I Love Life: A Veteran’s Inspiring Story [AUDIO]

What a story to share!  A combat-wounded veteran from the war in Afghanistan was blown up twice and severely injured when a suicide bomber exploded just 3-feet away from him in Kandahar.

Brian Flemming tells I Love Life:  "The first one was a road side bomb that my vehicle ran over.  the second was a suicide bomber driving right next to the door of my vehicle carrying a load of explosives.  He got right next to my vehicle's door and decided he was going to blow himself up along with me.  He was the only one who died that day thankfully."

But, at the same time, Brian's life instantly changed.  "I was burned 2nd and 3rd degree.  I woke up in a ditch on the side of the road.  I had no idea what happened.  I spent the following 14 months at Brook Army Medical Center in Texas going through burn treatment and reconstructive surgery.  After that, I was starting a new direction in life."

And believe it or not---Brian says the injuries became a blessing in his life.  "It's definitely been a blessing looking back on it.  If the suicide bomber had any idea what would transpire as the result of his actions, he would never have done what he did.  It comes down to 2 things for me:  I am a very strong person of faith and believe that I'm here for a reason or purpose.  Secondly, I had a mentor (Evangelist Dave Roever) came into my life and is now one of my best friends.  He showed me how to use what happened to me as a way to help and serve other people.  That has really been one of the absolute, strongest keys to my recovery."

So, what did it take for Brian to turn his adversity into an opportunity?  "For me it just came down to look at the situation for what it is.  I know when people experience tragedies, or even when we don't, if we don't like something we often try to push off whatever the situation is---it's called denial.  People don't want to admit what is actually happening or the way something actually is.  The military taught me a lot about looking at things for the way they are because you have to see things for what they truly are.  Once you do that, and look at the reality of the situation, then you can make a plan on how to get out of that situation and move beyond it---and then just execute that plan.  That is a simple military strategy."

No doubt about it---Brian Flemming's unique and straight-forward, one-of-a-kind message of victory over adversity personifies the triumph of the human spirit!