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.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And the troops that have been de war and now
they're back.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
And think and be grateful for their service.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Sacrifice, love for their country, just unselfishness, all that they
do for us.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
There are some people in this country who take extraordinary
steps to provide for the freedom and security.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
We forget that those people exist.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
We know them as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines,
and Coast Guard. They call themselves soldiers, seals, rangers, airmen, sailors,
devil dogs, and so much more. We call them fathers, brothers,
sons and husbands, mothers, daughters, sisters and wives. We call
(00:49):
them friend and neighbor. These veterans answered the call. Now
we answer Theirs are the best our country has to offer.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
And we love them.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Today, we honor them and we serve them. David Malsby
is your host, and he welcomes you to this community
of veterans, as together we are building.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
The road to hope, and indeed we are glad to
have you along. On a Sunday, it's not just any Sunday.
It is Easter Sunday, the greatest day of the year
for those of the Christian faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
the new life that we have represented in that, all
that was one, in that the greatest victory the world
(01:41):
has ever known. Happy Easter to everyone out there, Glad
to have you along as you listen to Road to
Hope Radio wherever yere listening, If you're listening through the
KPRC the nine to five oh on the AM dial,
thank you for doing that while you are driving on
your way to your Easter brunch, you're on your way
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(02:02):
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(02:22):
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(02:45):
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(03:05):
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Ranch dot Com in the studio with us on this
(04:07):
Easter Sunday. Got Brandon back. Good to see you, brother,
good to see Want to reintroduce yourself to the world.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Absolutely. My name is Brandon Hartsburg. I'm a retired staffs
aren't from the United States Army and lead mentor Camp Hope.
She is happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
How long has it been that you've been on staff? Now?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
It's going on four long years, four good years. You
know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
For good years. So what does a lead mentor do?
What's his day? Well, I don't know. Every day is
a different day, but it just gives up folks an idea.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
We pretty much run the whole campus and we save
lives every day. Now, we just managed the mentors and
we oversee a lot of scheduling training. We just make
sure our mentors are doing their job at the same time.
We interact with the residents too, and if there's if
there's issues that come up or situations they can't you know,
(05:00):
we get involved a lot more emails, a lot more
counselor stuff. Just we try to keep the mentor completely
focused on taking care of his guys and working with them,
so we try to protect him from everything else and
just make sure all that stuff squared away.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Very cool. Grateful that you're there, too, Grateful for what
you're doing. So blessing. I'm going to te one up
for you here probably the next segment, give you a
chance to go on a little bit of a assist Yeah,
sophomore points. Yeah, give you a chance also on the
show with us Today's guy. That's in our program right
(05:37):
now at Camp Hope, which by the way, it is
interim housing program of the PTSD Foundation of America. We
bring veterans in from every era of combat. We have
veterans from every branch. We haven't had space forcehet but
it's coming. It'll happen with these days, but anyway, combat
related post traumatic stress. The program is designed to be
(06:01):
six to nine months in length. Some take a little
bit longer than that, based on a number of issues circumstances.
But the point of that simply is it's not a
quick let's sit around the camp fires and kumba and
then everything's good. It is an intensive program. It's all
at zero cost to the veteran or their family. But
(06:23):
I want to introduce you to Lawrence Lornt. You want
to introduce yourself to the world. Aye, there's a chance, man,
jump on a go for it.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
My name is Lawrence Brave, Born and raised Atlanta, Georgia.
I served ten years in the US Army down at
Fort Stewart, third Infantry Division, went to a RAQ, served
there for three years of my life. Came back with
some scars, came back with some wounds that I didn't
even know I had, you know, went through two marriages
(06:53):
and my second marriage now got two beautiful children. And
it is just time for me to find my path
in life and get my.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Life back with God and see what else holds. You know.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
I hold dear to my heart and let it out
and be who I used to be before the trauma
set into my life.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
And we're gonna get into a little bit of that
a long way. We're gonna have to rag a little
bit Georgia it's just I was like, oh my gosh. Really. Anyway,
as we do go through the course of the show,
we want you to know and understand some of these
things can be triggering. Not the Atlanta, Georgia part, but
some of the serious stuff. Eight seven seven seven one
seven seventy eight seventy three is our Combat Trauma Support
(07:33):
Line Answer twenty four to seven by a combat vet,
someone who's been through our program received additional training. A
combat vet will answer the phone when you call eight
seven seven seven seven seventy eight seventy three. We'll be
right back with more of Road to Hope Radio. How
(08:06):
often do you seem to have the bat film these days?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
You know, I kind of miss having it as often
as we used to. I used to love having it
like every week, sometimes three days a week.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
You know.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
We had this old like iPhone six and you just
walk in your office. There's only a few mentors and
we all shared it and it just end up on
your desk and you're like, what the heck? I just
had it for three days. But today about every once
a month, so it's a lot better. I got a lot
more staff and it's fantastic answering that thing. But sometimes
it's in the middle.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Of your work day.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
If you deal with a you know, a crisis online.
You know, with the guy, it's it's a tough maybe
where's you out.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah. We used to carry him a sign them for
two weeks at a time.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Yeah, because that's good training. That's waiting for me.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Because there was three of us. So it's just kind
of the way it worked out. Welcome back to Road
to Hope. Ray, You're glad to have you along again. Reminder,
wherever you listen to podcasts, just look for Road to
Hope Radio hit that subscribe button. We would truly truly
appreciate it. It is Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day. To me,
(09:15):
that's the greatest, most important day in the history of
the world, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, conquering death, hell,
the grave, victory signs sealed and delivered paid for one
hundred percent, and our organization we are a faith based
(09:37):
and christ centered organization. With that said, no one coming
into the organization or any way, shape or form part
of the organization has to agree to some sort of
creed or has to agree to even be Christian. Just
we've had a little bit of everything come through our doors.
(09:57):
But there's so many lessons from Scripture and certainly lessons
from Christ, and the greatest lesson of all a lesson
from the day of New Life. That's what we get
to celebrate today. And I'm going to dip into the
mail bag here for just a second. And then Brandon,
I'm going to ask you a question that don't overthink.
(10:21):
It's it's in your wheelhouse, all right, so you'll be
good to go. But I want to dip into the mailbag.
I received a message last Sunday. Actually, I don't know
if you'd remember this. I won't say his name on
Eric because I haven't asked this permission. I'll take later
see if you're remember him. This veteran came into Camp
(10:43):
Hope in twenty twenty one, so if I remember correctly,
it was Fall twenty one and exited in May twenty two.
But here's what he said twenty twenty one was I
was at Camp Hope. Now five I'm in Orlando being
celebrated for national MVP, top three percent of the company
(11:09):
in my new career and finance. By the way, it's
one of the top four banks in America. It's a major, major,
bank and he just hit top three percent. Anyway, I
would have never had this opportunity or found this career,
which I truly love, if it wasn't for Camp Hope
giving me the time and help I needed to get
(11:32):
not just my life back, but a life I never
imagined for myself. I love that. I love that he
said it that way, a life I never imagined for myself.
