We're talking to Andy Gasper and Kevin Parker, who work with Warrior Foundation Freedom Stations, specifically in cancer support programs, among other things. A gentleman, First of all, thanks for spending some time. Good to talk to you. How are you great? Thank you good appreciating opportunity. Thank you? Oh,
it's it's our pleasure. So what makes the cancer support programs through Warrior Foundation Freedom Station different or more valuable for service members than say, you know something that's perfectly great at a local hospital. Well, I think, um, since to thanks to that question. I think one of the things that makes this unique is the hospital, Dobbo Enabled Medical Center, San Diego. They do offer a caregiver program. I think what makes this unique is kind of a
personal touch for its heavy on pero peer support. Uh. And we also implement a caregiver perspective of that as well, and we do it around lunch. Um. And so what's a really low key environment really promotes sharing and hewing. Now, you're both military veterans, and I know you can speak to the warrior mindset and how that plays in with dealing with a certain kind of person. What's the warrior mindset?
What's that all about well, the warrior mindset obviously, you know you're you're kind of put in that that situation as a as a warrior. But whenever difficulty comes along, you know how to process it properly, you know, from
from the honor, courage, commitment, all those things. But as a warrior and dealing with cancer and trying to help um, trying to help out others that are dealing with the similar issues, it's it's really focused in on on comfort and how you can help each other during that difficult time. And so you know, oftentimes as a as a marine, you want to you want to stand strong and you know and try to uh, you know, try to bear the burdens on your own. But in all reality, the
warrior does need that support. And the Warrior Foundation was huge for me and my family as as UM. I was diagnosed with stage four melanoma back in two thousand and sixteen, and uh, with having four kids, just found out my wife was pregnant with our fifth line. Yeah, just all of a sudden, you know, something like that happens. You know, you begin to think, uh, like you know, what, what's what's about to happen? And and so I met
Andy back in two thousands seventeen. And then at that point, UM I Andy introduced me to several others that we're dealing with cancer, different types. And you know when you go and see the doctor and they tell you, you know, for me and my example, I had six months left to live and oh yes, and the doctors like you got six months, and you know, you're thinking of all
these different things. You know. Of course, you know I've been in the Marines for sixteen years at that point, and so all those things kind of go kind of halk and uh and yes, the worrior mindset is extremely important. But and uh and it helps out, it helps to persevere and connecting with Andy and and kind of getting involved in the cancer group. Really the healing comes by
helping others heal. And I would say that the Warrior Foundation with UM Sandy and Andy have done with the connection there with the month a monthly luncheons to sit around a large table almost like a family environment of other warriors just sitting across from each other, and everybody's dealing with different types of cancers and different stages and and uh, now I can you know, I'm uh, you know, just excited to you know, say I'm in remission and be able to you know, get that hope in that
sense of you know, courage to others and know, hey, we're here for you, especially the caregivers with my wife, you know, dealing with our situation and the kids and all those different things. Hey, you know you can whether it's faith or you know, just just that warrior mindset, Hey, you know, have comfort and and I would say that's probably my um where I'm really appreciative Andy and Sandy and the Warrior Undation what they've done for me and
my family and just that connection. Well. And you know, the one thing we've learned in uh, talking with so many good folks who have benefited from Warrior Foundation Freedom Station through the years is that you I mean, you're you're trained, then you live through the most intense moments any human being can imagine. And it's all about team,
always team. And then all of a sudden, when military service ends or folks are medically retired or whatever, all of a sudden, you got no team or you don't have the same sort of team and you're in the dopey, apathetic civilian world dealing with a crisis and and I don't think a lot of civilians understand how incredibly dislocating
that can be. Yes, and it's definitely a transition now that I've since retired and UM and moved into the civilian sector, it's it's definitely a change in mindset and having UM organizations like the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station to have a location to go to one of my buddies, UH lived there for for quite some time, and a huge you know, a huge value, huge add and and a lot of service members, you know, they they think they're on their own, but you know, whenever Sandy and
Andy come along next, and you know you're like, hey, wow, there's people who really care as I transition and UH to offer those additional services. Kevin, Andy is great to talk to. You both. Keep up the good work and we'll do what we can to help. Thank you the opportunity. Appreciate it.