Multiple battle wounds, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a stroke at the age of 44.
Former Thunder Bay resident Phil Badanai has faced some serious challenges since graduating from St. Ignatius High School in 1992.
He's counting on his involvement in the Invictus Games to help set him on a better course in life.
When the games opening ceremonies are held in Toronto this weekend, Badanai will carry the flag for the Canadian team.
He's an eligible participant because of his military service and medical history.
On New Year's Eve In 1994, Badanai was wounded in three places during an ambush by Serbian soldiers in Croatia. He was serving with the Royal Canadian Regiment on a U.N. peacekeeping mission.
Badanai did two more tours of duty in Bosnia before being posted to Cold Lake, AB as a military firefighter.
That's where he began showing symptoms of PTSD. Badanai subsequently received treatment at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, but in 2008 he was honourably discharged with a medical release because of his health situation.
Today Badanai works as a fire safety inspector and firefighter at Bombardier Aerospace in Toronto.
In an interview with Tbnewswatch.com, he said he's undergone a range of treatments for PTSD, but the last couple of years were tough.
"I knew I needed to get my life in order. I needed something positive, to change. And that's when Invictus showed up."
Invictus is Latin for "unconquered." The Invictus Games is an international Paralympic-style multi-sport event founded by Britain's Prince Harry. Wounded servicemen and women compete in events such as wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis and indoor rowing.
Badanai, who is able-bodied, will participate in three of the sports.
He said he's honoured to have been chosen to be the Canadian flag-bearer. "It's humbling to have been recognized by 89 other great athletes. To be their flag-bearer is such an amazing experience."
Badanai had been training for Invictus when he experienced a setback in April.
"I actually suffered a stroke. I was in hospital for five days, but got cleared for release and I was back rowing four days after that."
Preparing for Invictus, he said, has already changed his outlook on life for the better.
"I wouldn't say it's necessarily a clean start. But it's such an event, it's given me more positivity."
Badanai said he's developed a level of passion that he hasn't felt for anything in a long time.
He hopes to do something after the game with adapted sports, which are competitive sports for people with disabilities, "whether it's helping out with wheelchair tennis or any other adapted sports."
Some of his Invictus teammates have service pets. That's made him interested as well in helping veterans with PTSD and other mental health challenges get easier access to service pets.