Just wanted to share a good story today. Thanks for
all y'all have done. A life you never imagined. We
see that a lot of Camp and I think today,
(11:53):
you know, Easter new Life. I think that represents it
just perfectly. So tell me your version of what new
life looks like for you coming through Camp Hope and
what you've been able to do since then.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Oh man, you did not make it easy, okay deep Okay,
So first off, that story kind of hits me because
you know, there's so many guys, including myself, that went
through this program that had that that experience, and I've
heard that story and I feel like that's why I
work there right to give another man that opportunity it
(12:31):
was given to me, and for me, the change is
managing my PTSD. It's not gone away, but I can function.
I can go to restaurants, I can be in crowds.
I've even started two step in. I go out the
country bars.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Oh I'm so.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
I mean it's good for me, right, absolutely, new experiences.
And I mean there's there's the the givens once you
get your life together and you really heal from this
stuff like the finances and the credit in the car.
That's all the good stuff. But there's relationships, like unbelievable
relationships with just men and women. Friends. Just I got
(13:09):
a host of friends. I got a fellowship where I'm safe,
I'm protected. You know, they get me. And I mean
I don't feel depressed every day. You know, I'm not
using drugs. I'm not trying to kill myself. That that
success today is really being a father to my son.
You know, I put him through a lot when I
got out, and he just he got the he got
(13:31):
the raw deal, tell you the truth of Dad's PTSD.
So those those are the blessings and it's just new life.
I think different, I act different, I talk different. My
kiddo actually believes in God today because he saw God
work in me and he had trouble with it, and
he's believing in science and like, but he saw an
evident change, like there's something to this god thing. So
(13:53):
for me, that's that's the new creation. And I mean,
people don't recognize me from my past. It's fantastic and
I love that part of it. I don't want them
to see that old man who I was before.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
You know, I would like, just for another minute, if
you don't mind not to rehash Brandon's life prior to
Camp Hope. That's not the point of this. But it
was not pleasant. Will we always say this about guys
coming in and no one comes in on a winning streak,
So I would give you this to another one up
(14:26):
for you. There's somebody out there listening that's struggling with
whether it's PTSD, depression, whatever, they're struggling. And my thing is,
I hear these stories so many times, and I hear
of the struggles and whether it's suicide attempts or jail
(14:48):
and legal issues and broken relationships and all that stuff
that comes along with it, and all that train wreck
that goes on for years sometimes before they finally go
get some help. Whether it's Camp Hope or wherever, it
doesn't matter, just all that happens between the trauma and
the time I actually go get help to deal with it.
(15:09):
What would you say to that guy that's in the
middle of that right now and he's scared the death,
to pick up the phone, to make the call.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Fight through it. Just call back on your military experience,
call back on your deployments. I promise you've been through
things in your life. Pull from that face the fear,
call someone, reach out. It will change your life. There
is hope, There is many men that you can relate to.
I have relief from it. And I thought I was
screwed for life, right I got PTSD, I got a TBI,
(15:38):
got this blast, you know, I got all these other issues.
I want to kill myself. I'm angry all the time.
I don't fit into society. That's how I felt. But
once I got help, it was a process and a journey.
But I just I encourage you to reach out and it.
Just take that first step and just just trust the process,
because it can't get any worse. If your where I
(15:59):
was right now, and you're setting in that pit of misery,
in that whole of darkness, why not give it a try.
Reach out?
Speaker 2 (16:07):
And it is difficult, I think for many I've heard
many say it's the most difficult thing they ever did.
But when you think, we're back to Easter here for
a second. If Easter is the greatest day in the world,
and it represents the new life, and that's what we want.
It's what you just talked about in your own personal experience,
your new life. That's a post getting help from your
(16:28):
combat trauma. You don't get there without first there being
it's commonly known as Good Friday. There's no resurrection without
the crucifixion. Nobody wants the crucifixion. Nobody wants to surrender.
But you want the victory, you have to surrender. And
(16:51):
that's so backwards for you military guys, but it's the
way it goes with Jesus. Jesus everything he taught was
backwards what the world thinks. If you want to be first,
you gotta be last. You want to serve, you gotta
want to be served, you gotta serve. It's just the
way it is with him. But yeah, it's got to
(17:11):
be a there's got to be a daya surrender. You
gotta I give up. My way is not more cutting it.
Pick out the phone eight seven seven seven one, seven,
seventy eight, seventy three the website because we have not
only not everybody needs Camp Hoope. I gotta say that
not everybody needs Camp Hope, but we do have support groups.
We have support groups for family members, law enforcement, first responders.
(17:33):
All that information is online PTSD post traumatic stress Disorder
PTSDUSA dot org, all free. We'll be right back with
more Road Hope Radio, and we welcome you back to
(18:06):
Road to Hope Radio. David Malsby Here, we got Brandon
and it starts the Army Vet lead mentor Camp Hope Lawrence,
my State's Army VET current resident program at Camp Hope.
Lawrence met you know a little bit about you. Don't
know your whole life story, but what I do know
of you is post combat post PTSD diagnosis in some
(18:32):
of the trouble to come along with that introduced me
to pre combat Lawrence.
Speaker 5 (18:39):
Oh wow, pre combat Lawrence was a lot different. I
was very outgoing. I was the class clown when I
was in high school.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
You know.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
The whole thing was about me even joining the military
is my mom. You know, I grew up in a
very traditional, strict home. My mom would ground me if
I made less than eighty five the report card.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Because she was a Georgia Tech Gut graduate where you grounded.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Up, Yes, I was.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
She grounded me a lot. I didn't do the high
school parties. It was just sports in schoolwork. She kept
me safe, though, I will say that she kept me
safe from a lot of the outside world. I think
that was a big problem in my life because I
was so sheltered growing up in a broken home and
then having just my mom and having her as my
(19:28):
guidance counselor. You would say she protected me from everything,
like so sheltered, like you see in the movies.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Everybody like that show that.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
Sheltered parent, and she like wrap you and bubble rap
before you went out. She wasn't that bad. I know.
Speaker 5 (19:45):
I got my hands smashed at a soccer match in
high school and she come running out in the field.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
I'm like, go away, go away. That's like almost close
to the ball.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Rack. Always her curfew in high school, well as.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
A kid, it was until the street light came right,
and then in high school, well she would say come in.
I'd have to stay in after dinner, but I'd sneak
back out through the window.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Oh there we go.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
But Yeah, she was.
Speaker 5 (20:16):
Very inspirational in my life pre army, but she sadly
passed away when I decided to go from the reserves
to active duty in two thousand and eight. So yeah,
that was pretty traumatic.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
While you were in after your first apployment.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yes, before your second. Yes.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
So you mentioned sports, and you mentioned in soccer, which
I think is a sin. But anyway, we'll talk about
that later. What was your sport?
Speaker 5 (20:46):
Well, soccer was one, but then I also played football
and baseball as well.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Okay, soccer even a sport in Texas.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I think it's like punishment.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Running up and down constantly cross country.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
You're doing. No one ever scores, like what is the point?
Speaker 4 (21:03):
I like baseball. It was intended to and in one
inning and it could flip exactly a score, a run
after run.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah, a great soccer game is one Nils like, no, no,
thank you, I'm I'm.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
It's exciting nobody.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
It's that big net over there. Come on, it's a
big net too, Like quick, can't somebody on the net?
