Caregivers Find Support and Connection at Winter Sports Clinic

Office of Integrated Veterans Care Communications Director 

At this year’s National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, a new initiative is shining a long-overdue spotlight on a group often overlooked: caregivers. For the first time, the clinic launched a dedicated caregiver support program to offer connection, education, and emotional support to those who stand beside disabled veterans on their recovery journey. 

VA Caregiver Support Coordinator Grace Danborn, of the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, helped organize the WSC caregiver support, along with her co-worker Brenda Gust, emphasized the importance of the new initiative. 

“It’s good for caregivers to know you aren’t alone with your emotions and thoughts,” she said. “There are resources to share. The more that you know, the better off you are.” 

A joint effort of VA and DAV, the goal for Winter Sports Clinic caregivers is to create a space where they can connect, be introduced to resources and practical advice and support one another through acknowledging challenges, anticipating needs, and problem-solving together. 

Gust echoed Danborn’s sentiments. “There’s a lot of invisibility in being a caregiver,” she said. “We want caregivers to be seen, appreciated, and to know they’re not alone. There’s nothing more powerful than being surrounded by peers—best practices can be shared and stories can inspire.” Gust also said that, since this was the first year for the program at WSC they were hoping to hear directly from caregivers about what they need and would like to see in future years. 

At one listening session, a caregiver shared how powerful it was to be able to talk to other spouses and parents. “From a mental health perspective, just knowing I’m not alone in this journey is so helpful,” she said. “I had no idea how integral I was to my Veteran’s recovery.” 

Stacy Greathouse, whose husband, Adam, is an Army Veteran, reflected on how much things have changed since her husband became disabled. 

“Back then I was just trying to gather resources,” she said. “Now we can help each other. We all want the person I love to thrive past their limits—and Winter Sports Clinic, through recreational therapy, helps with that. For me, this group fills a void and builds connections.”

Ione McCarthy said connecting with the group opened her eyes. Her husband, Jay, a Navy Veteran, was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s, so she is new to caregiving and grateful for the guidance. “I want to understand what my role is going to be,” she said. “I know my journey is just beginning and I want to learn from others.” 

McCarthy was grateful to have connected with Colleen Costa, whose husband, Andrew, was diagnosed with dementia five years previously. “This is the first time in a long time I’ve felt appreciated,” Costa said. “The emotional toll is real.” 

DAV National Voluntary Services Director John Kleindienst acknowledged that while introducing the caregiver support program was a step forward, there’s still work to be done.

“This support at Winter Sports Clinic is long overdue. The sacrifices of our Veterans are also the sacrifices of their caregivers. Their stories matter. We need to support them, give back, and create bigger events with greater visibility. There are 43 million caregivers in this country—we want them all to know: you are seen and your voice matters.”

Casting Hope: Volunteers Bring Fly Fishing to Veterans

Communications Director, Office of Integrated Veteran Care

Each year the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic proves that the power of the outdoors – combined with dedicated volunteers – makes a lasting impact on the lives of Veterans with disabilities.

Thanks to support from the Aspen Elks Lodge 224, Roaring Fork Valley Fly Fishing Club, Half-Az Ranch, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and other local volunteers, Veterans get to experience the joys of fly fishing – many for the first time.

Among those volunteers is the Harcourt Fly Fishing 3D team, a family of professional fishing guides spanning three generations who are committed to introducing Veterans with disabilities to the sport.

Family patriarch John Harcourt introduced his son, Dustin, and grandson, Drake, to fly fishing as children. In fact, John said both learned to tie flies before they could read, a foundation that helped Dustin earn the title of “Best Guide” in Elevation Outdoor Magazine’s “Best of the Rockies” awards, which covers six states. His skills have attracted high profile clients, including former President George W. Bush and General Colin Powell.

While John has met many Veterans during his years of volunteering, one stands out. The Veteran was legally blind, with a small amount of vision left. However, he knew he would soon lose his sight completely. He told John that he was determined to catch a fish on the fly. As lunchtime rolled around, and still luck, John asked him if he wanted to take a break. The Veteran shook his head, he was on a mission. Then finally, he hooked his fish, caught on his own. At the end of the day, the Veteran turned to John and said, “That was the best day of my life.”  John was stunned. “I thought, how could that be? A single fish? It almost brought me to tears.”

This week, however, it was Drake who made a splash when a Veteran he was assisting landed a monster 21-inch trout – an undeniable highlight of the day.

After a successful few hours of reeling in trout, Veterans are treated to a spread that includes hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers and fresh trout caught the same day – grilled and served by the local Elks.

