The amazing comeback story of a man who inspires all of us to achieve more – entrepreneurs and the VA can do more help
Think about the most pain you’ve ever felt.
I can’t speak for others, but even the most tormenting, excruciating, and unbearable agony I’ve ever felt can’t compare to the pain that Sgt. Omar “Crispy” Avila has suffered every single day for almost 15 years.
As a U.S. Army infantryman deployed in Iraq In 2007, Sgt. Avila was in a Humvee that was hit by an IED. The fuel tank exploded with such force that it threw that 8,000-pound vehicle six feet into the air. His injuries left him with severe third and fourth degree burns across 75 percent of his body. His right leg was amputated below the knee, and doctors didn’t give his family much hope that he’d survive. Yet he did survive after spending three months in a medically induced coma.
Now think about the number of surgeries you’ve had over the past 15 years. I’ll bet it doesn’t even come close to the 100+ surgeries Sgt. Avila has been through – not the mention the daily routine of skin graft procedures that any burn victim can tell you create excruciating pain and agony as wounds are scraped and cleaned.
Envisioning such horror certainly brings tears to my eyes, but what really chokes me up is what this honorable veteran has accomplished since his harrowing injury. Even while enduring daily pain he helps others cope with similar adversity, offering hope to those who seem to have little reason to be hopeful at all.
He has no bitterness, no regrets. As Sgt. Avila told a reporter, “If I could do it all over again … I would.”
It’s stories like these that not only inspire me to work with veterans to help them recover from serious injuries sustained serving our country, but also to do all I can to help relieve agonizing pain few of us could envision, let alone manage – and even thrive.
Sgt. Avila talks about how stem cells have impacted his life from 8:50 to the end. Omar says about 30 days after stem cell therapy “I woke up one morning and … for the first time in a long time – no pain. I got a little emotional…(thinking) is this what it feels like to not be in pain. I am more focused. I got more energy. I am happy it changed the quality of my life.” |
In this video Omar says, “I woke up one morning and … for the first time in a long time – no pain. I got a little emotional…(thinking) is this what it feels like to not be in pain. I am more focused. I got more energy. I am happy it changed the quality of my life.”
As CEO of BioXcellerator, a leading stem cell therapy and research company, I know how powerful stem cells can be with properties that take advantage of the body’s natural healing process to help quickly ease even severe pain.
Sgt. Avila also knows about stem cells. As he posted on his Facebook page, although he has “gotten used to living with the pain and it’s become part of my every day,” he says, “I’ve always heard people talk about the miracles that stem cell treatment can provide but I’ve never had the opportunity to do it.”
Well, I’m pleased that he just visited our state-of-the-art clinic in Colombia for stem cell therapy, telling us that “I live with pain every day so when I heard this could potentially take even a fraction of it away, that got me going.”
It honors me that Sgt. Avila visited us for treatments that research shows can help ease pain that other treatments cannot. It’s only been a few days, but in this video he reports that “I’m feeling more energy now” and that chronic inflammation has eased, which Sgt. Avila says is “awesome!”
“Life wouldn’t be life if it were easy”
Some say life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. Sgt. Avila’s life certainly didn’t go as planned, but it sure demonstrates a spirit of heroism and tenacity that’s inspiring to everyone.
Sgt. Avila and his family had only become U.S. citizens a few weeks before the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S. Back then, he was an exceptional high school football player and was being scouted by major universities, including Texas Christian University.
But his plans changed that fateful day. Sitting in in a classroom and seeing the twin towers of the World Trade Center crumble, he decided then that he’d join the military instead of pursuing a college football career.
After his service and injuries, it would be understandable if he’d simply accepted his circumstances, but Sgt. Avila challenged himself in ways that inspire others to challenge themselves and succeed.
For example, he didn’t let severe burns stop him from claiming new deadlift and bench press records as a Paralympic athlete. Nor did it stop him from speaking at public events to help other burn victims.
He also works as Burn Survivor Ambassador for Sons of the Flag, a nonprofit organization that helps burn victims including those who now serve in the armed forces, veterans, and firefighters. As Sgt. Avila explains, “Through them I’ve been able to meet everybody and help out in a way that no one else can. I can relate to the pain and what they’re going through.”
He also participates on social media to help even more people in pain keep their spirits high, and also advocates for our nation’s veterans, a cause that I’ve mentioned is close to my heart, too.
Doing more to help our veterans
Sgt. Avila’s experience seems harrowing enough, but experiences like his are certainly not unique. In many cases our government isn’t offering veterans enough help in recovering from serious injuries, such as burns, brain trauma, PTSD, and more.
That’s why I’m proud of our clinic’s approach to pioneering innovations in stem cell therapy, such as our advanced science and protocols to produce high potency stem cells that can promote healing and alleviate pain – and, in turn, give more hope to those who need it most – especially our nation’s veterans.
Stem cell therapy works to alleviate pain because these therapies can enhance immunity and promote healing by amplifying the body’s natural ability to heal itself, reduce inflammation, and regenerate damaged tissues.
Yes, the VA needs to do more to help our nation’s veterans, but as entrepreneurs, business owners, we can all do more, too. At BioXcellerator, we help many patients including pro athletes, veterans, first-responders and everyday heroes like you who suffer pain from spine and disc conditions, orthopedic injuries, TBI, CTE and PTSD — and take pride in all our success stories.
Yet Sgt. Avila’s success extends beyond simply alleviating pain to demonstrate that while his body may have been burned, his spirit still thrives – as well as his mission to help others.
As he explains, “When they see someone like me who’s burned and done all those things and continues to do other things, I would hope that it inspires them in a way that they know that they can do anything that they want, and they can keep pushing forward and just be awesome human beings.”
“My story is a success story more than anything,” he adds.
I agree, Sgt. Avila. Your story is indeed a success. I consider it an honor to serve you and salute you as the exceptional story of your life continues to into new chapters that are sure to inspire others!
Learn more about BioXcellerator advanced cell therapies to treat orthopedic injuries, spine and disc conditions, chronic pain and TBI and CTE at
If you’re interested in learning more about advanced cell therapy and determining if cell therapy is right for you.