Speaker 4 (21:28):
You know a game? That's fine, it's hockey, even if
they oh.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Much so NHL Live. I don't think there's anything like it,
and I you know, I've never played hockey in my life.
I'm a baseball guy. But live NHL.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
That's exactingly sport, very nascily you know.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Well, I remember the first game I went to. Uh,
people on the front row are just banging on the
glass screaming for blood on the ice, that they were
not going to be happy until there's blood on the ice,
Like that's this is this is a fun sports. Yeah, okay,
baseball football, which was your best football?
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Football was definitely my best baseball.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
Yeah, just filled in that void so I didn't have
to go home look up time.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Yes, what was your position?
Speaker 3 (22:13):
I was a wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Okay, that's why I've got humongous legs for a skinny guy.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Decent hands, Oh yeah, I was.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
I could catch anything back then.
Speaker 5 (22:24):
I don't know about now I touched the football in
a couple of years, but yeah, back then, I was
running probably in high school. I think I ran like
a four nine, So it was I was pretty fast
and had handed very sticky fingers.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
To catch a football. You would say.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
Even had a referee come look at my gloves one
time to think that I had glue on my gloves
in a high school match.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
He did.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
He's yes, he think he could catch a baby. Like,
let's say you were just hanging out and this woman
was about to have a baby and just deliver it.
Do you think with those hands you could deliver a baby?
Speaker 5 (23:01):
Oh yes, sure, I protected my daughter going down twenty
flight of stairs in an instant football.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
There you go. Your hands. Cut some jambalaya this week
at Campo.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Oh yes, it was delicious.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
We had a group of folks out from Amigy Bank
and they painted a house. Uh the inside one of
the houses is being refurbished right now. Did some inventory
in the storage and some dude from Amigy is legit
from Louisiana. I didn't get to eat any but I
(23:40):
saw a lot of smiles on a lot of faces,
and everybody said, that's one of the best, if not
the best, they've ever had.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Such a good thing.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Cool, that's so good.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
I mean, that's a big bank and they for them
to come out and do that paint a house, I mean,
let me just take a time out and go paint
a house and cook for these people and go through
the supply room. And they were all over our campus
just fantastic.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
And they had they had as much fun as the
guys did. Eating the gym be life. Yeah, they were
thrilled to death to be there. They're like, thank you
for having us volunteer course, if you worked at the bank,
I don't want to get out every now and then too,
I'll paint a house. Yes, sign me up for that.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Probably make a lot of money too.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Yeah, they had a great time, but it was great
to see them. And I mentioned that because we do
have a lot of companies that different employee groups within
a company might come out and do some volunteer work
at Camp Hope. There are so many opportunities to do that.
And yes, you do get to have some interaction. It's
obviously not free for all at our place, but you
(24:43):
will have some opportunity and have some interaction with some
of those in our program and certainly with our staff
who are graduates of the program. So it's a great
opportunity for you to support what happens at Camp Hope
and supporting our combat veterans, but also do something it's
very meaningful. It's it's the primary way to two overcome
(25:12):
some of your own issues. I have people ask me
from time to time like they're going through a tough
time or struggle. They're in a dark place for whatever reason.
Maybe it's results of their own choices, maybe it's things
out of their control. But they're just in a funk
and can't quite seem to get a way out. And
(25:32):
I'll have them ask me, what do you do? How
do you get out of this? And will I always
say look around for somebody you can help. There's always
somebody you can help. And there's something selfish to it
(25:53):
because I know when you do it, it's going to
make you feel good. Well, that's not the worst thing
in the world to feel good like. There's an know
that's not a sin. I used to be taught it was,
but it's not when you're doing it the right way
and doing the right thing some legal, moral, you know, ethical. Uh,
(26:14):
find somebody else to help. So you know, for your
your group, you're you're looking for team team building opportunities.
Come volunteer at Camp Hope. You not only impact a
lot of veterans lives, but you'll impact your fellow employees.
So just another way to encourage folks PTSDUSA dot org.
All right, so your mom you mentioned she wasn't happy
(26:39):
when you transferred from reserve to active. Yes. So was
she for you joining the reserves? Oh?
Speaker 5 (26:46):
Yeah, she because I grew up in a very poor family.
So she of course wanted me to go to college
like her. But she knew the only way I could
go to college, you know, go join the military, get
your mond yep, And so I did. I completed basic
training two months before the Twin Towers got hit, and
(27:07):
she kind of changed her tune after that because you know,
we were still kind of peace time.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Yeah, before nine to eleven.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
But you know, I was eighteen years old.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
I was gung ho about it, you know, patriotic, you
know what what happened that day.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
I was ready to go. But yeah, she wasn't, of.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Course not, and I don't think any mother.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
No.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
Yeah, so hell it was. So your first appointment was
oh six, yes, so are you? And all right?
Speaker 5 (27:35):
First employment was there thirteen months where though we were
in over Ramadi hit vict you know byop mostly and
then we went to the Green Zone because of my
mos So I was all.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Over the place.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
So in west won't mean thing to anybody listening. So
just what were you doing?
Speaker 3 (27:56):
I was a ninety one Juliet so I was a
chemical weapon.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Specialist.
Speaker 5 (27:59):
So I was always attached to either Ranger Regiment or
Special Forces Unit or EOD, you know, always checking everything
to make sure you know there wasn't chemicals or a
chemical weapon. Always had an decon apparatus on nearby stand
by in case something bad happens. I can save people's lives,
(28:20):
kind of like a chemical version of a medic kind
of situation.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
Got you sounds pretty dangerous.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
I was gonna say, there's no stress in that job. Yeah,
and then whatsoever. All right, We're gonna have to take
one more break and we'll come back and finish up
with chatting with Lawrence and Brandon. Glad to have you long,
hang hang on tight. We'll right back with more of
Road Hope Radio, and we welcome you back Road to
(29:02):
Hope Radio on this Easter Sunday. Those of you listening
on the KPRC nine to five OHO and the AM
dialar here in Houston, Texas. Those of you listening through
the Magical Podcast, thank you for listening and for sharing
talking with Lawrence and Brandon, both the United States Army
Veterans Combat Veterans PTSD and Lawrence, We've laughed a lot,
(29:27):
and I don't want to get too dark here. But
let's talk a little bit about as I mentioned, welcome,
nobody comes to camp Hope on a winning streak. So
first apployment's six rather lengthy one. For your second when
you lose your mother, second employment, rather lengthy one. Not
(29:51):
a pleasant experience. There's a lot of trauma in war
that can go on, and said, we'll just leave it
there for now. You bring some of that home. Did
you recognize something was going on early or did it
take a while.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
Oh, it definitely took a while.
Speaker 5 (30:13):
Like I didn't even notice it even up until about
two maybe three years ago, until my wife had pointed
it out.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
And what was she pointing out?
Speaker 5 (30:25):
How distant I was becoming isolating myself.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
The biggest thing she said.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
Was I was there physically, but I wasn't there mentally
or emotionally for her and our kids. And when she
told me that, I you know I that back then,
I was just like, No, there's no way, there's you know,
there's always somebody worse off than me.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
You know, it's just my emotions. They'll go away, you know,
I'll I'll be who I was before.
