Luis grew up in a loving home in a rough neighborhood of New York. He experienced violence on the streets as a young man and, to escape, eventually joined the US Army. During active combat in Desert Storm, he suffered a traumatic injury and was unsure if he’d ever walk again.
Now an injured veteran, Luis returned home and struggled to recover. Like many former military members, he suffered pain, anxiety, and depression. Luis ended up using and selling drugs to survive. His life ultimately unraveled. His marriage ended; he lost contact with his family; and he felt very alone.
Getting arrested was not new for Luis. The way that he was coping with the violence and struggles of his past had led him down a negative path. Yet, his last arrest turned out to be a cloud with a silver lining. At Rikers Island on drug charges, Luis sought a plea deal that would allow him to change his life for the better. He went to a veteran addiction and treatment facility where he found Back on My Feet.
After everything he had been through, Luis was determined to make a change with the help of Back on My Feet. Mile by mile, he built strength in his leg. He was so successful that he discovered that he would no longer need surgery. Astoundingly, Luis ran 3 marathons and 6 half marathons after a leg injury that was supposed to mean he’d never walk again.
In addition to improving his health, Luis also built relationships with Back on My Feet volunteers. He realized that mending the social connections in his life was also fundamental to his life-altering transformation. Luis renewed relationships with his family and set goals for his future. He found a place to live, got a job at Marriott/White Lodging, and then quickly got promoted.
Even with all the responsibilities of his new job, Luis never misses a Back on My Feet event and works eagerly as a mentor to new members. Running with Back on My Feet was the beginning of a new path for Luis. He feels better physically. He’s found meaningful work. And he has rebuilt family ties.
Luis’s ex-wife, whom he met when they were just teenagers, came with him to a recent Back on My Feet gala. It was the perfect spot for Luis to honor how much his life has changed. Surrounded by the volunteers who were part of his transformation, Luis proposed to his former high school sweetheart. She accepted.
