“So, I’m a pirate now, huh?”—Veteran takes on the slopes at the Winter Sports Clinic
“I wake from a coma. As things start to make sense, I see my wife struggling to tell me that my left leg is gone,” said Michael Martell. So he beat her to it. Smirking, he asked, “So, I’m a [expletive] pirate now, huh?”
That instant represented how he would face the gruesome recovery that came next.
Service to survival
Growing up and into his adult life, Martell was never one to sit still. The Salt Lake City native spent summers working on his family’s dairy farm, riding ATVs, camping and exploring Utah’s diverse terrain.
“There’s no other place like it,” he said. “You can be at the dunes in an hour, up in the mountains the next, then out on a plateau.”
In 1996, Martell joined the U.S. Army, serving as a light-duty mechanic at Fort Hood, Texas, until 1998.
In 2003, he returned to military service, joining Utah’s 19th Special Forces Group. He worked with the combat photo team before returning to mechanics.
After leaving the military a second time, in 2006, he built a career as an adult probation and parole officer with the Utah Department of Corrections.
After nearly two decades in law enforcement, Martell’s routine was set until March 21, 2024.
A car struck him while he was riding his motorcycle to work. The crash severed his left leg and badly broke his right ankle. Still conscious, Martell applied a tourniquet to himself before being rushed to a nearby hospital.
Rebuilding with VA
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System has been crucial in Martell’s difficult recovery.
“I’m still undergoing therapy,” he said. “I received my first prosthetic in October 2024, and I’m continuing to work on walking.”
Martell acknowledges the medical professionals who’ve helped him on his journey and says he couldn’t be more thankful for his VA care.
“From recreation and physical therapy to prosthetics and my medical teams — they are a pleasure to work with and deserve much more recognition,” said Martell. “They helped me with medical care, prosthetics and home modifications like a wheelchair ramp—everything I needed to regain my independence.”
However, something was still missing.
Discovering recreational therapy
Martell had always been an outdoorsman—riding ATVs, camping, fishing, and exploring trails. Losing his leg didn’t change that.
While recovering at VA, he met Recreation Therapist Shannon O’Rawe, who introduced him to recreational therapy. That’s when he learned about the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic (Winter Sports Clinic).
“I never considered myself much of a winter person,” he admitted. But he figured, why not?
He dove in, eager to embrace this new chapter, and will participate in the 39th annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic.
“This is my first Winter Sports Clinic,” he said. “I will be participating in skiing, sled hockey and snowmobiling—possibly cross-country skiing too.”
O’Rawe, Martell’s recreation therapist, said his excitement for the Winter Sports Clinic is part of something bigger.
“Michael is the kind of guy who faces challenges head-on,” O’Rawe said. “It’s not just the Winter Sports Clinic. He’s already looking at other events. If there’s a sport or activity out there, he wants to try it.”
O’Rawe has witnessed his grit and grace in embracing new challenges and movement. To her, though, what stands out is how Martell shows up for other Veterans.
“He’s the one who’ll start a conversation with anyone, especially Veterans who are quiet or unsure if they belong here,” O’Rawe said. “He’s still figuring out what his new normal looks like, but he’s not doing it alone; he’s bringing others along with him.”
From doubt to confidence
The moment Martell got back to moving, the thrill came back.
“I initially didn’t take much stock in it, but I was utterly wrong,” he said. “The Veterans are very welcoming and share their experiences. The support is overwhelming—it keeps me on track.”
More than the physical activity, the camaraderie—pushing each other to go faster and try harder- got the wheels turning.
“It’s pushed me and furthered any goals I had before the accident,” he said. “I’m trying things now I never considered before.”
Looking ahead
Martell is already thinking about what’s next and is ready to take on more.
“In 2025, I plan to attend the National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, camp in southern Utah, and get back on the water, learning to swim, kayak and fish again,” he said.
He’s even thinking about trying golf for the first time.
Encouraging fellow Veterans
Martell knows what it’s like to wonder if you can still do what you love following an injury and encourages Veterans to explore VA’s recreation therapy programs and services.
“Participating in the Winter Sports Clinic almost a year after my accident proves that nothing—not even losing a leg—will stop me from living the life I enjoy,” he said. “If you think you can’t do something, try it—you might surprise yourself.”
Learn more
Visit Recreation Therapy at VA Salt Lake City or call Shannon O’Rawe at 801-635-5047 to learn more.
Recreation therapy is a treatment service designed to restore, remediate and rehabilitate a Veteran’s level of functioning and independence in life activities, promote health and wellness, and reduce or eliminate the activity limitations or restrictions caused by an illness or disabling condition.
Learn more about or get involved with the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic, March 30 to April 5, 2025.
Jesus Flores is a writer and editor on the VISN 19 Creative Task Force and a Marine Corps Veteran.