Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Multiple people in my family clean my father, are veterans,
troops that have been to war and now they're back.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
And think and be grateful for their service.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Sacrifice, love for their country, just unselfishness all that.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
They do for us.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
There are some people in this country who take extraordinary
steps to provide for the freedom and security.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
We forget that those people exist.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
We know them as the Army, Navy, air Force, Marines,
and Coast Guard. They call themselves soldiers, seals, rangers, airmen, sailors.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Devil dogs, and so much more.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
We call them fathers, brothers, sons and husbands, mothers, daughters,
sisters and wives.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
We call them friend and neighbor.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
These veterans answered the call, now we answer theirs today
are the best our country has to offer, and we
love them. Today, we honor them and we serve them.
David Malsby is your host, and he welcomes you to
(01:16):
this community of veterans, as together we are building the
road to.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Hope, and indeed we are glad to have you along
on a Sunday afternoon on the KPRC nine five OO
and the AM dial. Thank you for joining us as
you drive endlessly around the loop or the Beltway or
the Grand park Way, whichever want it is you do.
Thank you for listening. Those of you listen through the
magic of podcasts, we especially thank you for not only listening,
(01:44):
but also for sharing this podcast. And if you will
just share it with everybody you know and half the
people you don't know, will cover the entire world with
some hope. And the world could use a little bit
of that, So thank you for sharing. Wherever you listen
to podcasts, just look for Road to Hope Radio and
there we are several years worth of shows, lots and
(02:06):
lots of stories, a few comments from time to time
on some of the news items of the day dealing
with our veterans and what's going on in our veteran community,
but mainly stories about what's going on with our veterans
at Camp Hope, PTSD, Foundation of America and some of
those who make it possible. Speaking of a great big
thank you to our sponsors. It allows this opportunity to
(02:28):
spend a little time with you each and every week.
Are awesome friends. Billy and Connie Stagner at A Corey
Diamond and Design, Aco ri I A Cory Diamond and
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(02:52):
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this past week, I picked up an item that I
had them make for me, create for me, and it's
It was not one of those celebratory items. It was
but an item of very deep personal meaning to our family.
(03:12):
And I wouldn't trust that to anybody else. And Billy
and Connie Stagner two eight one four two forty seven
fifty five. And then for all those Oops moments in life,
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Speaker 2 (03:31):
Again.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
If you're gonna have folks come into your house and
do cleaning, whether it's the carpet, the upholstery, the UH,
the duct system in your house, the dryer vent in
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you can trust. Oops Steam dot Com. And then again,
our new sponsor are awesome friends at Republic Grand Ranch.
(03:57):
Republic Grand Ranches have been supporters of the Foundation in
Camp Hope for a number of years and now come
along as sponsors of this show. If you are contemplating
at some point building in your dream home, you want
to do it in a dream location, a safe location,
a beautiful location, a location where folks in that community
(04:22):
are people you want to have as your neighbors. That
is Republic, Grand Ranch, Republic Grand Ranch dot com. All right,
glad to have a couple of guys in a studio
with us. Back is Justin. He's been with us many times.
But you want to reintroduce yourself to the world. Yes, sir,
my name is Justin Lewis. I'm the Lee Resident of
Liaison at the PTSD Foundation of America Camp Hope here
(04:45):
in Houston, Texas. And I'm from Houston, Texas. I was
born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but me and my family
moved to Houston when I was about four years old.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
And I graduated J. Frank Adobe High School and I
served in the US Army. I turned twenty years old,
I enlisted in the Late Entry program as an Aviation
Operation Specialist of fifteen PAPA and I did two tours
in Iraq, one fifteen month tour oh seven oh nine
(05:15):
and another tour twenty eleven, and then I got out
the Army and it took me about ten years until
I found Camp Hope, or Camp Hope found me. I
believe it was divine intervention. So I'm here today, thank
God that I'm at Camp Hope.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
So you moved to Houston when you were old about
four years old? Four years old, sir?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
All right?
Speaker 5 (05:36):
So do you have more of a Cajun palette from
Louisiana or more of a text Mex ballot from Houston
or just whatever.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
I think it's a little bit of both. I think
it's a combination of both. Every time I go back
to New Orleans, I go down there the French Quarters,
and I feel like I'm right at home in my
in my gut, and then I'm always wanting to come
back to Houston, though, So I believe Houston is my
home in New Orleans. Louisiana is definitely in my blood.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Okay, so French Quarter feels home for you. Obviously that
made the news, I guess a couple of weeks ago. Now,
how how did What was your emotional response when you
heard that let's just go there.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
I was definitely triggered.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Now that I've been to Camp Hope for over four years,
I know when I'm triggered, and I know when I
see something that takes me to a level when I'm thinking, man,
I need to talk to someone about this, and that's
what I did. I talked to my counselor about it
on Friday, as I usually do.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Last Friday, I talked.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
To her about it, and I just remember exactly where
that is, right there at the end of the Bourbon
Street and the main the main street. I'm I'm trying
to think of the name right now, but it's right
there at the end of Bourbon Street on the main
street that's connected to Bourbon Street, and I just remember
walking down that street before and it took me back
(07:11):
to like, man, it could have been me or someone
I know, and that it's pretty sad to see things
like that happen in our country.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Absolutely, and it's always a little adds a little something
to it when it's your hometown, and there's just something
about that when things like that happen. All right, we're
going to be taking a break here in just a moment. Again,
wherever you listen to podcasts, just look for Road to
Hope Radio. And again, if you will share that it's
cost you nothing to share. You never know who life
(07:41):
it might impact, help change the trajectory of their life.
So thank you very very much.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
For sure.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
When we come back, I got a very important question
for you. Justin swim back with more Road to Hope
Radio and just a moment.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
You got hold.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Yeah you're feeling alone.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
I got my mind.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
And we walking back Road to Hope Radio. All right.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Just so if you're you're you're from born born in Louisiana,
you like cajun so important question, most important question question
of the show.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Uh, you're a crawfish guy.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Definitely that guy. I know that we have the biggest
cross exactly the world, and I'm going to make it
this year. All right, there we go. You know it's
Crawlfish is one of the things I like it. Uh
like this time of year when everybody's already starting and
(08:51):
like and you already know this is not don't start yet,
but everybody wants it so bad they're going out and
getting It's like, this is not don't do it, just
don't do it, give it some time.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
But when you know, you.
Speaker 5 (09:04):
Start seeing all these advertisements and people talking about where
are you getting crawfish? Uh, it's it starts getting the juices.
Floyd like, hmm, definitely, it's coming. It's not it's not
here yet, but it's it's coming.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
It's And I know, I met the couple that does
the Crawfish Bass every year, and they're very they are
awesome people. Yes, they are very kind, and they're they're
really just like that. They're not trying to do nothing
for the glorification is really just for fellowship and the
help combat veterans, you know. And I could see that
(09:39):
when I met them in person about eight months ago.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
And in fact, uh, good reminder for me to share
if you will, if you're on Facebook, if you look
for Road to Hope Radio on Facebook, we will post
a link to that.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
On Facebook.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
I think it's called the Big Crawfish Bash found, but
I will post a link to that. Because if you
if you buy your wrist bands now, which is your
ticket in if you buy wristbands now, it's a discount rate.