Speaker 5 (30:53):
It's just temporary, And it wasn't This was a couple
of years ago. Yeah, she told me. It hit start
hitting around late twenty twenty two.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
How many children you have, Yeah, we have two.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
A son and a daughter, Aspen and Barrett.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
Held Aspen will be seven in June, Happy birthday baby.
And my son, Barrett will be thirteen in November. And
then my wife just had her birthday last month, so
she's looking good.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Love you, Haley.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Isolation is one of those those are the big red flags.
When someone starts to isolating you, somebody better reach out.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Yeah, and get some help.
Speaker 5 (31:35):
She told me numerous times that I needed to get help,
you know, more than just the VA. She felt like
I needed to go to a program that you know,
specifically helps veterans in that area, because you know VIA
they deal with so many people. Did you go to
the VIA, Yes, I went to them numerous times, but
(31:58):
it was just I just felt like I didn't get
anything from it. It was just like, you know, answer
these questions and then okay, teleconference over.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
I had a bunch of drugs from the VAY.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
Did they diagnose you?
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (32:13):
With that? Did they do anything or just say here's
what you got?
Speaker 5 (32:17):
They basically said, here you have PTSD along with depression
and anxiety. You know, here's some medication, and you know
your therapist will reach out to you once a month teleconference,
and that was it, so not really ever in person
getting you know, and it just festered inside of me
more and more every day, and my PTS just got
(32:39):
worse to the point where I didn't even know who
I was anymore. And it affected my marriage and my
life with my children, and man, it takes a toll
on you.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
I'm a firm believer that's it's not not the cast
blame on anybody. It's just the VA is overwhelmed. There's
no there's no two ways about it. But I think
the diagnosis, the writing of multiple prescriptions, which are all
chemicals that you're now putting into your body that are
designed to change things. Right, and we'll talk to you
(33:14):
on camera in a month, it's like, well, what happens
during that month because all those chemicals are starting to
go to work and they are changing things. And I'm
a firm believer. That's why we end up losing so
many veterans to whether it's overdose or suicide. We're unnecessarily
(33:40):
losing them because they're constantly getting either a change in
the cocktail of medications or a change in dosage, and
well let's try this, well let's try that, Like, well,
this is a human being. What are we just throwing
stuff around for? And then we're going to see in
a month. I just it's got to be a better way.
(34:01):
I'm firm believer there's a better way. But so you're
diagnosed a couple of years ago.
Speaker 5 (34:08):
Wish twenty fifteen is oh, they diagnosed, and you know,
they had me on zol off and all kinds of
other things.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
How long did you stay trying with the VA.
Speaker 5 (34:23):
I think fifteen all the way up to about twenty
eighteen after my daughter was born. And then I was
just like, you know what, it's not helping, you know.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Could you just stop the medication? Okay? And no counseling
or no.
Speaker 5 (34:41):
I just I gave it all up because it was
I felt like it wasn't working.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Usually something happens that spurs someone to decide to code
to camp hope for six to nine months of their life.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Yeah, call that like our d day.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Yeah it was.
Speaker 5 (35:00):
It was a day of reckoning for me. My wife
actually found you guys. The company we work for is
actually based here in Houston, and she came out here
in the early February for the manager's meeting, and she
knew someone that had came through here before and he
had told her, you know, hey, I think you should
(35:22):
have send Lawrence there. I think it would really help
him and benefit him. And so she called me up
and was like, Hey, would you go to Camp Hope?
And I didn't even think about it at that point
in my life. I was like, yes, I'll go.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
You haven't been here long, you're still pretty early in
the program. You've made it through blackface, So yeah, that's nice.
It's really early in your program. So I hate to
even ask, but yeah, can you tell a difference yet,
Like just when you wake up in the morning, is
there a difference in it's a new day, it's a
(36:00):
new opportunity.
Speaker 5 (36:02):
I can say without a doubt, yes, we did, you know,
constructive criticism yesterday. And so, you know, all the peers
were like, you know, Lawrence, when you came here, you
were depressed, you were sad, you were so focused on
the things that you did wrong in your marriage and
before your trauma from war. And they're like, now, dude,
(36:22):
you walk around with a smile on your face, You're
hugging everybody, you're shaking hands, you're always helping others. Even
my peers were like, you're doing an amazing job already.
And I'm six and a half weeks in.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Good Oh.
Speaker 4 (36:38):
I was just thinking.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
I was so I smiled. The smile is one of
the first telltale signs for me. When I see somebody
begin to smile, something's working.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
Yeah, the light's clicking on. Yeah, it's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
They're doing the work.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
You can see isolation. I'll tell you anything about isolation.
Isolation when you're a veteran and you're isolated when you
get out, you were in such a dark place this
whole but you're comfortable there. It's such a hard like
when we're talking about reaching out for help, it's so
hard to get out of that. And when you're in
the military, you got this tribe. You get so close
to other human beings more than most people ever wield
(37:14):
their whole life. And I feel like if you've never
had that, you don't really know what it is. But
if you lose that, it's like a piece of your
soul's gone. So that brotherhood's gone. You know, you don't
know what you're missing if you don't got it. But
once you've had that, So when they have that fellowship
again at Brotherly Love and they're connected, they belong, they
feel a part of that's usually when that smile kicks on, right,
(37:35):
it's like a light like you just in the dark
and you flip the light on.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Well, I can't think both of you guys enough for
being here today. It's the fastest hour of my week,
every single week. It's just like, how in the world
are we already done? But then both of you guys, dude,
keep doing the work. Yeah, keep doing the work. Don't
don't stop. Don't stop, Yeah, don't stop because I want to.
I want to take the shortcut. Their short coats don't work. Nope, Complete,
(38:03):
complete what you've begun again. PTSDUSA dot org for all
information about our program at Camp Hope as well as
our support groups for veterans for family members. Everything gets
zero charged to the veteran or to their family. It's
a it's a great easter. It's a great day to
put the bottle down, to put the pills down, pick
(38:25):
up the phone and call eight seven seven seven to one,
seven seventy eight seventy three, You won't regret it. Thanks
for joining us, looking forward to being with you again
next week for more of Road to Hope Radio
Multiple people in my family clean my father, are veterans.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And the troops that have been de war and now
they're back.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
And think and be grateful for their service.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Sacrifice, love for their country, just unselfishness, all that they
do for us.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
There are some people in this country who take extraordinary
steps to provide for the freedom and security.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
We forget that those people exist.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
We know them as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines,
and Coast Guard. They call themselves soldiers, seals, rangers, airmen, sailors,
devil dogs, and so much more. We call them fathers, brothers,
sons and husbands, mothers, daughters, sisters and wives. We call
(00:49):
them friend and neighbor. These veterans answered the call. Now
we answer Theirs are the best our country has to offer.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
And we love them.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Today, we honor them and we serve them. David Malsby
is your host, and he welcomes you to this community
of veterans, as together we are building.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
The road to hope, and indeed we are glad to
have you along. On a Sunday, it's not just any Sunday.
