Finding Calm After the Call
Maria, a paramedic, carried the weight of tough calls home with her. Sleep was
rare and stress felt constant. A colleague invited her to a PaddlesForWarriors
play day “just to get out of the house.”
On the court, she found a space where she didn’t have to explain what she had
seen or how she felt. She could move, laugh, and connect with other first
responders who understood.
“For a couple of hours,” she says, “I’m not replaying the last call in my head—
I’m just here.”
From Isolation to Community
After leaving the military, James missed the sense of team more than anything.
Days turned into weeks of feeling disconnected and alone—until a local veterans
organization partnered with PaddlesForWarriors to host a beginner clinic.
James showed up not knowing anyone and left with new friends and a standing
invite to weekly open play. Soon he was helping set up nets and welcome new
players as they arrived.
“It gave me a unit again,” he says. “Different uniforms, same sense that we’ve
got each other’s backs.”
