Healthy Minds/Healthy Bodies

We recognize the challenges faced by military veterans returning home with
a disability. To meet their wellness needs, NEDSRA spearheaded the initiation
and development of Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies. In cooperation with our
member partner communities, this unique, FREE program equips qualified
veterans with:

For more information and to learn about the eligibility requirements,
contact Lisa Deets (630) 576-4040.

Success Story

Luis A. Flores of Westchester and Lidel C. “Rick” Cordero of Bensenville
affectionately call each other “brothers.” Though they share a strong
cultural bloodline from Puerto Rico, they are brothers in arms who fought
in different wars, joined different armed service branches and suffered
injuries profoundly affecting their military careers.

“We have developed a great and outstanding friendship,” said Flores, a Puerto Rico native. “I just see Rick as my brother.” That friendship, which grew from attending at a combat stress group session in Hines Hospital, has expanded to both men enrolling in NEDSRA?s Veterans Initiative Program this year. With the cooperative efforts of Club Fitness of the Addison Park District, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and U.S. Paralympics, the program is offered free of charge to qualifying veterans returning from active duty. Veterans experience benefits such as working with a personal trainer, taking post-rehabilitation exercise material to use at home and participating in social events where veterans meet each other.

Flores, 40, is a retired Army National Guard E-5 Sergeant who was stationed in Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom from February 2003 to July 2004. He was a transportation supply unit driver delivering equipment, food, fuel, and ammunition to troops in Iraq. During his tour of duty, he suffered work- and training-related injuries to his right hand and left ankle. In one incident, Flores quickly exited his truck which aggravated his left leg injury. In another, car bombs exploded and shrapnel pierced the back of his skull. In the summer of 2004, he returned to America and enrolled in a Wisconsin-based rehabilitation program helping injured Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. With extensive injuries, he was sent home to Westchester where he reported to a local reserve unit.

Going home was not a chance for rest or relaxation for Flores. He became depressed over the fact that it was physically impossible for him to return to his former occupation. “I’m a truck driver,” he said. “My left leg acted like my clutch and my right hand guided the stick shift. I couldn’t drive a truck and trucks were my life.” From 2004 to 2007, Flores mitigated his mental and physical pain by retreating to his basement and drinking excessively while ruining relationships with friends and family. Wanting to commit suicide, his wife contacted his commander who then put him in a Veterans Hospital psychiatric ward for a short stay. Later, he received medical treatment and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The Army retired him in 2007.

A 24-year U.S. Army veteran, Cordero, 50, is also retired and holds the rank of Sergeant First Class. Raised in Chicago, this Bensenville resident and security guard served in many war theaters beginning with Operation Just Cause in 1989, Desert Shield in 1990, Desert Storm in 1991, Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. Operation Just Cause refers to the American invasion of Panama in 1989 to capture General Manuel Noriega. Cordero’s injuries are minimal–arthritis and rheumatism in his left knee and hearing loss in his left ear. These are due from his experiences being an army ranger, drill sergeant, paratrooper and sharpshooter.

Flores heard about the Veterans Initiative program through a commander at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7446 in Addison last year. In disbelief, Flores wondered how he could actually exercise with his injuries. His curiosity piqued, he called NEDSRA and began his sessions in March. “I didn’t believe that anyone would give us this opportunity,” he said. Working once a week with trainer Joe Sinople helped Flores to remember certain exercises again and to create a full body workout fitness plan. “I am a weightlifter; I never use machines,” said Flores who trains on his own the rest of the week. “I think that’s cheating. Joe and Rick showed me how to use machines. I used to run outside with boots and a rucksack. Now since I cannot do that anymore, I have to use an elliptical machine which Joe showed me how to use.”

An impressed Flores contacted Cordero and other veterans. Cordero joined but took a different approach by working out by himself. He specifically strengthens his left knee while doing some weight training. His dream is to open his own karate studio. With several sessions left, Flores is proud of the results. He has lost 19 pounds in two months and will continue training on his own. While building his physique, Flores tackles culinary studies and hopes to have a Puerto Rican restaurant in the suburbs. “Being a soldier is all about being fit,” he said. “This is a program for people to get off the couch no matter what disability they have. You’re going to feel physically fit again even though you may walk with a cane or use a wheelchair. I thank NEDSRA very much for creating such an outstanding program. I used to wake up and I didn’t care about life. I asked God every night, Please God take my life. I don’t want to be here. I hated my life and myself. Now, I don’t want to die.”

Cordero has high praise for the program and the Club Fitness facility. Like his “brother,” he will continue training on his own. “I’ve always been physically fit; I always like to work out and (that interest comes) from being involved in karate and boxing,” he said. “This place here is gold to me,” he said. “I just love coming here and training. It’s made me much better mentally because I have post-traumatic stress disorder, too. By us being physically fit as we’re supposed to be as soldiers, the program makes us feel better about ourselves again.”

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