It is Easter Sunday, the greatest day of the year
for those of the Christian faith, the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
the new life that we have represented in that, all
that was one, in that the greatest victory the world
(01:41):
has ever known. Happy Easter to everyone out there, Glad
to have you along as you listen to Road to
Hope Radio wherever yere listening, If you're listening through the
KPRC the nine to five oh on the AM dial,
thank you for doing that while you are driving on
your way to your Easter brunch, you're on your way
home from your Easter brunch, however that works out for
you and your family. Those of you who listen through
(02:02):
the magic of podcasts, thank you so very much for
doing that. Wherever you listen to podcasts, just look for
Road to Hope Radio. There we are coming up, I
think on the eighth year. If I remember right, I
should look at that up. But there's a lot of shows.
It's just the point, there's a lot of shows there.
If you'll go wherever you listen to podcasts, fine Road
to Hope Radio, hit the subscribe button. You will get
(02:22):
that show as it downloads each and every single week.
After we broadcast on KPRC on Sunday afternoon. We truly
do appreciate you subscribing very much. Appreciate you sharing the show.
You never know who might come into contact with who
we are. Maybe they want to help, maybe they are
the one who needs the help. It's absolutely free to
(02:45):
do so you can do it in half a second
and you might be a part of saving somebody's life,
So it's worth it. Just Road to Hope Radio, hit
the subscribe button and then share social media. Friends, neighbors,
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(03:05):
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Every dollar you spend is a vote for values. So
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(03:47):
We keep them on speed dial at our place. Had
them out this week. Republic Grand Ranch. When it's time
to buy that piece of property for your dream home,
you want it in a dream location, that's Republic Grand
Ranch dot Com in the studio with us on this
(04:07):
Easter Sunday. Got Brandon back. Good to see you, brother,
good to see Want to reintroduce yourself to the world.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
Absolutely. My name is Brandon Hartsburg. I'm a retired staffs
aren't from the United States Army and lead mentor Camp Hope.
She is happy to be here.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
How long has it been that you've been on staff? Now?
Speaker 4 (04:26):
It's going on four long years, four good years. You
know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
For good years. So what does a lead mentor do?
What's his day? Well, I don't know. Every day is
a different day, but it just gives up folks an idea.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
We pretty much run the whole campus and we save
lives every day. Now, we just managed the mentors and
we oversee a lot of scheduling training. We just make
sure our mentors are doing their job at the same time.
We interact with the residents too, and if there's if
there's issues that come up or situations they can't you know,
(05:00):
we get involved a lot more emails, a lot more
counselor stuff. Just we try to keep the mentor completely
focused on taking care of his guys and working with them,
so we try to protect him from everything else and
just make sure all that stuff squared away.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Very cool. Grateful that you're there, too, Grateful for what
you're doing. So blessing. I'm going to te one up
for you here probably the next segment, give you a
chance to go on a little bit of a assist Yeah,
sophomore points. Yeah, give you a chance also on the
show with us Today's guy. That's in our program right
(05:37):
now at Camp Hope, which by the way, it is
interim housing program of the PTSD Foundation of America. We
bring veterans in from every era of combat. We have
veterans from every branch. We haven't had space forcehet but
it's coming. It'll happen with these days, but anyway, combat
related post traumatic stress. The program is designed to be
(06:01):
six to nine months in length. Some take a little
bit longer than that, based on a number of issues circumstances.
But the point of that simply is it's not a
quick let's sit around the camp fires and kumba and
then everything's good. It is an intensive program. It's all
at zero cost to the veteran or their family. But
(06:23):
I want to introduce you to Lawrence Lornt. You want
to introduce yourself to the world. Aye, there's a chance, man,
jump on a go for it.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
My name is Lawrence Brave, Born and raised Atlanta, Georgia.
I served ten years in the US Army down at
Fort Stewart, third Infantry Division, went to a RAQ, served
there for three years of my life. Came back with
some scars, came back with some wounds that I didn't
even know I had, you know, went through two marriages
(06:53):
and my second marriage now got two beautiful children. And
it is just time for me to find my path
in life and get my.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
Life back with God and see what else holds. You know.
Speaker 5 (07:04):
I hold dear to my heart and let it out
and be who I used to be before the trauma
set into my life.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
And we're gonna get into a little bit of that
a long way. We're gonna have to rag a little
bit Georgia it's just I was like, oh my gosh. Really. Anyway,
as we do go through the course of the show,
we want you to know and understand some of these
things can be triggering. Not the Atlanta, Georgia part, but
some of the serious stuff. Eight seven seven seven one
seven seventy eight seventy three is our Combat Trauma Support
(07:33):
Line Answer twenty four to seven by a combat vet,
someone who's been through our program received additional training. A
combat vet will answer the phone when you call eight
seven seven seven seven seventy eight seventy three. We'll be
right back with more of Road to Hope Radio. How
(08:06):
often do you seem to have the bat film these days?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
You know, I kind of miss having it as often
as we used to. I used to love having it
like every week, sometimes three days a week.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
You know.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
We had this old like iPhone six and you just
walk in your office. There's only a few mentors and
we all shared it and it just end up on
your desk and you're like, what the heck? I just
had it for three days. But today about every once
a month, so it's a lot better. I got a lot
more staff and it's fantastic answering that thing. But sometimes
it's in the middle.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Of your work day.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
If you deal with a you know, a crisis online.
You know, with the guy, it's it's a tough maybe
where's you out.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah. We used to carry him a sign them for
two weeks at a time.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
Yeah, because that's good training. That's waiting for me.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
Because there was three of us. So it's just kind
of the way it worked out. Welcome back to Road
to Hope. Ray, You're glad to have you along again. Reminder,
wherever you listen to podcasts, just look for Road to
Hope Radio hit that subscribe button. We would truly truly
appreciate it. It is Easter Sunday, Resurrection Day. To me,
(09:15):
that's the greatest, most important day in the history of
the world, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, conquering death, hell,
the grave, victory signs sealed and delivered paid for one
hundred percent, and our organization we are a faith based
(09:37):
and christ centered organization. With that said, no one coming
into the organization or any way, shape or form part
of the organization has to agree to some sort of
creed or has to agree to even be Christian. Just
we've had a little bit of everything come through our doors.
(09:57):
But there's so many lessons from Scripture and certainly lessons
from Christ, and the greatest lesson of all a lesson
from the day of New Life. That's what we get
to celebrate today. And I'm going to dip into the
mail bag here for just a second. And then Brandon,
I'm going to ask you a question that don't overthink.
(10:21):
It's it's in your wheelhouse, all right, so you'll be
good to go. But I want to dip into the mailbag.
I received a message last Sunday. Actually, I don't know
if you'd remember this. I won't say his name on
Eric because I haven't asked this permission. I'll take later
see if you're remember him. This veteran came into Camp
(10:43):
Hope in twenty twenty one, so if I remember correctly,
it was Fall twenty one and exited in May twenty two.
But here's what he said twenty twenty one was I
was at Camp Hope. Now five I'm in Orlando being
celebrated for national MVP, top three percent of the company
(11:09):
in my new career and finance. By the way, it's
one of the top four banks in America. It's a major, major,
bank and he just hit top three percent. Anyway, I
would have never had this opportunity or found this career,
which I truly love, if it wasn't for Camp Hope
giving me the time and help I needed to get
(11:32):
not just my life back, but a life I never
imagined for myself. I love that. I love that he
said it that way, a life I never imagined for myself.