And I'm not going to say out low with I
think that number is. It's either it's really low when
you start thinking about all you can eat crawfish for.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
A day, it's it's really low.
Speaker 5 (10:22):
Because the advertisements I'm seeing right now are starting at
nine a pound and going up, and the nine a
pounds probably not the ones you want, which is weird
because you used to get it for you know, six
bucks a pound or whatever it is. It's just like
everything else, price is going on. But anyway, I will
post a link to that because if you'll go buy
(10:43):
the wristband. Now, I think it's twenty five bucks for
the riskband.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Now. I know it's not.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
More than that right now, but I know it will
be more than that one as we get closer to it.
But you stop and think about that all you can
eat deal, and it's not you got an hour, you
got all day. So it's the deal of the year
when it comes to crawfish and there's you know, fifty
or sixty cook teams there and you can get to
(11:13):
eat at any and all of them. And so it's
a great time and it all supports the PTSD Foundation
of America. It supports a couple of other programs dealing
with children's education and children's needs. So it's a great event.
It's a lot of fun. It's a very family friendly event.
They have a complete circus basically going on out there,
(11:37):
so lots of kids stuff to do, and all the
free crawfish you can eat. So it's if you like crawfish,
it's the deal. And it all supports Camp Hope. So
we look for Road to Hope Rady. We'll have a
link there that you can go ahead and buy that
wristband and you will not regret it because it'll come
time for it and you're like, oh, you know, I
(11:58):
should have done that, and then it's going to be
ten dollars more or whatever. Like if you're taking a
family of five or six, that adds up. So now's
the time to do it.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Look the Road to Hope Radio. All right.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Also on the show with us today, we've got one
of the guys in our program right now. You want
to give the world the grand introduction.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Yes, I am Lewis Holland.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
We've got the Lewis name down. We've got a last
name Lewis and a first name Lewis.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Sorry to interrupt, ahead, no problem, I'll.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Do it a few times.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I'm fine with that. Just because I am thirty six
years old, I'm from Houston, Texas. I actually grew up
in Parland, Texas, which is just south. I joined the
army when I was about twenty did four years, and
I did Patriot Missiles. I was stationing ford Hood, did
about a year in Kuwait and yeah, I did everything
(12:50):
from moving vehicles to maintenance and things like that on
the Patriots systems.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
That's about it.
Speaker 5 (12:55):
So two Lewis's two guys joined at twenty years of age.
What are the odds of this happening in the show.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
And then we actually just talking about, like we've done
plenty of times, about where we're from and being around
from the same area pretty much, like I say something
about Edgebrook and he's like, oh, yeah, that Fielsa right there,
and I know about those apartments behind there, and I
know about the Popa eyes and this and that, Like
(13:26):
we really know each other. Yeah, it's one of the
unique things about Camp Hope. I think guys come in
and they think they're the only ones and then they
find out no, they're not, and then they start hearing
other guys' stories, like, how do.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
You know my story? Right?
Speaker 5 (13:47):
That's true, it's not my story, it's it's your story.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Is my story?
Speaker 5 (13:51):
No, it's not, it's I mean, it's it's uncanny.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Yes, sir. What was it like for you when you
first got to camp.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
So when I first got to camp in October, I
couldn't believe the fellowship. Actually, everyone around me had similar
stories and they were immediately welcoming, and I just felt
an instant brotherhood I haven't felt since the Army. So
(14:19):
it was very comforting and very very smooth transition into
Camp Hope. And I actually loved this place a lot.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Okay, so let's let's do some math here real quick.
I'm not the greatest in the world with numbers, but
let's do some math. So you deployed in twenty ten.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Correct, two nine.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
You got to Camp Hope in October of twenty four, Yes,
so that's fourteen years correct. What was going on in between?
Speaker 3 (14:48):
In between? When I first got out of the Army,
I got married and had my son, and my wife
also had a son, so I had two boys to raise.
My sister moved in with us, and that was in Austin, Texas. Actually,
so the first seven years I was out or so,
I spent in Austin, Texas.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Austin, Texas. I don't know how you end up in Austin.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
With It is very true what they say. It is
a weird place. Yes, Austin is weird.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
Anyway, Go ahead, So you got married after you came home,
had a son, She had a son, So were raising
two boys.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Sister moves in. That's a lot going on, correct.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
I also actually during that time put myself through Austin
Community College. I got a building construction management degree with
ACC there. And yeah, it was all times just going quick,
working a lot and and you know, providing for a family.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
When did you first realize something was up?
Speaker 3 (15:48):
So throughout that time I was working a lot, of
course and going to school a lot, but I would
have certain instances where the PTSD would come out, and
you know, I would have a short attention span over
you know, over you know, desensitize or over sensitized about
certain things, and uh, you know, less patience with my kids,
(16:09):
which I desperately did not want to have, and uh,
just certain times where I would have panic attacks and
things like that, and it all kind of just started
adding up.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
So did any of that happen while you were in school?
Or was that after school? Where how did that begin
to work on?
Speaker 3 (16:24):
So it started little when I first got out, and
uh then it kind of just grew and grew and
grew until uh, you know, I was. I was very impatient.
I was very you know, very hard to talk to.
I imagine, I imagine my family had had a lot
of issues when it came to, uh, you know, talking
to me about certain things and certain subjects, and uh,
(16:46):
I just couldn't really connect with my family anymore. At
that point, it got really, you know, uh, really hard
to communicate properly with my family.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
So okay, uh And just a reminder, as we go
through this, we realize certain things can trigger you or
perhaps you are a family member a friend of a
veteran and you see some of the things that we're
talking about. A couple of ways to connect with us
for someone in crisis, and this is our Combat Trauma
(17:19):
Crisis Line. It has answered twenty four to seven three
sixty five a combat veteran. It is not a psych
or someone just reading answers off the screen. It is
a combat that been there, gone through it, lost it,
felt it. Eight seven seven seven one seven seventy eight
seventy three. I'll give you that number again again, answered
(17:41):
by a combat that eight seven seven seven one seven
seventy eight seventy three. For information on Camp Hope as
well as our family support groups, our warriors support groups
that we run both virtually and in person across the country.
PTSD USA dot org will be right back with more
of Road to Hope Radio and welcome back Road to
(18:15):
Hope Radio. David Maul's to be glad to have you
along with us. Great big thanks to our friends at
iHeart Houston make this possible for us, and as as
soon as the show airs every Sunday, shortly thereafterwards, we
have it loaded up as a podcast. So again, wherever
(18:37):
you listen to podcasts, just look for Road to Hope Radio.
It's there, Apple, iTunes, whatever it is, you can find
it there, Spreaker, all those places. Let's see where else
have I seen it? Spotify? Where have you listen to podcasts?
Just look for Road to Hope Radio and there we are. Look,
(18:58):
you know someone, maybe you don't know them, or maybe
maybe it's you know someone who knows someone who needs us.
In fact, justin this is kind of cool, and there's
only so much I can share, obviously because of hippo
and all that, but there is someone in our program
today that is graduating this month January twenty twenty five,
(19:24):
and they, let's just say, they needed us, didn't know
they needed us, but they needed us. Didn't know who
we were, didn't know what we existed, but they knew
someone who had a conversation mentioned to somebody that they
(19:46):
knew of what was going on, and they were trying
to help this guy and the person they were talking to.