“I get more out of helping the Veterans than what I give. It’s an honor to be able to serve them,” said Jane Carey, as she mixed a huge bowl of salad. She has been volunteering at the event for the past 10 years.

Gretchen Straub, who has been involved for eight years, reflected on the experience, “Being here makes me grateful for my life,” she said as she bustled behind the scenes. “The Veterans keep things in perspective when I see their strength.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife also played a key role in supporting the event by donating spinning rods to ensure every Veteran has access to the right equipment. Their continued support is one puzzle piece to making the event possible each year.

For the Veterans who participate, it’s more than just a fishing trip – it’s a chance to reconnect with nature, experience camaraderie and find peace on the water. And for the volunteers, it’s a powerful reminder that small acts of kindness make a big difference in the life of a Veteran.

Breaking Barriers: Women in Prosthetics Transforming Lives

Each year an essential first stop for Veterans skiing in adaptive equipment at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic is the Seating, Prosthetic Limb and Boot Fit room. It’s here that a team of specialists ensure each Veteran is individually fitted for their adaptive equipment. The team plays a vital role in maximizing comfort, stability and performance – whether it’s adjusting a prosthetic limb, fine-tuning a sit-ski for better comfort or customizing boots to prevent pressure points.

Last year, Rebecca Fagan, a Certified Prosthetist and Orthotist (CPO) from the Syracuse New York Veteran Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), was the only female prosthetist at the event, held each year in Snowmass, Co. This year, two more women joined the ranks, and she is thrilled to see more diversity.

“It’s exciting to see more women in this role,” Fagan said. “Last year, I was the only one here, and now there are three of us. It shows that change is happening, and that’s inspiring.” Fagan’s passion for prosthetics was shaped by her upbringing—her father was a 20-year military veteran, and her mother worked in physical therapy. “Helping people regain mobility was something I grew up around. Seeing my parents’ dedication to service and rehabilitation made me want to be part of this field,” she said.

In a profession historically dominated by men, a growing number of women are making their mark in prosthetics combining science, craftsmanship, compassion and power equipment to change lives. CPOs play a vital role to help patients regain and improve mobility and function by designing, fabricating, and fitting prosthetics for those who lost limbs to injury, illness, or congenital conditions.

The work of a prosthetist is both highly technical and deeply personal. It begins with understanding each patient’s unique needs, lifestyle and goals. The work is physically demanding—casting a limb, shaping materials, and fitting prosthetics require strength, precision and endurance. It is an art as much as a science, where skillful hands craft devices that become integral parts of their users’ lives.

The physical process of creating a prosthetic begins with an intimate and hands-on step: casting the residual limb. This requires the prosthetist to create plaster mold, ensuring every detail of the limb is captured to achieve a perfect fit. Then comes the modification phase, where the mold is refined, sometimes requiring long hours of sanding and shaping. The socket, which connects the prosthetic to the limb, must be durable yet comfortable—a balance that takes years to master. Finally, the prosthetic is assembled, using cutting-edge technology and durable materials, to create a limb that restores mobility and independence.

CPO Tessa Braun, from the Seattle VAMC, shares her excitement about following Veterans throughout their journey. “It’s incredible to be there from the beginning, helping them get fitted for a prosthetic, evaluating their progress, and seeing them regain mobility. I get to witness firsthand the resilience of those who have served.”

Braun feels the field has traditionally appeared male-dominated, partly because of the heavy-duty tools. “There’s a lot of grinding, big band saws, and other machinery,” she said.

Looking toward the future of prosthetics, Braun is optimistic. “I see prosthetics becoming more efficient and 3-D printing and scanning are already being used to create customized parts for better fit and safety.”

Hailing from the Minneapolis VAMC, CPO Emily Zoltai shares a deep passion for adaptive sports and the power of providing resources to individuals with disabilities. “I love adaptive sports—I love seeing what people can do if you give them the resources. This world is not made for people who are not able-bodied, so being able to adapt is impactful.”

Zoltai is also inspired by the collaboration between prosthetics research in universities and VA, which helps push the field forward. Like her colleagues, she acknowledges the industry’s male dominance. “It’s seen as a field where you need to be strong because of the tools we use, but that doesn’t mean women can’t excel in it,” she said.

Women in prosthetics are not just creating limbs; they are breaking barriers by proving that skill, dedication, and heart—not gender—define excellence in prosthetic care.

From the workshop to the slopes of the Snowmass, these women are changing lives—one step at a time.