Just wanted to share a good story today. Thanks for
all y'all have done. A life you never imagined. We
see that a lot of Camp and I think today,
(11:53):
you know, Easter new Life. I think that represents it
just perfectly. So tell me your version of what new
life looks like for you coming through Camp Hope and
what you've been able to do since then.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Oh man, you did not make it easy, okay deep Okay,
So first off, that story kind of hits me because
you know, there's so many guys, including myself, that went
through this program that had that that experience, and I've
heard that story and I feel like that's why I
work there right to give another man that opportunity it
(12:31):
was given to me, and for me, the change is
managing my PTSD. It's not gone away, but I can function.
I can go to restaurants, I can be in crowds.
I've even started two step in. I go out the
country bars.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Oh I'm so.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
I mean it's good for me, right, absolutely, new experiences.
And I mean there's there's the the givens once you
get your life together and you really heal from this
stuff like the finances and the credit in the car.
That's all the good stuff. But there's relationships, like unbelievable
relationships with just men and women. Friends. Just I got
(13:09):
a host of friends. I got a fellowship where I'm safe,
I'm protected. You know, they get me. And I mean
I don't feel depressed every day. You know, I'm not
using drugs. I'm not trying to kill myself. That that
success today is really being a father to my son.
You know, I put him through a lot when I
got out, and he just he got the he got
(13:31):
the raw deal, tell you the truth of Dad's PTSD.
So those those are the blessings and it's just new life.
I think different, I act different, I talk different. My
kiddo actually believes in God today because he saw God
work in me and he had trouble with it, and
he's believing in science and like, but he saw an
evident change, like there's something to this god thing. So
(13:53):
for me, that's that's the new creation. And I mean,
people don't recognize me from my past. It's fantastic and
I love that part of it. I don't want them
to see that old man who I was before.
Speaker 2 (14:06):
You know, I would like, just for another minute, if
you don't mind not to rehash Brandon's life prior to
Camp Hope. That's not the point of this. But it
was not pleasant. Will we always say this about guys
coming in and no one comes in on a winning streak,
So I would give you this to another one up
(14:26):
for you. There's somebody out there listening that's struggling with
whether it's PTSD, depression, whatever, they're struggling. And my thing is,
I hear these stories so many times, and I hear
of the struggles and whether it's suicide attempts or jail
(14:48):
and legal issues and broken relationships and all that stuff
that comes along with it, and all that train wreck
that goes on for years sometimes before they finally go
get some help. Whether it's Camp Hope or wherever, it
doesn't matter, just all that happens between the trauma and
the time I actually go get help to deal with it.
(15:09):
What would you say to that guy that's in the
middle of that right now and he's scared the death,
to pick up the phone, to make the call.
Speaker 4 (15:16):
Fight through it. Just call back on your military experience,
call back on your deployments. I promise you've been through
things in your life. Pull from that face the fear,
call someone, reach out. It will change your life. There
is hope, There is many men that you can relate to.
I have relief from it. And I thought I was
screwed for life, right I got PTSD, I got a TBI,
(15:38):
got this blast, you know, I got all these other issues.
I want to kill myself. I'm angry all the time.
I don't fit into society. That's how I felt. But
once I got help, it was a process and a journey.
But I just I encourage you to reach out and it.
Just take that first step and just just trust the process,
because it can't get any worse. If your where I
(15:59):
was right now, and you're setting in that pit of misery,
in that whole of darkness, why not give it a try.
Reach out?
Speaker 2 (16:07):
And it is difficult, I think for many I've heard
many say it's the most difficult thing they ever did.
But when you think, we're back to Easter here for
a second. If Easter is the greatest day in the world,
and it represents the new life, and that's what we want.
It's what you just talked about in your own personal experience,
your new life. That's a post getting help from your
(16:28):
combat trauma. You don't get there without first there being
it's commonly known as Good Friday. There's no resurrection without
the crucifixion. Nobody wants the crucifixion. Nobody wants to surrender.
But you want the victory, you have to surrender. And
(16:51):
that's so backwards for you military guys, but it's the
way it goes with Jesus. Jesus everything he taught was
backwards what the world thinks. If you want to be first,
you gotta be last. You want to serve, you gotta
want to be served, you gotta serve. It's just the
way it is with him. But yeah, it's got to
(17:11):
be a there's got to be a daya surrender. You
gotta I give up. My way is not more cutting it.
Pick out the phone eight seven seven seven one, seven,
seventy eight, seventy three the website because we have not
only not everybody needs Camp Hoope. I gotta say that
not everybody needs Camp Hope, but we do have support groups.
We have support groups for family members, law enforcement, first responders.
(17:33):
All that information is online PTSD post traumatic stress Disorder
PTSDUSA dot org, all free. We'll be right back with
more Road Hope Radio, and we welcome you back to
(18:06):
Road to Hope Radio. David Malsby Here, we got Brandon
and it starts the Army Vet lead mentor Camp Hope Lawrence,
my State's Army VET current resident program at Camp Hope.
Lawrence met you know a little bit about you. Don't
know your whole life story, but what I do know
of you is post combat post PTSD diagnosis in some
(18:32):
of the trouble to come along with that introduced me
to pre combat Lawrence.
Speaker 5 (18:39):
Oh wow, pre combat Lawrence was a lot different. I
was very outgoing. I was the class clown when I
was in high school.
Speaker 2 (18:50):
You know.
Speaker 5 (18:50):
The whole thing was about me even joining the military
is my mom. You know, I grew up in a
very traditional, strict home. My mom would ground me if
I made less than eighty five the report card.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Because she was a Georgia Tech Gut graduate where you grounded.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
Up, Yes, I was.
Speaker 5 (19:08):
She grounded me a lot. I didn't do the high
school parties. It was just sports in schoolwork. She kept
me safe, though, I will say that she kept me
safe from a lot of the outside world. I think
that was a big problem in my life because I
was so sheltered growing up in a broken home and
then having just my mom and having her as my
(19:28):
guidance counselor. You would say she protected me from everything,
like so sheltered, like you see in the movies.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
Everybody like that show that.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
Sheltered parent, and she like wrap you and bubble rap
before you went out. She wasn't that bad. I know.
Speaker 5 (19:45):
I got my hands smashed at a soccer match in
high school and she come running out in the field.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
I'm like, go away, go away. That's like almost close
to the ball.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
Rack. Always her curfew in high school, well as.
Speaker 5 (19:59):
A kid, it was until the street light came right,
and then in high school, well she would say come in.
I'd have to stay in after dinner, but I'd sneak
back out through the window.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Oh there we go.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
But Yeah, she was.
Speaker 5 (20:16):
Very inspirational in my life pre army, but she sadly
passed away when I decided to go from the reserves
to active duty in two thousand and eight. So yeah,
that was pretty traumatic.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
While you were in after your first apployment.
Speaker 4 (20:34):
Yes, before your second. Yes.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
So you mentioned sports, and you mentioned in soccer, which
I think is a sin. But anyway, we'll talk about
that later. What was your sport?
Speaker 5 (20:46):
Well, soccer was one, but then I also played football
and baseball as well.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Okay, soccer even a sport in Texas.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I think it's like punishment.