So this is the third party basically, so, hey, we
support this place in Houston called Camp Hope, and it
sounds like this guy you're working with might be a
good fit for Camp Hope. So the third party person
(20:10):
reached out to us about this veteran who got us
into the second party person who eventually got us to
the actual veteran who needed us and now is about
to graduate our program. So sometimes this you know, three
or four links out, it's true, but if you just
keep sharing, Like when these folks reached out to us
(20:34):
about this particular veteran, they were so excited to be
able to make the connection. They weren't excited obviously this
guy was in the shape he was in was he
was in a bad place. Let's just say that he
was in a very very bad place. So they weren't
excited about that, but they were excited that they knew
us and had taken a tour of our campus and
(20:56):
seen our program and were involved in it. They were
so excited they could be some part in it. And
of course, eventually it's up to the veteran, right, just
like it was for you, Just like it was for
you Lewis, to not only come into the program, but
to work the program, complete the program. That's a choice
you have to make that nobody else can make for you.
(21:16):
But these folks, you know again three four links out
are so excited and they don't know this guy's journey
because there's we can't divulge that information, but they are
aware that he's about to graduate and they are just
so excited. And I share that because if you can
(21:39):
be some part of that, it doesn't matter what part
in that role or you know, what role you play
in the life trajectory change of an individual. But you
see someone in a fully destructive mode, it's it's not
it's going to end poor if something doesn't happen quickly, right,
(22:03):
And if you get to be some part of that
and seeing that life change, and that was you know,
that's was when we first made contact, where they first
made contact with us. That was about seven and a
half eight months ago and now we're coming to this
place where this guy's about to graduate the program, Like
(22:24):
how cool is that? And the folks who are listening
right now can be a part of that too.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
It's their definitely.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
I mean, so many different ways to connect with a
veteran that's in need of help. And I know when
I was I when I wasn't in need of help.
I I just didn't have nobody else to turn to.
And then I went to a place downtown Houston to
(22:53):
get some help to get off the streets of being homeless.
And I've been there about five times already. And then
they kept asking me do you want to help? Do
you want help off the streets? I would say no,
I want to go back out there because my addiction
was calling me. And then just that day, I don't know,
I just I got super sick. I was like I
(23:14):
was about to die. I felt like I was about
to die. And I don't know if God was just
like that's it. I'm going to show you one way
or another. And that's what I think. It really was,
Like you're not getting out of here, You're not getting
out of it at this time. You need to get
the help that you've been needing to get for over
ten years. So their liaison at this place downtown Houston
(23:35):
reached out to Camp Hope and then ten days later
I had to tough it out that ten days later,
like many of our residents have to do for ten
twenty thirty days before they come to Camp Hope. I
had to tough it out and say I'm done with it.
So it is up to the veteran, is up to
the person to make that choice this ultimately, but you
can nudge them a little bit, you know, and give
(23:58):
them that that help. And I know that's what I know.
That's what everyone wants to do. It's just just to
help the person that's in need of help. But it's
ultimately up to the person that's stuck in that the
depression addiction to finally say I had enough and that's
(24:18):
that's what I did.
Speaker 5 (24:20):
Yeah, And it's it's such a beautiful thing when you
see the individual finally make that choice and then continue
to do the daily work to get to a better spot.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Like you are.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
You're You're a great source of encouragement and inspiration to
guys who are in the program right now as they
see you daily doing your work and how you help
them in their program and the process of things they
have to deal with. It's extremely powerful for them to
(24:51):
get to see that taking place firsthand. And then things
like this past this past Sunday, it was so cool
to hear one of our guys share the the day
before he had seen his family for the first time
in over three years, and I think he specifically mentioned
his children, if I remember correctly. And getting to see
(25:14):
those kinds of things and be you know, whatever part
in that is so awesome. Just exciting to get to
see and see, you know, the results of the work
that's being put in and change not only in that
veteran's life, but in his family's life. To be able
(25:34):
to at least have conversations now and to be able
at least have some sort of connection with the family, that's.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Just absolutely beautiful thing.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
Yeah, Lewis, you're mentioning it started small, which is typically
how that is. You know some of the reactions over time.
Did you begin to see things that were or identified
things that were triggering these reactions or was it just
could have been anything for you?
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Oh, for me personally, it was just just different stressful situations, money,
trying to make enough money to support a family just
weighs on you. And as a you know, as a man,
you want to provide. My wife worked as well, but
you know, you just want to be the provider and
the keeper and the you know, the safety net of
(26:23):
your family. And towards the end there, I got more
and more frustrated with my PTSD and things like that,
and I couldn't handle situations the way I should have,
and my patience was gone. And yeah, it just it,
Just like I said, it continued adding up to where
I was having trouble, you know, just just staying on
(26:46):
task with what I had in front of me and
providing for my family.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
Yeah, when you were seeing some of those situations and
some of the reactions you were having, did you ever
reach out for help to anyone? Did you go to
the A or anywhere else?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
So I had reached out to the VA, but I
you know, I wasn't even aware of mental health at
that time. I didn't quite have the information and the
knowledge I have now with how important mental health is
in the whole situation. I was always the type of
guy that would push down the pain and move on
(27:22):
to the next thing without ever processing any trauma or
you know, working on any of that. So one thing
that this program has taught me is working past your trauma,
you know, learning to forgive yourself for things, and working
past shame. And I think that's truly amazing that I
(27:43):
finally am able to learn those coping skills I need
to be successful today.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Sure, when were you diagnosed?
Speaker 3 (27:51):
I believe I was officially diagnosed in twenty nineteen or
twenty twenty either one.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Was that the VA.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
That was the VA?
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Yes, okay, and they diagnosed you that they offer any help, suggestions, plans.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
So I was diagnosed on the way to the domicillary
in Temple, Texas. And like I said, I had no
idea about any of it. I didn't even find out
my actual diagnoses until later. So no, I didn't really
have many options or much information on it.
Speaker 5 (28:28):
Okay, all right, we're gonna have to take our final
break here, and just reminder eight seven seven seven one
seven seventy eight seventy three is our combat Trauma Crisis line.
Call any time eight seven seven seven one seven seventy
eight seventy three for information not only on Camp Hope,
(28:48):
but also our other programs all at no charge tra
veterans or their families.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I can't overemphasize that no charge.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
PTSD post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD USA dot org.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
We'll be right back and welcome back Road to Hope Radio.
Speaker 5 (29:17):
Big thanks to our show sponsors A Corey Diamond and
Design two eight one four two forty seven fifty five
and on Friends Wood Texas.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
But hey, they'll help you no matter where you are.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
There's this thing called Zoom and they've helped a lot
of folks that are not within driving distance of Friends
with Texas. Uh, gonna make a big purchase, important purchase
for somewhat important your life. A Corey Diamond and Design,
Oopsteam dot com for those Oops moments in life two
eight one eight two two zero five sixty one and
Republic Grand Ranch dot Com. Awesome friends just north of
(29:52):
the Houston area, a great, great location Republic Grand Ranch.
