Episode 92: Finding the Will to Survive, with Shilo Harris

Shilo Harris came from a family with deep roots in military service. As a son of a Vietnam veteran, Shilo always knew he wanted to be a soldier. On September 11th, his life changed forever and shortly afterward he enlisted as a Cavalry Scout in the US Army. His first deployment was to Schweinfurt, Germany with the 1st Infantry Division. From Germany Shilo headed to war-torn Iraq.

On his second deployment with the 10th Mountain Division, he was assigned and worked near southern Baghdad. On February 19, 2007, Harris’ armored vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). The explosion injured the driver and ended the lives of three of his fellow soldiers. Shilo survived but with severe third degree burns on 35% of his body. The severity of the burns meant the loss of Shilo’s ears, the tip of his nose and three fingers. The crushing explosion fractured his left collarbone and C-7 vertebrae.

The devastating injuries required that Shilo remain in a medically induced coma for 48 days; after, he spent nearly three years recovering and undergoing intensive physical therapy at the burn unit of Brooklyn Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, TX. While at BAMC, he was the first soldier to participate in cutting-edge regenerative stem-cell research to regrow his fingers and later received prosthetic ears. Shilo’s recovery has involved more than 75 surgeries, which required his family to spend up to six hours a day on wound care. Shilo also struggled from PTSD. In 2010 he was medically retired from the Army. Shilo reflects on his time in the service and his injuries: “Everything in life is a gift. Sometimes it may not be the gift you want but you realize that your challenges are a new beginning.”

Shilo is a family man who is committed to his five children and is also a devout Christian. In 2012, the Harris family was the recipient of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and was provided with a new home equipped to serve the needs of Shilo’s unique medical and physical circumstances. Today, Shilo is a motivational speaker, sharing his story with groups around the country, raising awareness for PTSD and serving as an inspiration to fellow soldiers.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• Shilo shares his personal story, including joining the military after the September 11th terrorist attacks
• Why Shilo feels passionate about his military service, and why he shares his story of survival with others
• How Shilo barely survived a pair of dangerous explosive attacks in Iraq, as one of only two survivors in the five-person Humvee that was attacked
• Shilo shares in detail the experience of living through the attack and the devastating, life-shattering injuries he suffered
• How Shilo set milestone recovery goals to get through the challenges he faced, and how he started with just a few “steps”
• Shilo shares his acronym, STEPS (smart goals, tools/tribe/taking responsibility, exploring your options, positivity, and self-discovery)
• Why clear, smart and realistic goals are the key to making progress in any challenge you face
• How Shilo now works to use his story of the pain and challenges he overcame to inspire others
• How to get a free autographed copy of Shilo’s book “Steel Will: My Journey Through Hell to Become the Man I Was Meant To Be”

Additional resources:

• Website: www.boundlessspiritinternational.com
• Email: support@smartrealestatecoach.com