Meet Adaptive Athlete: Chris Muscle

 

Chris grew up as an only child in Lewisville, TX. As a kid, he had two big dreams: to be a Marine and to be a firefighter. He signed up for the Marines when he turned 18 and after graduating high school in 2004, went off to Boot Camp. 

His first stop was Fort Pendleton in Virginia where he trained as an Infantryman. Shortly after Chris was deployed to Okinawa, Japan, working as a helicopter based infantry unit. One night his unit was fast roping out of a helicopter and Chris hit the ground too hard, marking the start of his back problems. The next stop was the Philippines, where he did jungle warfare training working alongside Filipino Marines. He returned home, and eight months later was redeployed, this time on a naval ship.

The ship departed out of San Diego, making stops in Hawaii and Singapore before landing in India to work with their military. From there they moved to Iraq, fighting in the Battle of Ramadi. Their mission was to capture and hold insurgents, helping friendly forces rebuild the area amidst combat, 24/7 gun fights, and continuous explosions. 

During one ambush Chris was able to get his group out and to safety with zero casualties. For his brave actions, he was awarded a Combat Action Ribbon and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Valor. 

He returned home in 2007, adjusting to life with PTSD and side effects of TBIs, as well as working through the loss of his best friend who was killed alongside him in combat. Chris channeled his healing through running, an activity that his best friend loved, ultimately becoming a marathon runner.

He pursued his second life-long dream, becoming a firefighter for the Argyle Fire Department. He worked to complete his Bachelor's in Fire Administration and is currently working on his Master’s. Chris has also been a paramedic for critical care flights for the past seven years. His family life has been busy as well. Chris and his wife have two sons, ages seven and ten, and have also fostered 13 kids in four years. 

On December 21, 2017, Chris had a total disc replacement surgery to replace his L5 and S1 vertebrae, an injury that accumulated from his time in the military and running marathons. Surgeons told him he probably couldn’t run again. Just nine months later, Chris was back to walking again on his own. 

Now, his goal is to keep his back healthy in order to avoid a second surgery. He needs to work on mobility, strength and stamina and learn how to exercise while protecting his back from further damage. He also hopes to run again and will focus on that throughout the ReDefine program. 

Beyond the nine weeks, Chris wants to continue with the fire department and enjoy outdoor activities again, including running and mountain biking. He hopes this journey will allow him to be an ally for fellow veterans, walking alongside them through their journeys.