Thai Starkovich interviews Ben Menefee about his continuing progress reversing severe paralysis from a severe TBI in Afghanistan.
Ben awoke at Walter Reed hospital after several weeks in a coma - his doctors told him he would probably never walk, or talk again.
5 years later Ben is still getting better. Last week he regained feeling and grip in his right hand...
More About Thai Starkovich
Thai Starkovich, a decorated 14-year Veteran of the United States Army with 37 months of active combat experience. He was an Infantry squad leader and platoon sergeant, sniper section leader, and recon platoon sergeant with 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Upon separating from the Army in 2011, Thai worked as a Designated Defensive Marksman on a Triple Canopy Mobile Personal Security Detail team in Baghdad, Iraq for a year.
During Triple Canopy’s sniper course, Thai injured his knee and was told he could no longer continue a career with high physical demands, and moved on to other Department of Defense contracts in various Middle Eastern countries.
Thai spent 18 months in Afghanistan with Asymmetric Technologies as the Lead Field Service Representative on a Counter-IED (Improvised Explosive Device), and 15 months in Kuwait as a Near-Surface Geophysical Investigator, using proprietary technology to look for underground anomalies (tunneling activity etc.). This work forced Thai to dealing with life-threatening situations on a daily basis.
Thai comes back home to his family, and his country
Upon making it home to Tennessee, Thai was reunited with his wife Shelly and their four children. In trying to connect with his friends from the service, he quickly discovered the peacetime dangers waiting for returning veterans.
Currently, an average of 22 veterans commit suicide each day. Knowing this, Thai then made it his mission to dramatically reduce this tragic number. He knew he needed a platform to reach others and he found it.
Joining the Adventures in Health team in February 2019, Thai is now a co-producer for the Adventures in Health podcast, Veteran Outreach Coordinator, and business development for AIH. On the show, Thai intends to present what it takes to make American heroes, and what it takes to rebuild them after extensive combat service.
Through his videos and outreach efforts, Thai aims to inspire those who suffer from PTSD and the myriad of life-changing afflictions that come with PTSD. His motto, “Conquer The Day, Conquer The Mission”, is a reminder that life is worth living and every day you fight to stay alive is an opportunity to heal and live a meaningful, happy existence.