Sgt. Robert Brown talks with fellow Walter Reed Army Medical Center patient, Thaddeus “Bear” Shortz, while exiting his kayak during a Team River Runner family-kayaking day at the Washington Canoe Club.
Brown relaxes in his kayak on the Potomac River during a Team River Runner family-kayaking day.
A cutout of Princess Leia stands in Brown’s hospital room as he watches TV after physical therapy. A volunteer at Walter Reed gave him the cutout. With an amputated leg, a broken ankle and a shattered wrist, Brown
During occupational therapy to exercise his shattered wrist, Brown tries to hold the stare of his therapist and gut through the pain. Therapy is his only hope of kayaking again, so he holds back his pain in hopes to not slow the process.
A physical therapist stretches Brown after a day of physical therapy.
Exhausted, Brown exercises his leg during his second physical therapy that day.
As the sun goes down over the Potomac River, Sgt. Rob Brown lifts his kayak after his last chance to go boating before he has his leg amputated. After spending as much time as possible on the river, he slowly leaves the water knowing he will not return soon