Talking with Justin Lewis Army Vet and also Lewis another
Army Vet that's in our program at Camp Hope currently.
So you mentioned going to the domicillary in Temple, correct,
(30:13):
and that was twenty nineteen. I believe that was twenty
twenty twenty, Okay, COVID you'r fun times. That was still
four years ago. What happened in that in between time?
Speaker 3 (30:27):
And between that time, I mostly became homeless during that
time between Austin and Houston, Texas. It was just a
very big struggle, especially during COVID time, to be homeless,
and you know, it presented its challenges and everything and
(30:48):
eventually got me here though, so I'm thankful.
Speaker 5 (30:51):
How did you hear about Camp Hope?
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Actually I heard about it from Harris County Jail. Okay,
I'm in the Veterans program for their their court and
I had I had gotten some trouble and then back
up in there and are even stars and Stripes or yes,
I was in It wasn't Stars and Stripes. It was
(31:16):
the other one Brothers in Arms, I believe. And from
there I had some people that that I was in
there with that told me about Camp Hope a little
bit and just explained how awesome it was. And I
had a choice between that and an another place, and
they definitely pushed me for Camp Hope and I'm very
(31:37):
happy about that.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Now.
Speaker 5 (31:38):
Was that a choice given by a veterans court?
Speaker 3 (31:41):
They gave me two different choices, okay, And.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
That was in Veterans Court. That was correct, Okay, correct, Yeah,
which is a great program, It really is. Yeah, they
do really really good work. Judge Carter started that here
in Houston, Judge Mark Carter, and man did he do
yeoman's work and getting that set up. He had to
go jumped through a whole lot of legislative hoops in
back in Austin to get that all set up and
(32:05):
run it. But man, that has impact positively impacted so
many lives through the work of Veterans Court. And you're
not the first to get introduced to us through Harris
County and the Veterans Court and Harris County Jail. So
I hated that that's where you ended up, but I'm
(32:25):
really grateful that they gave you the opportunity. So when
they when they gave you the choice, like, what's the
what's the stipulation, Like you finished the program anything in
addition to that.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
So the stipulation right now is that I complete Camp
Hope in full and that I remain going to Veterans
Court for another year and a half. I believe there's
four phases in it right now. I'm in phase one,
about to enter into phase two.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
I believe fantastic. That's awesome.
Speaker 5 (32:56):
So coming in you talked about the brotherhood. What else
has stood out to you from your time at camp.
You've been here a few months now, what what what?
What's gotten your attention?
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Honestly, Uh, just the emphasis on building a new life. Uh,
you know, uh, whether it comes to you know, daily
chores or just taking responsibilities in life or just even working.
Uh you know my uh my bay that I live
(33:32):
in serves lunch and uh that that's that's part of
our responsibilities for the day. But it actually is amazing
just getting back into there and and being able to
serve people.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
And the amount of love you receive in the camp.
Uh and and the counselors even because uh I had
I had a lot of untouched trauma, and when I
got there, they they uh they presented it to me
in a way that that was very easy to start with,
and then we got into the bigger details and things
(34:04):
like that, and it was a very it was a
smooth transition to start on something that was so so
unique to even try to begin so good.
Speaker 5 (34:16):
Yeah, because that's one of the things I don't think
most folks understand. It's never just the combat trauma. Never,
I mean, it's just it's never just it. There's there's
other traumas. Any anyone that's lived for a minute has
experienced trauma in their life, and you know, different kinds
and all that. But it's never just combat. It's other things.
(34:39):
Now another thing, you guys, me hearing your story sharing
the Lewis's, the Army, the twenty tens, experiencing homelessness, and
I know you experienced justin you talked about experiencing it
kind of, I guess off and on for those four years, yes,
last four years. Yeah, that's just like you were almost
(35:00):
six and a half years here in Houston, which is
still just I have a hard time wrapping my brain
around that.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
I could probably talk about that for a whole hour. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:10):
Yeah, we were just looking out the window right now
about man, because we both talk about some of the
same places, like I was talking about earlier, we talked
about some of the same places. He'd be like right
there on West Timer and Timley Rock behind that Chef Run, Yeah,
ill know, right there at that bus stop over there.
And now I'm helping up out with court. So next
(35:31):
Wednesday I'll be taking him to court and he has
a birthday on next Tuesday, Oh birthday.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
We just got a.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
Lot of things that we were talking about on the
rides from Camp Hope to Court, downtown Houston and then
places like coming here to the iHeart Radio show and
the Road to Hope.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
We talked about Road to Hope.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
We just have a lot of things that we go
talk about that the ups and downs of life, and
just I really thank God for the things that you
do to help me understand that I'm right where I'm.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Supposed to be in life.
Speaker 5 (36:05):
Well, and you mentioned justin earlier that you know, when
people would offer you help, or you know, the court system,
whoever would offer you help, that you mentioned it that
your addiction would just lure you back back out into
the streets, which is so difficult for folks to understand
who have not been in the addiction world, but in
(36:30):
our particularly I think in Houston, but really just about anywhere,
but particularly in Houston. For a veteran to be homeless,
they pretty.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Much have to choose to be It's a choice.
Speaker 5 (36:43):
Like there are options. There are a lot of options
out there. Not all of them are good, but there
are a lot of options out there. And I know
at some point you need look for you just what
you were done for you. It's you know, a court
system that help you make the choice. Yes, but let's
take just a minute and speak to the family member,
(37:05):
the veteran out there who's where you were, just in
and out of homelessness, in and out of maybe some
sort of program or some sort of recovery program, whatever
it may be. Three months in what would you say
to them, that one who's out there continuing to choose.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
The addiction.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
So one thing I would tell them that I wasn't
aware of is how much better it gets after some
time goes by. So it may be very uncomfortable at first,
it may be very hard to deal with at first,
all the pain and trauma you've went through. But I
could say I'm almost six months queen this month, and
(37:48):
looking back at it from six months, it gets better
and better. And if you take that one leap of
faith and start working to better yourself and just do
a little bit each day, the future looks brighter and
brighter as you go.
Speaker 5 (38:05):
Well, congratulations on the six months. I know probably if
we if we could go back mentally to where you
were seven months ago, you probably would have never believed you.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
Could do six months. No, SIRH did not that same
for you. I just thank God that.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
I thanks so much that I'm not where I used
to be and progress is not perfection. Yeah, and I
just keep looking forward and keep knowing that you got
a lot of people in your corner, like I tell
some of these guys.
Speaker 5 (38:38):
But also know you're an inspiration to an awful lot
of people. So thank you for doing the work you've
done and are doing. Lewis, continue doing the work, finish
the program. Can't thank you enough for doing what you're
doing and for joining us, and thank you for joining
us on the Road to Hope Radio again. Wherever you
listen to podcasts, look for Road to Hope and share
it with everybody you know. Look forward being with you
again next week for more of a Road to Hope.
Speaker 4 (39:01):
Name
Multiple people in my family clean my father, are veterans,
troops that have been to war and now they're back.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
And think and be grateful for their service.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Sacrifice, love for their country, just unselfishness all that.
