Disabled Veterans Inspired by Athletics

"He's just been totally different. He communicates better, seems happier and more excited," Day added. "And I think this experience even improved his relationship with his wife -- she was constantly talking to me about problems with his anger but he really relaxed because of this and I saw that as the biggest change in him."

As One Door Closes, Another Opens

Fradera was not the only veteran who walked away from the clinic feeling invigorated.

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Stephen Bruggeman, 46, lost his leg while serving in the military in Kodiak, Alaska. Like Fradera, Bruggeman said he experienced the waves of shock, grief and anger following the accident.

But Bruggeman said his life changed when he first stood up on a surf board at the summer sports clinic.

"I never would have thought I would have tried surfing, but the coach who taught us how to surf was also a right leg amputee below the knee, and he competes with people without disabilities and he wins," Bruggeman explained. "Seeing him out there really inspired me and showed me that there's a lot out there I can still do. And I stood up on the board."

Bruggeman, who lives in South Dakota, said he plans on continuing surfing even in his landlocked home state.

"It inspires us and reminds us of the things we can do and … we can investigate more and try to keep going with them," Bruggeman said. "Now I want to try kite-surfing on the lakes out here, so I'm gonna see if I can't try to pick that up, and I never would have thought to try it until I figured out that I had pretty good balance when I went out there to surf at the sports clinic."

Like Bruggeman, Fradera also took away a new-found hobby – and perhaps a life goal -- from this year's summer sports clinic.

"Hand cycling," Fradera said. "It's my goal now to hand cycle for the U.S. team in the Paralympics."

Beyond the experience of participating in so many activities that they never thought they'd be able to do, both Bruggeman and Fradera spoke of the unbelievable bond that formed between themselves and their teammates at the clinic.