How a Recumbent Trike Changed Everything

By Janel Gibson
Kelley Guidry is no stranger to adversity or challenges. The former Vehicle Control Maintenance and Air Force Security Forces Airmen served in the United States Air Force for six-and-a-half years. She was awarded an Accommodation Medal for her role in Operation Enduring Freedom from Nellis Air Force Base, 820th Red Horse Squadron directly following the 911 Terror attacks.  Currently, she is the co-founder of the 501(c)(3) organization Forgotten Not Gone, Inc.

Following a challenging eight years of struggling with her disabled veteran husband’s deteriorating health, her own disability and depression, she was at a breaking point. After a week of unpaid leave from work at the IRS to take her husband to the War Related Illness Clinic, a therapy was prescribed for her husband that would change both their lives.

Kelley and her husband decided to take out a personal loan and purchase the recommended 3-wheel recumbent trike for rehabilitation.

They were able to purchase two trikes, thanks to the terrific deal they were able to strike with the company, Utah Trikes. This allowed them to ride together! For more information on Utah Trikes, go here: http://www.utahtrikes.com/ 

The doctors told them this would help with anxiety, depression and physical recovery. After just 2 months, Kelley saw an amazing recovery with her husband. Peter’s anxiety level had decreased, he was getting physical activity and he had begun to be social again.

Together they realized and then decided every veteran should have access to this therapy or any other alternative therapy regardless of whether the VA could provide them or not. They created Forgotten Not Gone to accomplish that goal. The nonprofit provides an answer to living without pain or pills and how to maintain a good quality of life after leaving the military.

Their goal now is to continue to give back, inspire, motivate, serve and breathe hope back into their fellow veterans, who were not lost at war. For more information, visit their website, at: http://forgottennotgone.org/