Speaker 4 (00:18):
They do for us.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
There are some people in this country who take extraordinary
steps to provide for the freedom and security.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
We forget that those people exist.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
We know them as the Army, Navy, air Force, Marines,
and Coast Guard. They call themselves soldiers, seals, rangers, airmen, sailors.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Devil dogs, and so much more.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
We call them fathers, brothers, sons and husbands, mothers, daughters,
sisters and wives.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
We call them friend and neighbor.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
These veterans answered the call, now we answer theirs today
are the best our country has to offer, and we
love them. Today, we honor them and we serve them.
David Malsby is your host, and he welcomes you to
(01:16):
this community of veterans, as together we are building the
road to.
Speaker 5 (01:21):
Hope, and indeed we are glad to have you along
on a Sunday afternoon on the KPRC nine five OO
and the AM dial. Thank you for joining us as
you drive endlessly around the loop or the Beltway or
the Grand park Way, whichever want it is you do.
Thank you for listening. Those of you listen through the
magic of podcasts, we especially thank you for not only listening,
(01:44):
but also for sharing this podcast. And if you will
just share it with everybody you know and half the
people you don't know, will cover the entire world with
some hope. And the world could use a little bit
of that, So thank you for sharing. Wherever you listen
to podcasts, just look for Road to Hope Radio and
there we are several years worth of shows, lots and
(02:06):
lots of stories, a few comments from time to time
on some of the news items of the day dealing
with our veterans and what's going on in our veteran community,
but mainly stories about what's going on with our veterans
at Camp Hope, PTSD, Foundation of America and some of
those who make it possible. Speaking of a great big
thank you to our sponsors. It allows this opportunity to
(02:28):
spend a little time with you each and every week.
Are awesome friends. Billy and Connie Stagner at A Corey
Diamond and Design, Aco ri I A Cory Diamond and
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this past week, I picked up an item that I
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It was not one of those celebratory items. It was
but an item of very deep personal meaning to our family.
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And I wouldn't trust that to anybody else. And Billy
and Connie Stagner two eight one four two forty seven
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Speaker 2 (03:31):
Again.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
If you're gonna have folks come into your house and
do cleaning, whether it's the carpet, the upholstery, the UH,
the duct system in your house, the dryer vent in
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our new sponsor are awesome friends at Republic Grand Ranch.
(03:57):
Republic Grand Ranches have been supporters of the Foundation in
Camp Hope for a number of years and now come
along as sponsors of this show. If you are contemplating
at some point building in your dream home, you want
to do it in a dream location, a safe location,
a beautiful location, a location where folks in that community
(04:22):
are people you want to have as your neighbors. That
is Republic, Grand Ranch, Republic Grand Ranch dot com. All right,
glad to have a couple of guys in a studio
with us. Back is Justin. He's been with us many times.
But you want to reintroduce yourself to the world. Yes, sir,
my name is Justin Lewis. I'm the Lee Resident of
Liaison at the PTSD Foundation of America Camp Hope here
(04:45):
in Houston, Texas. And I'm from Houston, Texas. I was
born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but me and my family
moved to Houston when I was about four years old.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
And I graduated J. Frank Adobe High School and I
served in the US Army. I turned twenty years old,
I enlisted in the Late Entry program as an Aviation
Operation Specialist of fifteen PAPA and I did two tours
in Iraq, one fifteen month tour oh seven oh nine
(05:15):
and another tour twenty eleven, and then I got out
the Army and it took me about ten years until
I found Camp Hope, or Camp Hope found me. I
believe it was divine intervention. So I'm here today, thank
God that I'm at Camp Hope.
Speaker 5 (05:31):
So you moved to Houston when you were old about
four years old? Four years old, sir?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
All right?
Speaker 5 (05:36):
So do you have more of a Cajun palette from
Louisiana or more of a text Mex ballot from Houston
or just whatever.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
I think it's a little bit of both. I think
it's a combination of both. Every time I go back
to New Orleans, I go down there the French Quarters,
and I feel like I'm right at home in my
in my gut, and then I'm always wanting to come
back to Houston, though, So I believe Houston is my
home in New Orleans. Louisiana is definitely in my blood.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Okay, so French Quarter feels home for you. Obviously that
made the news, I guess a couple of weeks ago. Now,
how how did What was your emotional response when you
heard that let's just go there.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
I was definitely triggered.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Now that I've been to Camp Hope for over four years,
I know when I'm triggered, and I know when I
see something that takes me to a level when I'm thinking, man,
I need to talk to someone about this, and that's
what I did. I talked to my counselor about it
on Friday, as I usually do.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Last Friday, I talked.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
To her about it, and I just remember exactly where
that is, right there at the end of the Bourbon
Street and the main the main street. I'm I'm trying
to think of the name right now, but it's right
there at the end of Bourbon Street on the main
street that's connected to Bourbon Street, and I just remember
walking down that street before and it took me back
(07:11):
to like, man, it could have been me or someone
I know, and that it's pretty sad to see things
like that happen in our country.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
Absolutely, and it's always a little adds a little something
to it when it's your hometown, and there's just something
about that when things like that happen. All right, we're
going to be taking a break here in just a moment. Again,
wherever you listen to podcasts, just look for Road to
Hope Radio. And again, if you will share that it's
cost you nothing to share. You never know who life
(07:41):
it might impact, help change the trajectory of their life.
So thank you very very much.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
For sure.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
When we come back, I got a very important question
for you. Justin swim back with more Road to Hope
Radio and just a moment.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
You got hold.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Yeah you're feeling alone.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
I got my mind.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
And we walking back Road to Hope Radio. All right.
Speaker 5 (08:13):
Just so if you're you're you're from born born in Louisiana,
you like cajun so important question, most important question question
of the show.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Uh, you're a crawfish guy.
Speaker 4 (08:30):
Definitely that guy. I know that we have the biggest
cross exactly the world, and I'm going to make it
this year. All right, there we go. You know it's
Crawlfish is one of the things I like it. Uh
like this time of year when everybody's already starting and
(08:51):
like and you already know this is not don't start yet,
but everybody wants it so bad they're going out and
getting It's like, this is not don't do it, just
don't do it, give it some time.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
But when you know, you.
Speaker 5 (09:04):
Start seeing all these advertisements and people talking about where
are you getting crawfish? Uh, it's it starts getting the juices.
Floyd like, hmm, definitely, it's coming. It's not it's not
here yet, but it's it's coming.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
It's And I know, I met the couple that does
the Crawfish Bass every year, and they're very they are
awesome people. Yes, they are very kind, and they're they're
really just like that. They're not trying to do nothing
for the glorification is really just for fellowship and the
help combat veterans, you know. And I could see that
(09:39):
when I met them in person about eight months ago.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
And in fact, uh, good reminder for me to share
if you will, if you're on Facebook, if you look
for Road to Hope Radio on Facebook, we will post
a link to that.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
On Facebook.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
I think it's called the Big Crawfish Bash found, but
I will post a link to that. Because if you
if you buy your wrist bands now, which is your
ticket in if you buy wristbands now, it's a discount rate.
And I'm not going to say out low with I
think that number is. It's either it's really low when
you start thinking about all you can eat crawfish for.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
A day, it's it's really low.
