AUGUSTA, Maine — A soldier who lost all four limbs during an explosion in Afghanistan hopes to inspire others with the story of how he recovered from his injuries and got on with his life partly by helping other amputees.
Travis Mills is raising a family, delivering motivational speeches and helping other wounded warriors through his foundation. With his book, “Tough as They Come,” he’s added author to his accomplishments.
“My message is pretty clear: Never give up. Never quit. Find your motivation. Find your goals. And keep moving,” he said recently.
He joked with people at a bookstore, patiently signing books with a Sharpie, using his prosthetic hand. He’s right-handed and the prosthesis is on the left hand, making it even more difficult to write.
Mills, 28, was an Army staff sergeant with the 82nd Airborne Division on his third deployment when an improvised explosive device detonated when he dropped his backpack on the ground during a foot patrol April 10, 2012. The blast disintegrated his right arm and leg. His other leg was left dangling and his remaining wrist was shredded.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound former athlete awoke four days later, on his 25th birthday, to learn he had no limbs.
He endured 19 months of rehabilitation. He told his wife to leave, but she stayed by his side.
Mills isn’t alone in having lost parts of all four limbs. He’s one of five quadruple amputees to survive the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — and he’s met the others.
Mills’ recovery was remarkable. He’s been snowboarding and mountain biking. He’s jumped out of planes. He’s started a foundation that bought property formerly owned by cosmetics pioneer Elizabeth Arden with a goal of transforming it into a fully accessible summer retreat to help wounded veterans and their families.
He’s visited war amputees at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and traveled to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston to meet with Boston Marathon bombing victims who lost limbs.
“I’m able to inspire and change people. I don’t do it by saying, ‘You think you have it bad? Then look at me.’ I’ll never play that card,” Mills said.
Collaborating with Marcus Brotherton on a book that Mills describes as equal parts “Saving Private Ryan” and “Forrest Gump” seemed like a logical next step because others draw inspiration from the story of a small-town boy from Michigan who’s managed to stay positive after debilitating injuries.
The recent book-signing was the first near his home in Manchester, Maine, and the store ran out of books. Signings also were planned in Texas, where he lived after leaving the hospital, and in Michigan.
Mills said part of maintaining a positive outlook is keeping things in perspective. He said he’s lucky that modern medical care saved his life. He’s grateful that his wife, Kelsey, stuck with him.
He’s happy to be able to make waffles for breakfast and to drive 4-year-old daughter Chloe to preschool every day.
“I don’t want people to pity me. I’m not a sob story. People need to understand that it’s up to them to change their outlook on life and how they view themselves,” he said.
