Hello, my name is Brian Owens. I’m 55 years old, a widowed father of four. I served in the military for almost 18 years, and while in Iraq, I was injured in 2008. I spent a year with the Wounded Warriors at Fort Knox recovering from my injuries. I was medically discharged on July 25, 2009. Every year for 8 years, I’ve had surgeries on both my legs and one surgery on my neck since my discharge, the last surgery in 2016. In 2013, my wife and mother of my children was killed in a car accident. It was just me and my children. I raised them the best I could, and I must have done a great job because they are the best humans I know. So caring and loving, not only to their own little families they have now, but to everyone they meet. They are my greatest achievement.

Not only did I suffer from physical injuries, I also suffer from PTSD. I have a problem being around lots of people. I can’t even go to Walmart without feeling anxiety. It is so bad that I had to find a place to live that wasn’t in city limits. At the time, my son, the youngest of my children, was still living with me. I had to stay in the city I was in until he graduated from school. Once that happened, I started looking for a house to buy. After a few months of searching, I found a cabin in the woods in a very small town. I knew when I went and looked at this place that it was the one I’d been searching for. There are neighbors, but you can’t see anyone’s house because of all the woods, which was perfect for me because of my severe PTSD.

I’ve done all the needed repairs and am still trying to finish the remodeling. I can take my time because this is my forever home. My sanctuary. I sit by the creek having a bonfire or sit on my deck watching the numerous deer, gray fox, and other critters living on the property. This area is a special place. I would be lying if I said it didn’t save my life. I want others to experience all of this as I have.

My neighbor on the side of my property line where my creek is decided to sell 5.5 acres. I would like to purchase this property and make a small campsite for veterans and other people like me with the same interest in bettering our lives. To heal ourselves suffering from PTSD and anxiety and try to learn to cope with our issues and reflect with the help of Mother Nature. I have only been here for 3 years and it has changed my life for the better. I want to pass the experiences I’ve had here to others like me. They will get to camp for free and get to see all the attractions in the area. I really want this to happen. I also think this would be a great place for the Skoolie community to be able to use to take a break from driving for a couple days or if they need to do repairs to their home on wheels. I’m a fan of the skoolie nation.

I am not the type of person to ask anyone for help. I’m very humbled and must swallow my pride to do this. But if I could get some help on purchasing this property from donations, I plan on making the property a small camping area for others who suffer from PTSD and also for people who need to get away and learn what Mother Nature has to offer. A place where they can camp for free and not worry about too many people around them. With the property for sale and my property together with all the woods and trails and the future campsites, it would be beneficial for not only me but other veterans or anyone suffering from PTSD or social anxiety. Please help me keep my peace of mind, my sanctuary, the solitude that I need to feel normal. To feel at peace. I gave many years of my life for my country and have suffered from my injuries and still suffer today. Please help me purchase this property so that I can continue to heal and help others. If the property sells before I’m able to buy it, I will give back the money to those who donated.