Speaker 5 (10:22):
Because the advertisements I'm seeing right now are starting at
nine a pound and going up, and the nine a
pounds probably not the ones you want, which is weird
because you used to get it for you know, six
bucks a pound or whatever it is. It's just like
everything else, price is going on. But anyway, I will
post a link to that because if you'll go buy
(10:43):
the wristband. Now, I think it's twenty five bucks for
the riskband.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Now. I know it's not.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
More than that right now, but I know it will
be more than that one as we get closer to it.
But you stop and think about that all you can
eat deal, and it's not you got an hour, you
got all day. So it's the deal of the year
when it comes to crawfish and there's you know, fifty
or sixty cook teams there and you can get to
(11:13):
eat at any and all of them. And so it's
a great time and it all supports the PTSD Foundation
of America. It supports a couple of other programs dealing
with children's education and children's needs. So it's a great event.
It's a lot of fun. It's a very family friendly event.
They have a complete circus basically going on out there,
(11:37):
so lots of kids stuff to do, and all the
free crawfish you can eat. So it's if you like crawfish,
it's the deal. And it all supports Camp Hope. So
we look for Road to Hope Rady. We'll have a
link there that you can go ahead and buy that
wristband and you will not regret it because it'll come
time for it and you're like, oh, you know, I
(11:58):
should have done that, and then it's going to be
ten dollars more or whatever. Like if you're taking a
family of five or six, that adds up. So now's
the time to do it.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Look the Road to Hope Radio. All right.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Also on the show with us today, we've got one
of the guys in our program right now. You want
to give the world the grand introduction.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Yes, I am Lewis Holland.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
We've got the Lewis name down. We've got a last
name Lewis and a first name Lewis.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Sorry to interrupt, ahead, no problem, I'll.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Do it a few times.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I'm fine with that. Just because I am thirty six
years old, I'm from Houston, Texas. I actually grew up
in Parland, Texas, which is just south. I joined the
army when I was about twenty did four years, and
I did Patriot Missiles. I was stationing ford Hood, did
about a year in Kuwait and yeah, I did everything
(12:50):
from moving vehicles to maintenance and things like that on
the Patriots systems.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
That's about it.
Speaker 5 (12:55):
So two Lewis's two guys joined at twenty years of age.
What are the odds of this happening in the show.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
And then we actually just talking about, like we've done
plenty of times, about where we're from and being around
from the same area pretty much, like I say something
about Edgebrook and he's like, oh, yeah, that Fielsa right there,
and I know about those apartments behind there, and I
know about the Popa eyes and this and that, Like
(13:26):
we really know each other. Yeah, it's one of the
unique things about Camp Hope. I think guys come in
and they think they're the only ones and then they
find out no, they're not, and then they start hearing
other guys' stories, like, how do.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
You know my story? Right?
Speaker 5 (13:47):
That's true, it's not my story, it's it's your story.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Is my story?
Speaker 5 (13:51):
No, it's not, it's I mean, it's it's uncanny.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Yes, sir. What was it like for you when you
first got to camp.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
So when I first got to camp in October, I
couldn't believe the fellowship. Actually, everyone around me had similar
stories and they were immediately welcoming, and I just felt
an instant brotherhood I haven't felt since the Army. So
(14:19):
it was very comforting and very very smooth transition into
Camp Hope. And I actually loved this place a lot.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Okay, so let's let's do some math here real quick.
I'm not the greatest in the world with numbers, but
let's do some math. So you deployed in twenty ten.
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Correct, two nine.
Speaker 5 (14:37):
You got to Camp Hope in October of twenty four, Yes,
so that's fourteen years correct. What was going on in between?
Speaker 3 (14:48):
In between? When I first got out of the Army,
I got married and had my son, and my wife
also had a son, so I had two boys to raise.
My sister moved in with us, and that was in Austin, Texas. Actually,
so the first seven years I was out or so,
I spent in Austin, Texas.
Speaker 2 (15:06):
Austin, Texas. I don't know how you end up in Austin.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
With It is very true what they say. It is
a weird place. Yes, Austin is weird.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
Anyway, Go ahead, So you got married after you came home,
had a son, She had a son, So were raising
two boys.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Sister moves in. That's a lot going on, correct.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
I also actually during that time put myself through Austin
Community College. I got a building construction management degree with
ACC there. And yeah, it was all times just going quick,
working a lot and and you know, providing for a family.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
When did you first realize something was up?
Speaker 3 (15:48):
So throughout that time I was working a lot, of
course and going to school a lot, but I would
have certain instances where the PTSD would come out, and
you know, I would have a short attention span over
you know, over you know, desensitize or over sensitized about
certain things, and uh, you know, less patience with my kids,
(16:09):
which I desperately did not want to have, and uh,
just certain times where I would have panic attacks and
things like that, and it all kind of just started
adding up.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
So did any of that happen while you were in school?
Or was that after school? Where how did that begin
to work on?
Speaker 3 (16:24):
So it started little when I first got out, and
uh then it kind of just grew and grew and
grew until uh, you know, I was. I was very impatient.
I was very you know, very hard to talk to.
I imagine, I imagine my family had had a lot
of issues when it came to, uh, you know, talking
to me about certain things and certain subjects, and uh,
(16:46):
I just couldn't really connect with my family anymore. At
that point, it got really, you know, uh, really hard
to communicate properly with my family.
Speaker 5 (16:55):
So okay, uh And just a reminder, as we go
through this, we realize certain things can trigger you or
perhaps you are a family member a friend of a
veteran and you see some of the things that we're
talking about. A couple of ways to connect with us
for someone in crisis, and this is our Combat Trauma
(17:19):
Crisis Line. It has answered twenty four to seven three
sixty five a combat veteran. It is not a psych
or someone just reading answers off the screen. It is
a combat that been there, gone through it, lost it,
felt it. Eight seven seven seven one seven seventy eight
seventy three. I'll give you that number again again, answered
(17:41):
by a combat that eight seven seven seven one seven
seventy eight seventy three. For information on Camp Hope as
well as our family support groups, our warriors support groups
that we run both virtually and in person across the country.
PTSD USA dot org will be right back with more
of Road to Hope Radio and welcome back Road to
(18:15):
Hope Radio. David Maul's to be glad to have you
along with us. Great big thanks to our friends at
iHeart Houston make this possible for us, and as as
soon as the show airs every Sunday, shortly thereafterwards, we
have it loaded up as a podcast. So again, wherever
(18:37):
you listen to podcasts, just look for Road to Hope Radio.
It's there, Apple, iTunes, whatever it is, you can find
it there, Spreaker, all those places. Let's see where else
have I seen it? Spotify? Where have you listen to podcasts?
Just look for Road to Hope Radio and there we are. Look,
(18:58):
you know someone, maybe you don't know them, or maybe
maybe it's you know someone who knows someone who needs us.
In fact, justin this is kind of cool, and there's
only so much I can share, obviously because of hippo
and all that, but there is someone in our program
today that is graduating this month January twenty twenty five,
(19:24):
and they, let's just say, they needed us, didn't know
they needed us, but they needed us. Didn't know who
we were, didn't know what we existed, but they knew
someone who had a conversation mentioned to somebody that they
(19:46):
knew of what was going on, and they were trying
to help this guy and the person they were talking to.
