Tomah VA Medical Center

Rob Hilliard (seated) gets ready to shred the mountain at Snowmass during this year's National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic.

As a second-time participant at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, Robert “Rob” Hilliard is a passionate ambassador for the program and the veterans.

Rob is a U.S. Navy veteran with multiple traumatic brain injuries, or TBI.  In the 1980’s, when Rob served, there was no such thing as a TBI.  He thought his symptoms were an on-set of Parkinson’s disease.  They turned out to be the result of multiple brain traumas.

“When I first got to the Tomah VA, I wanted to get in, get fixed and get out,” Rob said.

He experienced anger issues once he was medically discharged from the military because he wanted to make a career out of it.  He still experiences that anger at times, but now he can attribute it to his TBIs.  Long term effects from the TBIs, including headaches and pain, are a daily part of Rob’s life.  He’s found relief through yoga and aquatic therapy.

“When I first started doing aqua therapy, the [occupational therapists] had to hold onto me,” Rob explained. “My balance was that bad because of my TBIs. Aquatic therapy helped me walk again.”

Those therapies worked so well for Rob that he started classes as part of a “Pain University”.  The university functions like a real college where veterans can choose which types of alternative therapy will help them with managing pain from illness and injury. 

Every veteran’s injury is as unique as they are.  Pain University allows veterans to pick and choose different types of therapy, such as aromatherapy or cycling. It is based solely around the veteran and the physicians are outside their network.  Rob is now an instructor for Pain University, and is gaining momentum in creating a VA-wide program.  However, not all veterans are open to trying it.

“I remember there was this Vietnam veteran I met, he was a hard sell at first,” Rob laughs.  “He was very grouchy, but he tried aromatherapy and he’s totally different.  He’s been to every class since.”

Rob teaches classes about alternative pain management at the Clinic now in hopes of helping heal other veterans.  He does yoga every day and is an ambassador for getting veterans healthy again.

“If they’re not here, they’re just sitting there,” Rob emphasized.  “The alternative sports program is a life changer because it gives veterans something to strive for.”

For Rob, the light bulb came on when he played sled hockey at the Clinic last year. 

He spoke about the first time he hit an instructor. 

“I was on the sled and I hit an instructor,” he recalled. “The light switch came on and when we were walking out the instructor said ‘there’s a hockey player.’ From then on, my whole way of thinking changed.”

The Clinic is hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs in a partnership with Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, every year.  Rob became a member of DAV and now is becoming commander of his chapter in Tomah. 

A true testament to character, Rob advocates for the veterans he leads in the DAV, but with the VA as well.  He sits on the Veteran’s Experience board for the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 12, a healthcare district office. 

“I’m always recruiting,” Rob said. “This is life changing to some veterans.”

For those who may not feel ready to participate in the Clinic, Rob is keen on getting them there any way.  He says it’s not about the outside competition, but the inside competition.  He credits comradery as his reason for returning year after year.

“The comradery is the best part of it,” he explains. “It’s the goal of these events in hopes they take that comradery home with them.  We need to get more veterans here.”

The Clinic whose motto is “Miracles on the Mountainside” rings true for Rob.  He takes in the mountain at every opportunity for its healing power. It’s something he’s passionate about and something he plans to continue advocating throughout the year.

“On the last day, everyone was already counting down to next year.  It’s a life-changing event.  More people have to be here.”