"I think what they take home from this is they realize what they can do and not what they can't do," Trombetta said. "We all know that playing sports is important to them for alleviation of stress, as a way to cope, for weight control and good nutrition, and a lot of other secondary factors that are great medical outcomes."
"But beyond that, we know this program can help people be far more self actualized, better adjusted and more likely to be involved in the community around them when they return home at the end of the week," Trombetta added.
One of the most unique aspects of the summer sports clinic is that the veterans attending were encouraged to bring their personal therapists and family members to San Diego -- not only to have their friends and loved ones rooting them on from the sidelines, but to teach their families how to participate in these activities alongside the veterans.
Trombetta said that their hope in coordinating this new summer clinic was that the injured veterans would learn how to partake in new activities that they could then continue to enjoy, even after they went back home.
"With this program, we also trained care providers and family members and coaches how to do these activities in the hope they'd all learn together and could help [the veterans] to continue it when they get home," Trombetta said. "There's always a better outcome when there's a good support system, and we don't want this to be just a one-week thing for these guys."
Fradera was joined at the clinic by his wife as well as his physical therapist, Jennifer Day, an adaptive sports coordinator at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, Fla.
Day said she noticed a positive change in Fradera after he returned from the clinic.
"A lot of the wounded veterans -- and Mike is the same -- they run through all the levels of disappointment and they have a lot of anger towards themselves and towards others and family members," Day explained. "But I've seen a huge change in Mike from the time he said he'd go to the clinic to today."
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