So this is the third party basically, so, hey, we
support this place in Houston called Camp Hope, and it
sounds like this guy you're working with might be a
good fit for Camp Hope. So the third party person
(20:10):
reached out to us about this veteran who got us
into the second party person who eventually got us to
the actual veteran who needed us and now is about
to graduate our program. So sometimes this you know, three
or four links out, it's true, but if you just
keep sharing, Like when these folks reached out to us
(20:34):
about this particular veteran, they were so excited to be
able to make the connection. They weren't excited obviously this
guy was in the shape he was in was he
was in a bad place. Let's just say that he
was in a very very bad place. So they weren't
excited about that, but they were excited that they knew
us and had taken a tour of our campus and
(20:56):
seen our program and were involved in it. They were
so excited they could be some part in it. And
of course, eventually it's up to the veteran, right, just
like it was for you, Just like it was for
you Lewis, to not only come into the program, but
to work the program, complete the program. That's a choice
you have to make that nobody else can make for you.
(21:16):
But these folks, you know again three four links out
are so excited and they don't know this guy's journey
because there's we can't divulge that information, but they are
aware that he's about to graduate and they are just
so excited. And I share that because if you can
(21:39):
be some part of that, it doesn't matter what part
in that role or you know, what role you play
in the life trajectory change of an individual. But you
see someone in a fully destructive mode, it's it's not
it's going to end poor if something doesn't happen quickly, right,
(22:03):
And if you get to be some part of that
and seeing that life change, and that was you know,
that's was when we first made contact, where they first
made contact with us. That was about seven and a
half eight months ago and now we're coming to this
place where this guy's about to graduate the program, Like
(22:24):
how cool is that? And the folks who are listening
right now can be a part of that too.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
It's their definitely.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
I mean, so many different ways to connect with a
veteran that's in need of help. And I know when
I was I when I wasn't in need of help.
I I just didn't have nobody else to turn to.
And then I went to a place downtown Houston to
(22:53):
get some help to get off the streets of being homeless.
And I've been there about five times already. And then
they kept asking me do you want to help? Do
you want help off the streets? I would say no,
I want to go back out there because my addiction
was calling me. And then just that day, I don't know,
I just I got super sick. I was like I
(23:14):
was about to die. I felt like I was about
to die. And I don't know if God was just
like that's it. I'm going to show you one way
or another. And that's what I think. It really was,
Like you're not getting out of here, You're not getting
out of it at this time. You need to get
the help that you've been needing to get for over
ten years. So their liaison at this place downtown Houston
(23:35):
reached out to Camp Hope and then ten days later
I had to tough it out that ten days later,
like many of our residents have to do for ten
twenty thirty days before they come to Camp Hope. I
had to tough it out and say I'm done with it.
So it is up to the veteran, is up to
the person to make that choice this ultimately, but you
can nudge them a little bit, you know, and give
(23:58):
them that that help. And I know that's what I know.
That's what everyone wants to do. It's just just to
help the person that's in need of help. But it's
ultimately up to the person that's stuck in that the
depression addiction to finally say I had enough and that's
(24:18):
that's what I did.
Speaker 5 (24:20):
Yeah, And it's it's such a beautiful thing when you
see the individual finally make that choice and then continue
to do the daily work to get to a better spot.
Speaker 2 (24:29):
Like you are.
Speaker 5 (24:29):
You're You're a great source of encouragement and inspiration to
guys who are in the program right now as they
see you daily doing your work and how you help
them in their program and the process of things they
have to deal with. It's extremely powerful for them to
(24:51):
get to see that taking place firsthand. And then things
like this past this past Sunday, it was so cool
to hear one of our guys share the the day
before he had seen his family for the first time
in over three years, and I think he specifically mentioned
his children, if I remember correctly. And getting to see
(25:14):
those kinds of things and be you know, whatever part
in that is so awesome. Just exciting to get to
see and see, you know, the results of the work
that's being put in and change not only in that
veteran's life, but in his family's life. To be able
(25:34):
to at least have conversations now and to be able
at least have some sort of connection with the family, that's.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Just absolutely beautiful thing.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
Yeah, Lewis, you're mentioning it started small, which is typically
how that is. You know some of the reactions over time.
Did you begin to see things that were or identified
things that were triggering these reactions or was it just
could have been anything for you?
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Oh, for me personally, it was just just different stressful situations, money,
trying to make enough money to support a family just
weighs on you. And as a you know, as a man,
you want to provide. My wife worked as well, but
you know, you just want to be the provider and
the keeper and the you know, the safety net of
(26:23):
your family. And towards the end there, I got more
and more frustrated with my PTSD and things like that,
and I couldn't handle situations the way I should have,
and my patience was gone. And yeah, it just it,
Just like I said, it continued adding up to where
I was having trouble, you know, just just staying on
(26:46):
task with what I had in front of me and
providing for my family.
Speaker 5 (26:50):
Yeah, when you were seeing some of those situations and
some of the reactions you were having, did you ever
reach out for help to anyone? Did you go to
the A or anywhere else?
Speaker 3 (27:00):
So I had reached out to the VA, but I
you know, I wasn't even aware of mental health at
that time. I didn't quite have the information and the
knowledge I have now with how important mental health is
in the whole situation. I was always the type of
guy that would push down the pain and move on
(27:22):
to the next thing without ever processing any trauma or
you know, working on any of that. So one thing
that this program has taught me is working past your trauma,
you know, learning to forgive yourself for things, and working
past shame. And I think that's truly amazing that I
(27:43):
finally am able to learn those coping skills I need
to be successful today.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
Sure, when were you diagnosed?
Speaker 3 (27:51):
I believe I was officially diagnosed in twenty nineteen or
twenty twenty either one.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Was that the VA.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
That was the VA?
Speaker 5 (27:58):
Yes, okay, and they diagnosed you that they offer any help, suggestions, plans.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
So I was diagnosed on the way to the domicillary
in Temple, Texas. And like I said, I had no
idea about any of it. I didn't even find out
my actual diagnoses until later. So no, I didn't really
have many options or much information on it.
Speaker 5 (28:28):
Okay, all right, we're gonna have to take our final
break here, and just reminder eight seven seven seven one
seven seventy eight seventy three is our combat Trauma Crisis line.
Call any time eight seven seven seven one seven seventy
eight seventy three for information not only on Camp Hope,
(28:48):
but also our other programs all at no charge tra
veterans or their families.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
I can't overemphasize that no charge.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
PTSD post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD USA dot org.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
We'll be right back and welcome back Road to Hope Radio.
Speaker 5 (29:17):
Big thanks to our show sponsors A Corey Diamond and
Design two eight one four two forty seven fifty five
and on Friends Wood Texas.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
But hey, they'll help you no matter where you are.
Speaker 5 (29:26):
There's this thing called Zoom and they've helped a lot
of folks that are not within driving distance of Friends
with Texas. Uh, gonna make a big purchase, important purchase
for somewhat important your life. A Corey Diamond and Design,
Oopsteam dot com for those Oops moments in life two
eight one eight two two zero five sixty one and
Republic Grand Ranch dot Com. Awesome friends just north of
(29:52):
the Houston area, a great, great location Republic Grand Ranch.
