Paralyzed Veterans of America Blog

Shana Milan knows what it’s like to wake up feeling uncertain. Some mornings, she’s ready to tackle her to-do list. Other days, chronic pain from several disabilities including migraines, multiple sclerosis, neuropathy, and spinal stenosis keeps her in bed. The unpredictability ended her ability to work a traditional job and sent her into a deep […]

Every day in Fallbrook, California, Jhoonar Barerra follows a routine that keeps him moving forward. The 49-year-old Army veteran lifts weights, stretches on the floor, and prepares for his next wheelchair basketball practice. It is a far cry from where his story could have ended 18 years ago.Barerra served from 1999 to 2007 as a […]

When Joel’s father, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, was diagnosed with ALS in 2022, it shifted the teenager’s outlook on life and health. “It taught me the importance of living life to the fullest and staying strong,” says Joel, 19, who lives in Minnesota. Though he’d been hitting the gym since playing football in elementary […]

After serving in Iraq in the U.S. Marine Corps, Paul built a successful civilian career in critical infrastructure security. Starting as a wire puller for a small company, he rose through the ranks to become a project leader at a global tech firm, developing high-stakes security systems for nuclear facilities around the world.Now, he’s about […]

When Le’Toi first competed at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Utah in 2016, she was among just a handful of women athletes. Although she enjoyed the experience, she said it was often difficult to feel seen at an event dominated by hundreds of male competitors, and there were few opportunities for the women to […]

When Cameron signed up for his first National Veterans Wheelchair Games in 2025, he was unsure what to expect. But he surprised himself when he earned the high score of the day in his archery event, taking home a gold medal. “I’m still pumped about it,” said the 59-year-old member of PVA’s Northwest chapter in […]

“When we give MS the attention that it deserves, it helps us expand the research and quality of life for Veterans and others with MS, and helps with their access to care.”————————–Shayna G. was on a routine morning run in Monterey, California, when her life took an unexpected turn. The Nebraska native and National Guard […]

“I tell the newly diagnosed to reach out to PVA to have them help them process [their paperwork] through the VA. If you don’t, it just takes so long and some Veterans don’t have that long.” ————————– Roger joined the U.S. Marine Corps straight out of high school. It was always his dream to serve […]

It’s a camaraderie that I can’t really explain and I hadn’t really found since the Air Force until I went to the PVA Women’s Retreat, even though I had been searching and searching.Growing up in a Marine Corps family, a military career always made sense to Air Force Veteran Tonya. After college, and shortly after […]

 “My life can serve as an example of being strong, positive, and never surrendering the fighting spirit.”Veterans in combat can come away with any number of illnesses and injuries, both mental and physical. While serving in Operation Desert Storm, Army Veteran Michael had many experiences that continue to impact him today. Throughout his career, Michael sought […]