Speaker 4 (20:56):
Running up and down constantly cross country.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
You're doing. No one ever scores, like what is the point?
Speaker 4 (21:03):
I like baseball. It was intended to and in one
inning and it could flip exactly a score, a run
after run.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
Yeah, a great soccer game is one Nils like, no, no,
thank you, I'm I'm.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
It's exciting nobody.
Speaker 2 (21:21):
It's that big net over there. Come on, it's a
big net too, Like quick, can't somebody on the net?
Speaker 4 (21:28):
You know a game? That's fine, it's hockey, even if
they oh.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
Much so NHL Live. I don't think there's anything like it,
and I you know, I've never played hockey in my life.
I'm a baseball guy. But live NHL.
Speaker 4 (21:43):
That's exactingly sport, very nascily you know.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Well, I remember the first game I went to. Uh,
people on the front row are just banging on the
glass screaming for blood on the ice, that they were
not going to be happy until there's blood on the ice,
Like that's this is this is a fun sports. Yeah, okay,
baseball football, which was your best football?
Speaker 3 (22:05):
Football was definitely my best baseball.
Speaker 5 (22:07):
Yeah, just filled in that void so I didn't have
to go home look up time.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Yes, what was your position?
Speaker 3 (22:13):
I was a wide receiver.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
Okay, that's why I've got humongous legs for a skinny guy.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Decent hands, Oh yeah, I was.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
I could catch anything back then.
Speaker 5 (22:24):
I don't know about now I touched the football in
a couple of years, but yeah, back then, I was
running probably in high school. I think I ran like
a four nine, So it was I was pretty fast
and had handed very sticky fingers.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
To catch a football. You would say.
Speaker 5 (22:44):
Even had a referee come look at my gloves one
time to think that I had glue on my gloves
in a high school match.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
He did.
Speaker 4 (22:51):
He's yes, he think he could catch a baby. Like,
let's say you were just hanging out and this woman
was about to have a baby and just deliver it.
Do you think with those hands you could deliver a baby?
Speaker 5 (23:01):
Oh yes, sure, I protected my daughter going down twenty
flight of stairs in an instant football.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
There you go. Your hands. Cut some jambalaya this week
at Campo.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Oh yes, it was delicious.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
We had a group of folks out from Amigy Bank
and they painted a house. Uh the inside one of
the houses is being refurbished right now. Did some inventory
in the storage and some dude from Amigy is legit
from Louisiana. I didn't get to eat any but I
(23:40):
saw a lot of smiles on a lot of faces,
and everybody said, that's one of the best, if not
the best, they've ever had.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Such a good thing.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Cool, that's so good.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
I mean, that's a big bank and they for them
to come out and do that paint a house, I mean,
let me just take a time out and go paint
a house and cook for these people and go through
the supply room. And they were all over our campus
just fantastic.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
And they had they had as much fun as the
guys did. Eating the gym be life. Yeah, they were
thrilled to death to be there. They're like, thank you
for having us volunteer course, if you worked at the bank,
I don't want to get out every now and then too,
I'll paint a house. Yes, sign me up for that.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Probably make a lot of money too.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Yeah, they had a great time, but it was great
to see them. And I mentioned that because we do
have a lot of companies that different employee groups within
a company might come out and do some volunteer work
at Camp Hope. There are so many opportunities to do that.
And yes, you do get to have some interaction. It's
obviously not free for all at our place, but you
(24:43):
will have some opportunity and have some interaction with some
of those in our program and certainly with our staff
who are graduates of the program. So it's a great
opportunity for you to support what happens at Camp Hope
and supporting our combat veterans, but also do something it's
very meaningful. It's it's the primary way to two overcome
(25:12):
some of your own issues. I have people ask me
from time to time like they're going through a tough
time or struggle. They're in a dark place for whatever reason.
Maybe it's results of their own choices, maybe it's things
out of their control. But they're just in a funk
and can't quite seem to get a way out. And
(25:32):
I'll have them ask me, what do you do? How
do you get out of this? And will I always
say look around for somebody you can help. There's always
somebody you can help. And there's something selfish to it
(25:53):
because I know when you do it, it's going to
make you feel good. Well, that's not the worst thing
in the world to feel good like. There's an know
that's not a sin. I used to be taught it was,
but it's not when you're doing it the right way
and doing the right thing some legal, moral, you know, ethical. Uh,
(26:14):
find somebody else to help. So you know, for your
your group, you're you're looking for team team building opportunities.
Come volunteer at Camp Hope. You not only impact a
lot of veterans lives, but you'll impact your fellow employees.
So just another way to encourage folks PTSDUSA dot org.
All right, so your mom you mentioned she wasn't happy
(26:39):
when you transferred from reserve to active. Yes. So was
she for you joining the reserves? Oh?
Speaker 5 (26:46):
Yeah, she because I grew up in a very poor family.
So she of course wanted me to go to college
like her. But she knew the only way I could
go to college, you know, go join the military, get
your mond yep, And so I did. I completed basic
training two months before the Twin Towers got hit, and
(27:07):
she kind of changed her tune after that because you know,
we were still kind of peace time.
Speaker 4 (27:13):
Yeah, before nine to eleven.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
But you know, I was eighteen years old.
Speaker 5 (27:18):
I was gung ho about it, you know, patriotic, you
know what what happened that day.
Speaker 3 (27:23):
I was ready to go. But yeah, she wasn't, of.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Course not, and I don't think any mother.
Speaker 1 (27:29):
No.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
Yeah, so hell it was. So your first appointment was
oh six, yes, so are you? And all right?
Speaker 5 (27:35):
First employment was there thirteen months where though we were
in over Ramadi hit vict you know byop mostly and
then we went to the Green Zone because of my
mos So I was all.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Over the place.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
So in west won't mean thing to anybody listening. So
just what were you doing?
Speaker 3 (27:56):
I was a ninety one Juliet so I was a
chemical weapon.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Specialist.
Speaker 5 (27:59):
So I was always attached to either Ranger Regiment or
Special Forces Unit or EOD, you know, always checking everything
to make sure you know there wasn't chemicals or a
chemical weapon. Always had an decon apparatus on nearby stand
by in case something bad happens. I can save people's lives,
(28:20):
kind of like a chemical version of a medic kind
of situation.
Speaker 4 (28:25):
Got you sounds pretty dangerous.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
I was gonna say, there's no stress in that job. Yeah,
and then whatsoever. All right, We're gonna have to take
one more break and we'll come back and finish up
with chatting with Lawrence and Brandon. Glad to have you long,
hang hang on tight. We'll right back with more of
Road Hope Radio, and we welcome you back Road to
(29:02):
Hope Radio on this Easter Sunday. Those of you listening
on the KPRC nine to five OHO and the AM
dialar here in Houston, Texas. Those of you listening through
the Magical Podcast, thank you for listening and for sharing
talking with Lawrence and Brandon, both the United States Army
Veterans Combat Veterans PTSD and Lawrence, We've laughed a lot,
(29:27):
and I don't want to get too dark here. But
let's talk a little bit about as I mentioned, welcome,
nobody comes to camp Hope on a winning streak. So
first apployment's six rather lengthy one. For your second when
you lose your mother, second employment, rather lengthy one. Not
(29:51):
a pleasant experience. There's a lot of trauma in war
that can go on, and said, we'll just leave it
there for now. You bring some of that home. Did
you recognize something was going on early or did it
take a while.
