My Nonprofit Reviews

My name is Samuel Boney IV, combat veteran of the Iraq war and author of ‘Combat Medic: A soldier’s story of the Iraq war and PTSD.’ I served as a combat medic with the 1st Calvary. Fighting on the front lines took a huge toll on me mentally and physically. Running around with 120lbs of equipment on for months in the excruciating heat wore down my back and knees. I eventually was diagnosed with a herniated disc in my lower back and mid- back before I was medically discharged from the Army for PTSD in 2006. For the next 10 years I struggled with chronic pain and PTSD. It felt like every year the pain got worse. The pain was so severe and constant that I started abusing drugs, popping prescription pain pills like they were sweet tarts and drinking heavy amounts of alcohol just to numb the pain so I could sleep. It hurts to say but suicide was on my mind every day, seemed like the only way to get rid of the pain.

After years of learning how to live with my pain I published my book and started working on reaching out to veterans to share my story and encourage change to have better lives. It was in this process that I ran into Chris Barber. After telling him my story and what I hope to do for the veteran community he asked me about my pain and then proceeded to explain to me that he helps run an organization in the community called beyond the yellow ribbon as well as a non-profit organization called Pain Free Patriots that gives veterans free grants to get pain free.

I didn’t believe him at first, I blatantly laughed in his face and told him I’m a lost cause and that I’d tried everything already. After telling me about the number of people that have gone through the program with success and that it was free, I was willing to give it a chance. Within a few days I had my first treatment. After my third treatment the constant muscle burning in back went away completely. I was totally amazed, 10 years of pain nearly gone in 2 weeks.

4 months into it now and I feel like a new person. I’m not constantly moving around because of a pinched nerve in my back or drugged up on so many muscle relaxers that I don’t want to move off the couch. I can actually do work around the house without having to lie down from exhaustion. The best thing is that I have a clear head and I’m not limited by what I can do because of pain. I recommend Pain Free Patriots to every veteran I meet with chronic pain because I know that their treatment works and that can help save lives.