While serving with the Canadian Armed Forces in Bosnia 14 years ago, retired Sgt. Dean Irvine suffered a serious brain injury that dramatically altered his life.
Irvine was playing baseball with his fellow soldiers when he took a line drive to the face. He required major surgery to his head, struggled to walk and couldn鈥檛 recall several major life events.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 remember getting married. I was there for the kids being born -- I couldn鈥檛 remember all my happiest moments,鈥� he told 麻豆影视. 鈥淭here isn鈥檛 really a part of me that isn鈥檛 hurt.鈥�
Then, last year, the 22-year veteran watched the Invictus Games in Toronto. He was inspired, and applied to join the team. He was accepted, one of 40 other first-time competitors.
The group gathered Friday in Ottawa to raise a flag on Parliament Hill, bringing awareness to the sporting event.
Irvine will compete in power lifting and wheelchair rugby in Sydney, Australia this October. It鈥檚 the fourth time the event, created by Prince Harry as a way to motivate wounded soldiers, has been held.
The games are still months away, but Irvine鈥檚 wife, Gailynne Irvine, said she鈥檚 already seen a change in her husband.
鈥淲hen I got to go to the first training camp, it was neat to see him active again. That meant a lot,鈥� she said, holding back tears.
Collin Fitzgerald, a fellow soldier who served alongside Irvine, brought him a gift to the event on Friday -- a Canadian flag carved from metal.
鈥淚 just know that Dean鈥檚 been struggling and he needed some support and I thought I鈥檇 give him a little boost of confidence,鈥� Fitzgerald said.
The event is designed to bring soldiers with physical and mental injuries together to compete, bond and, most importantly, to support each other.
Team captain Rob Hick said he鈥檚 inspired by the soldiers鈥� efforts.
鈥淭o see them work so hard and come together, it鈥檚 very uplifting,鈥� he said.
With a report from CTV鈥檚 Kevin Gallagher
