I had a great time speaking at the Danforth Museum today in Framingham.  Leslie Starobin’s (pictured above) exhibit turned out great and looked amazing.  It was an honor to be apart of this project and share the lessons I learned from time in  AFG, being wounded and the recovery process.  It was also great to reflect on what it was like to work with Leslie.  In the above pictures I am standing next to the photo that Leslie created of the items I was carrying the day I was wounded.  For more information about the exhibit and to download a PDF of Leslie’s work (including the above photo) us this link:

http://www.danforthart.org/DearDearestMother-LeslieStarobinsWartimeStillLifeMontages.html

Sunday October 18th at 3:00 PM I will speaking at the Danforth Museum in Framingham, MA.  I had the great pleasure of working with artist  Leslie Starobin on her newest project called “Dearest Mother”.   Leslie created beautiful collages of soldier’s personal items from various US wars.   Leslie created a breathtaking collage that included the items I was wearing/carrying on the day I was shot.  If you are around please come and see her artwork and hear talk about five greatest lessons I have learned from my time in Special Forces Training, my deployments, getting wounded and the recovery process. For more information about exhibit, please follow this link:

 

 

 

http://www.danforthart.org/DearDearestMother-LeslieStarobinsWartimeStillLifeMontages.html

Today marks 4 years since I sustained a gun shot wound in Afghanistan and began the long, painful and humbling road to recovery. I cant thank God, my wife, mother, father, brothers, teammates, friends, the Mayo Clinic and THOR 3 crew enough for everything they did to help me recover. Always keep the faith, stay determined and never give up!!!
‪#‎longtermgoals‬ ‪#‎nevergiveup‬ ‪#‎neverquit‬ ‪#‎greenberet‬ ‪#‎woundedbywar‬

After I was wounded the prognosis seemed bleak.  Many people told me that my injuries were permanent and there was nothing that could be done, that is until the Mayo Clinic took on my case.  Dr. Spinner of the Mayo Clinic performed an experimental surgery that gave me my life back.  The following link details my incredible experience at the Mayo Clinic.

http://sharing.mayoclinic.org/discussion/experimental-nerve-graft-puts-former-green-beret-back-on-his-feet/

http://sharing.mayoclinic.org/discussion/experimental-nerve-graft-puts-former-green-beret-back-on-his-feet/

 

Learn more at:

stage.woundedbywar.com
Facebook: Wounded by War
Twitter: @woundedbywar

After graduating from Union College (BA), Kevin R. Flike served as a Special Forces Engineer assigned to the 1st Special Forces Group and deployed to the Philippines, Thailand and twice to Afghanistan. On September 25, 2011 during his second deployment to Afghanistan, he was shot in the lower abdomen and was medically retired due to his injuries. In the spring of 2016, Kevin completed dual masters degrees from the MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA) and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government (MPA). Kevin is currently employed within the financial industry in Boston, MA.

(1LT(R) Nate Rimpf and SSG(R) Kevin R. Flike

1LT (R) Nate Rimpf, a former infantry PL, lost both legs on July 8th, 2012 in AFG. A week later he was at Walter Reed and began his long road to recovery. Nate and I met last fall at a finance veteran recruiting event in NYC. A couple of months after the event, Nate and I pieced together that we were both part of the amazing Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship fund. After this revelation, we both found out that we would be doing the same summer finance MBA internship (different regional locations) and would be re-united again in NYC for three weeks of training this summer. This picture was taken a few weeks ago during the training. He is pursuing his MBA at the Duke Fuqua School of Business with a scheduled graduation date of Spring 2016. Nate has an indomitable spirit and has not let his injury get the best of him. Nate even made a joke that his height is adjustable. The never give up attitude of people like Nate inspire me to be a better person every day.