Texas and subsequently earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of San Antonio and a Master’s Degree in Recreation Therapy from Texas State University – San Marcos.

In addition to continuing her education, Callahan started participating in a variety of sports at the suggestion of a recreational therapist, Jose Laguna. He thought it might be a good way to engage in life. At that time, she was still working through the depression associated with this injury and the recovery process. His direction was the inspiration she needed. Because of her natural athletic ability and her softball roots, she was interested in track and field sports where she tried the events of discus and shot-put. To say she was a success is an understatement. She represented the United States in the 2011 Paralympic World Championships. Over the years, she has medaled numerous times in national and international competitions. While exploring various sports, she also gave hunting a try. Although she had hunted deer after the first Gulf War, she had not taken full advantage of the sport. This time around, Callahan found that “hunting opened up a lot of doors.” Just as Paralympics opened up opportunities for her, she could see that the sport of hunting could open up doors for others.

One of her hunting experiences was at the Gravick Ranch in San Isidro, Texas. Callahan had heard about the ranch and the Kniestedt Foundation while surveying recreational opportunities for fellow veterans as part of her volunteer work as Secretary of the Paralyzed Veterans Association. She had joined the PVA when she was recovering in the Spinal Cord Clinic. She knows from personal experience the physical and emotional challenges of injured veterans. Callahan sites several areas of need for former military personnel: support in transitioning to civilian life, navigating physical and mental health resources, and developing more programs to help women.

The challenge for any veteran is learning how to function in civilian life after military service. This is particularly difficult for veterans who enlisted immediately after high school and are learning for the first time, decades later, how to schedule and organize a daily routine that leads to a successful and sustainable civilian career. Equally challenging is the process of navigating medical resources. Not all needs are met through regular veteran’s benefits. It can be daunting to patch together supplemental benefits. In addition, there is a need for more programs specifically to support women veterans, as more are coming home injured and most programs are aimed at their male counterparts.

Callahan saw a unique opportunity for women veterans while visiting with the staff of the Kniestedt Foundation and hunting hog at the Gravick Ranch. Seeing potential as a place to enjoy the support of fellow veterans, rest from daily life, and have fun while hunting, Kate organized an all-women’s veteran weekend. Although she could not be at that event, the attending veterans truly appreciated and enjoyed the hunting experience. One attendee had a breakthrough with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. While there, this veteran realized that she needed more help, and this motivated her to reach out.

Callahan sees value in the camaraderie and network available by participating in programs such as those offered through the Kniestedt Foundation. “to a veteran, another veteran is family,” Callahan stated. This special bond is something only other veterans can truly appreciate. She encourages more women to get involved and engage in support programs that re-create this military “family” connection. There simply are not as many programs for women veterans, and women are each other’s greatest asset. She herself was deployed forward without help or support. Whether deploying, or making the transition to civilian life, veterans really benefit from camaraderie. This fellowship can be hard to find in the civilian world. Unfortunately, former military personnel have so little veteran networking opportunities because only a very small percentage of the civilian population currently serve (less than one percent), only a small percentage of the total civilian population are veterans (less than 10 percent), and of those veterans, women make up only 10 percent.*

This lack of support is particularly difficult for those suffering from PTSD. Most who suffer do not want to be around other people. With hyper-vigilance as their set point, they are always looking for a way out. Nonetheless, they need to stay connected. All veterans benefit from finding and pursuing a hobby or sport, availing themselves of community resources, and actively developing a supportive network for themselves and their family members. Callahan sees that everyone has an interest in something and she would like to see more organizations to enhance the esprit de corps among former military personnel.

Despite the incredible challenges presented to her, Kate Callahan continues to serve others. In addition to her volunteerism at Paralyzed Veterans of America, she shares her time at a homeless shelter in San Antonio, Texas, and works at Brooke Army Medical Center as a Recreation Therapist. Callahan still enjoys her athletic training and is now transitioning from wheelchair to walking. She juggles all of this while raising a son, Joshua, with her spouse, also a disabled veteran of the Gulf. Joshua is an ardent video gamer with a proclivity for both Math and English. Despite all the tests she has had to endure in life, there is one test that continues to elude her. Whenever Joshua challenges her to solve a math problem, she humbly admits that he usually gets to the right answer just as she is getting started! No doubt, Kate Callahan will meet this challenge head on, as she always has, and in the process continue to provide inspiration for all of us.

For more information about the Paralyzed Veterans of America, visit: http://www.pva.org

Sources:

https://www.michiganpva.org/images/pdf/publications/RollinTimes/rollintimes_sepoct2013.pdf

http://www.pva.org/hero-stories/kate-callahan

https://www.southtexas.va.gov/features/One_Vet_s_Don_t_Quit_message_for_women_Vets.asp

http://www.teamusa.org/Media/News/USOC/US-Paralympic-track-and-field-athletes-compete-in-Walt-Disney-World-invitational-at-ESPN-Wide-World-of-Sports

*https://www.womenshealth.va.gov/WOMENSHEALTH/latestinformation/facts.asp