Meet Adaptive Athlete: Natalie Vines

Natalie grew up loving activities that were competitive and challenging in nature. She competed in basketball, soccer, and fast-pitch softball.  After high school, she went on to pursue music in college on a scholarship.  In 1992, Natalie enlisted in the Army as a Combat Medic and later became a Signal Officer.

 

Natalie was deployed multiple times, including Iraq in 2004-05 and 2008-09 where she saw combat both times. On her first Iraq deployment, she was knocked unconscious from mortar attacks, and in her second, she endured blunt trauma to the head, causing her second traumatic brain injury. It resulted in Natalie developing seizures, severe migraines, and cognitive issues, and ultimately led to her medical retirement in 2013.

 

After her 20+ year service ended, Natalie’s recovery journey had ups and downs. Ultimately with the help of some key non-profits, she found healing through getting active and healthy. Her service dog BUGG has also made a profound impact on her life. 

 

As she looks forward to her time at ATF, Natalie is excited to elevate herself in all areas of being an athlete along with finding ways to calm and slow her mind and learning tools to help further manage her PTSD.