Once a soldier, always a soldier. This was the mantra of Code Name Bacon, a disabled veteran who had suffered a brain injury during his service. As part of his therapy, he joined a local softball team. The field became his new battleground, the bat his weapon, and the ball his target. For a few weeks, he was out there, relishing the game, the camaraderie, the joy of being part of a team again.
One sunny afternoon, as the team was throwing the ball around, Bacon started to back up to second base. Suddenly, his legs gave way, and he found himself sprawled on the ground. He could hear the opposing team’s laughter echoing in his ears. But Bacon was a soldier. He dusted himself off, stood tall, and continued to second base.
As the inning went on, Bacon’s blackout seizures, a cruel reminder of his injury, came on full display. He tripped and fell again. Yet, he refused to let his spirit falter. Later in that same inning, he was up to bat. With a determined look in his eyes, he swung and hit a single, getting on base.
The next player up was a female teammate. They would rotate in the batting order, a symbol of their unity and equality. She hit a grounder, and as Bacon ran towards second base, he blacked out and tripped right over the base. Somehow, he was safe. But he knew he had reached his limit. He flagged down their team manager and said, “I’m done.”
Bacon never played again. He would support his team the only way he could....by going to the bleachers and root his team to a win.... we lost. His brain injury had taken away his ability to play the game he had come to love. But it hadn’t taken away his spirit, his courage, or his determination. He may have lost the ability to play softball, but he gained something far more valuable - the knowledge that he was more than his disability, that he could face adversity head-on, and that he was, and always would be, a soldier.
Bacon has since been looking for another form of therapy. Obviously, this site will show a part of my journey from that point to where I will be going.
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