Speaker 3 (30:10):
Oh, it definitely took a while.
Speaker 5 (30:13):
Like I didn't even notice it even up until about
two maybe three years ago, until my wife had pointed
it out.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
And what was she pointing out?
Speaker 5 (30:25):
How distant I was becoming isolating myself.
Speaker 3 (30:30):
The biggest thing she said.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
Was I was there physically, but I wasn't there mentally
or emotionally for her and our kids. And when she
told me that, I you know I that back then,
I was just like, No, there's no way, there's you know,
there's always somebody worse off than me.
Speaker 3 (30:47):
You know, it's just my emotions. They'll go away, you know,
I'll I'll be who I was before.
Speaker 5 (30:53):
It's just temporary, And it wasn't This was a couple
of years ago. Yeah, she told me. It hit start
hitting around late twenty twenty two.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
How many children you have, Yeah, we have two.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
A son and a daughter, Aspen and Barrett.
Speaker 5 (31:06):
Held Aspen will be seven in June, Happy birthday baby.
And my son, Barrett will be thirteen in November. And
then my wife just had her birthday last month, so
she's looking good.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Love you, Haley.
Speaker 2 (31:25):
Isolation is one of those those are the big red flags.
When someone starts to isolating you, somebody better reach out.
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Yeah, and get some help.
Speaker 5 (31:35):
She told me numerous times that I needed to get help,
you know, more than just the VA. She felt like
I needed to go to a program that you know,
specifically helps veterans in that area, because you know VIA
they deal with so many people. Did you go to
the VIA, Yes, I went to them numerous times, but
(31:58):
it was just I just felt like I didn't get
anything from it. It was just like, you know, answer
these questions and then okay, teleconference over.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
I had a bunch of drugs from the VAY.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
Did they diagnose you?
Speaker 4 (32:11):
Yes?
Speaker 2 (32:13):
With that? Did they do anything or just say here's
what you got?
Speaker 5 (32:17):
They basically said, here you have PTSD along with depression
and anxiety. You know, here's some medication, and you know
your therapist will reach out to you once a month teleconference,
and that was it, so not really ever in person
getting you know, and it just festered inside of me
more and more every day, and my PTS just got
(32:39):
worse to the point where I didn't even know who
I was anymore. And it affected my marriage and my
life with my children, and man, it takes a toll
on you.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
I'm a firm believer that's it's not not the cast
blame on anybody. It's just the VA is overwhelmed. There's
no there's no two ways about it. But I think
the diagnosis, the writing of multiple prescriptions, which are all
chemicals that you're now putting into your body that are
designed to change things. Right, and we'll talk to you
(33:14):
on camera in a month, it's like, well, what happens
during that month because all those chemicals are starting to
go to work and they are changing things. And I'm
a firm believer. That's why we end up losing so
many veterans to whether it's overdose or suicide. We're unnecessarily
(33:40):
losing them because they're constantly getting either a change in
the cocktail of medications or a change in dosage, and
well let's try this, well let's try that, Like, well,
this is a human being. What are we just throwing
stuff around for? And then we're going to see in
a month. I just it's got to be a better way.
(34:01):
I'm firm believer there's a better way. But so you're
diagnosed a couple of years ago.
Speaker 5 (34:08):
Wish twenty fifteen is oh, they diagnosed, and you know,
they had me on zol off and all kinds of
other things.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
How long did you stay trying with the VA.
Speaker 5 (34:23):
I think fifteen all the way up to about twenty
eighteen after my daughter was born. And then I was
just like, you know what, it's not helping, you know.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
Could you just stop the medication? Okay? And no counseling
or no.
Speaker 5 (34:41):
I just I gave it all up because it was
I felt like it wasn't working.
Speaker 2 (34:47):
Usually something happens that spurs someone to decide to code
to camp hope for six to nine months of their life.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Yeah, call that like our d day.
Speaker 2 (34:59):
Yeah it was.
Speaker 5 (35:00):
It was a day of reckoning for me. My wife
actually found you guys. The company we work for is
actually based here in Houston, and she came out here
in the early February for the manager's meeting, and she
knew someone that had came through here before and he
had told her, you know, hey, I think you should
(35:22):
have send Lawrence there. I think it would really help
him and benefit him. And so she called me up
and was like, Hey, would you go to Camp Hope?
And I didn't even think about it at that point
in my life. I was like, yes, I'll go.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
You haven't been here long, you're still pretty early in
the program. You've made it through blackface, So yeah, that's nice.
It's really early in your program. So I hate to
even ask, but yeah, can you tell a difference yet,
Like just when you wake up in the morning, is
there a difference in it's a new day, it's a
(36:00):
new opportunity.
Speaker 5 (36:02):
I can say without a doubt, yes, we did, you know,
constructive criticism yesterday. And so, you know, all the peers
were like, you know, Lawrence, when you came here, you
were depressed, you were sad, you were so focused on
the things that you did wrong in your marriage and
before your trauma from war. And they're like, now, dude,
(36:22):
you walk around with a smile on your face, You're
hugging everybody, you're shaking hands, you're always helping others. Even
my peers were like, you're doing an amazing job already.
And I'm six and a half weeks in.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Good Oh.
Speaker 4 (36:38):
I was just thinking.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
I was so I smiled. The smile is one of
the first telltale signs for me. When I see somebody
begin to smile, something's working.
Speaker 4 (36:49):
Yeah, the light's clicking on. Yeah, it's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
They're doing the work.
Speaker 4 (36:53):
You can see isolation. I'll tell you anything about isolation.
Isolation when you're a veteran and you're isolated when you
get out, you were in such a dark place this
whole but you're comfortable there. It's such a hard like
when we're talking about reaching out for help, it's so
hard to get out of that. And when you're in
the military, you got this tribe. You get so close
to other human beings more than most people ever wield
(37:14):
their whole life. And I feel like if you've never
had that, you don't really know what it is. But
if you lose that, it's like a piece of your
soul's gone. So that brotherhood's gone. You know, you don't
know what you're missing if you don't got it. But
once you've had that, So when they have that fellowship
again at Brotherly Love and they're connected, they belong, they
feel a part of that's usually when that smile kicks on, right,
(37:35):
it's like a light like you just in the dark
and you flip the light on.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Well, I can't think both of you guys enough for
being here today. It's the fastest hour of my week,
every single week. It's just like, how in the world
are we already done? But then both of you guys, dude,
keep doing the work. Yeah, keep doing the work. Don't
don't stop. Don't stop, Yeah, don't stop because I want to.
I want to take the shortcut. Their short coats don't work. Nope, Complete,
(38:03):
complete what you've begun again. PTSDUSA dot org for all
information about our program at Camp Hope as well as
our support groups for veterans for family members. Everything gets
zero charged to the veteran or to their family. It's
a it's a great easter. It's a great day to
put the bottle down, to put the pills down, pick
(38:25):
up the phone and call eight seven seven seven to one,
seven seventy eight seventy three, You won't regret it. Thanks
for joining us, looking forward to being with you again
next week for more of Road to Hope Radio
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