Talking with Justin Lewis Army Vet and also Lewis another
Army Vet that's in our program at Camp Hope currently.
So you mentioned going to the domicillary in Temple, correct,
(30:13):
and that was twenty nineteen. I believe that was twenty
twenty twenty, Okay, COVID you'r fun times. That was still
four years ago. What happened in that in between time?
Speaker 3 (30:27):
And between that time, I mostly became homeless during that
time between Austin and Houston, Texas. It was just a
very big struggle, especially during COVID time, to be homeless,
and you know, it presented its challenges and everything and
(30:48):
eventually got me here though, so I'm thankful.
Speaker 5 (30:51):
How did you hear about Camp Hope?
Speaker 3 (30:54):
Actually I heard about it from Harris County Jail. Okay,
I'm in the Veterans program for their their court and
I had I had gotten some trouble and then back
up in there and are even stars and Stripes or yes,
I was in It wasn't Stars and Stripes. It was
(31:16):
the other one Brothers in Arms, I believe. And from
there I had some people that that I was in
there with that told me about Camp Hope a little
bit and just explained how awesome it was. And I
had a choice between that and an another place, and
they definitely pushed me for Camp Hope and I'm very
(31:37):
happy about that.
Speaker 2 (31:38):
Now.
Speaker 5 (31:38):
Was that a choice given by a veterans court?
Speaker 3 (31:41):
They gave me two different choices, okay, And.
Speaker 5 (31:44):
That was in Veterans Court. That was correct, Okay, correct, Yeah,
which is a great program, It really is. Yeah, they
do really really good work. Judge Carter started that here
in Houston, Judge Mark Carter, and man did he do
yeoman's work and getting that set up. He had to
go jumped through a whole lot of legislative hoops in
back in Austin to get that all set up and
(32:05):
run it. But man, that has impact positively impacted so
many lives through the work of Veterans Court. And you're
not the first to get introduced to us through Harris
County and the Veterans Court and Harris County Jail. So
I hated that that's where you ended up, but I'm
(32:25):
really grateful that they gave you the opportunity. So when
they when they gave you the choice, like, what's the
what's the stipulation, Like you finished the program anything in
addition to that.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
So the stipulation right now is that I complete Camp
Hope in full and that I remain going to Veterans
Court for another year and a half. I believe there's
four phases in it right now. I'm in phase one,
about to enter into phase two.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
I believe fantastic. That's awesome.
Speaker 5 (32:56):
So coming in you talked about the brotherhood. What else
has stood out to you from your time at camp.
You've been here a few months now, what what what?
What's gotten your attention?
Speaker 3 (33:11):
Honestly, Uh, just the emphasis on building a new life. Uh,
you know, uh, whether it comes to you know, daily
chores or just taking responsibilities in life or just even working.
Uh you know my uh my bay that I live
(33:32):
in serves lunch and uh that that's that's part of
our responsibilities for the day. But it actually is amazing
just getting back into there and and being able to
serve people.
Speaker 1 (33:43):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
And the amount of love you receive in the camp.
Uh and and the counselors even because uh I had
I had a lot of untouched trauma, and when I
got there, they they uh they presented it to me
in a way that that was very easy to start with,
and then we got into the bigger details and things
(34:04):
like that, and it was a very it was a
smooth transition to start on something that was so so
unique to even try to begin so good.
Speaker 5 (34:16):
Yeah, because that's one of the things I don't think
most folks understand. It's never just the combat trauma. Never,
I mean, it's just it's never just it. There's there's
other traumas. Any anyone that's lived for a minute has
experienced trauma in their life, and you know, different kinds
and all that. But it's never just combat. It's other things.
(34:39):
Now another thing, you guys, me hearing your story sharing
the Lewis's, the Army, the twenty tens, experiencing homelessness, and
I know you experienced justin you talked about experiencing it
kind of, I guess off and on for those four years, yes,
last four years. Yeah, that's just like you were almost
(35:00):
six and a half years here in Houston, which is
still just I have a hard time wrapping my brain
around that.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
I could probably talk about that for a whole hour. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:10):
Yeah, we were just looking out the window right now
about man, because we both talk about some of the
same places, like I was talking about earlier, we talked
about some of the same places. He'd be like right
there on West Timer and Timley Rock behind that Chef Run, Yeah,
ill know, right there at that bus stop over there.
And now I'm helping up out with court. So next
(35:31):
Wednesday I'll be taking him to court and he has
a birthday on next Tuesday, Oh birthday.
Speaker 2 (35:35):
We just got a.
Speaker 4 (35:36):
Lot of things that we were talking about on the
rides from Camp Hope to Court, downtown Houston and then
places like coming here to the iHeart Radio show and
the Road to Hope.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
We talked about Road to Hope.
Speaker 4 (35:51):
We just have a lot of things that we go
talk about that the ups and downs of life, and
just I really thank God for the things that you
do to help me understand that I'm right where I'm.
Speaker 2 (36:04):
Supposed to be in life.
Speaker 5 (36:05):
Well, and you mentioned justin earlier that you know, when
people would offer you help, or you know, the court system,
whoever would offer you help, that you mentioned it that
your addiction would just lure you back back out into
the streets, which is so difficult for folks to understand
who have not been in the addiction world, but in
(36:30):
our particularly I think in Houston, but really just about anywhere,
but particularly in Houston. For a veteran to be homeless,
they pretty.
Speaker 2 (36:39):
Much have to choose to be It's a choice.
Speaker 5 (36:43):
Like there are options. There are a lot of options
out there. Not all of them are good, but there
are a lot of options out there. And I know
at some point you need look for you just what
you were done for you. It's you know, a court
system that help you make the choice. Yes, but let's
take just a minute and speak to the family member,
(37:05):
the veteran out there who's where you were, just in
and out of homelessness, in and out of maybe some
sort of program or some sort of recovery program, whatever
it may be. Three months in what would you say
to them, that one who's out there continuing to choose.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
The addiction.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
So one thing I would tell them that I wasn't
aware of is how much better it gets after some
time goes by. So it may be very uncomfortable at first,
it may be very hard to deal with at first,
all the pain and trauma you've went through. But I
could say I'm almost six months queen this month, and
(37:48):
looking back at it from six months, it gets better
and better. And if you take that one leap of
faith and start working to better yourself and just do
a little bit each day, the future looks brighter and
brighter as you go.
Speaker 5 (38:05):
Well, congratulations on the six months. I know probably if
we if we could go back mentally to where you
were seven months ago, you probably would have never believed you.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
Could do six months. No, SIRH did not that same
for you. I just thank God that.
Speaker 4 (38:22):
I thanks so much that I'm not where I used
to be and progress is not perfection. Yeah, and I
just keep looking forward and keep knowing that you got
a lot of people in your corner, like I tell
some of these guys.
Speaker 5 (38:38):
But also know you're an inspiration to an awful lot
of people. So thank you for doing the work you've
done and are doing. Lewis, continue doing the work, finish
the program. Can't thank you enough for doing what you're
doing and for joining us, and thank you for joining
us on the Road to Hope Radio again. Wherever you
listen to podcasts, look for Road to Hope and share
it with everybody you know. Look forward being with you
again next week for more of a Road to Hope.
Speaker 4 (39:01):
Name
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