Warrior Misson Ranch- Dereks Service Dog
Donation protected
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!! DEREK MET HIS FUTURE MEDICAL RELIEF AND ITS NOT A PILL!!! IT'S A SERVICE ANIMAL IN TRAINING NAMED DANNER. FULLY VERIFIED AND DONATIONS CAN BE RECEIPTED FOR TAXES THROUGH THE WARRIOR MISSION RANCH UPON REQUEST!!!!
Derek Bartelt is a decorated medically retired US Air Force Dirtboy. He was boots on ground serving all over the middle east (in and outside the wire) as REDHORSE and Prime BEEF member: Afghanistan (twice), Iraq, UAE, Oman, and Lebanon. He was tasked with missions ranging for building up and/or tearing down small outposts/camps working with Special Forces and the US Army, performing (ECP) entry control point vehicle checks, erecting and deconstructing bare base structures with small J-2 teams, paving airfield taxiways, repairing airfield concrete damage, providing crane support for any given AOR situation, performing landing zone dust control for helicopters in remote areas, fortifying combat outpost and forward operating bases with concrete barriers, pouring large concrete areas for fuel storage areas, and operating various heavy construction equipment for demolition and site prep purposes for base expansion. He was a Cadre/Military Instructor for a European Silver Flag location teaching ADR (Airfield Damage Repair) where they perform "live" exercises on a weekly basis on how to live and respond to a remote combat setting with limited resources, while being able to successfully set up a bare base and land aircraft with in a short amount of time.
Along the way, he sustained multiple injuries while deployed which led to a full medical retirement. He has been in and out rehab facilitates with testing and treatments for years from Landstuhl Medical Center, Germany, Brooke Army Medical Center, Bethesda Naval Hospital, and the Hampton VA Medical Center. Today he still suffers from PTSD, Depression, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) residuals, migraines, C3-C7 neck surgeries and procedures, and other complications. Adapting to everyday life for him has been a struggle. He came from a great upbringing as a child in Virginia Beach as a skater kid without a worry in the world to what he describes as a " daily grind of hell". All he wants to do is go back overseas and not come home. He wants to be in what he described as his place. Where experiences, noises, pain, and vigilance is expected and easier to cope with because what you do, what you see and what you hear is real. Living while not be deployed is not enough fulfillment. Its embarrassing and has little interest for him . He mourns and has guilt over the friends he lost and has regret for situations, always wanting a redo. Aside from his mental status that he is reluctant to share with most, His physical status causes him to be in constant pain in one fashion or another and varies in severity.
With that said, he is currently prescribed a cocktail of 9 daily medications along with routine therapies. Derek continues bi-weekly mental health sessions, takes his medications from his providers and gets procedures performed on his neck. At this point, he is tired. Now he is trying to accept the actual severity of his disabilities and make life easier for himself rather than "put the mask on" and take whatever pills to buffer the pain. THAT'S WHERE DANNER COMES IN! Derek met Danner and fell in love. Up until this point, the only thing that put a true smile on his face was being around his children. But, through family and with medical professional recommendations, Derek has been hooked up with The Warrior Mission Ranch out of northern Virginia. He agreed to get the assistance of a service animal for some of his physical and mental health needs. Danner is a 1 year old black lab that has been raised in the police bomb squad community. He has is a very special, calm, loving pup that is perfect for Derek and perfect for meeting the strict standards for a true Service Dog certification! The Warrior Mission Ranch is a non-profit organization designed for helping vets through equine and K9. Their trainer, Joey is a vetted and an exceptional trainer who is a current Master Bomb Squad K9 police officer/K9 trainer. Joey, Derek and Danner have all met and a have been forming a plan for training but funding is needed to get the ball rolling faster for his needs. Donations go directly to costs for training, equipment, certifications, K9 medical insurance and life-long health care for life for the K9, and dog food for life. We really appropriate your donations and recommendations. We will be providing updates via facebook and webpage.
Contact for more information: https://warriormissionranch.org/
Organizer
Joy Boudreau
Organizer
Virginia Beach, VA
