February 26, 2015
From battle to ballroom: Double amputee Noah Galloway’s amazing journey to 'DWTS'
Motivational speaker Noah Galloway is set to become one of the most inspiring "Dancing with the Stars" competitors ever.
But it hasn’t been easy as the army veteran who lost two limbs while fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 hit rock bottom before pulling himself out of a major depression.
“In my second tour of duty in Iraq, I was injured and lost my left arm and left leg” during an improvised explosive device attack, former infantry sergeant Galloway told FOX411 at Tuesday’s DWTS season 20 cast event. “When I woke up in the hospital, it was a struggle. It was really tough and that bothered me for the first couple years -- and I became out of shape, drank a lot, and would sit around the house.”
But Galloway said thoughts of his three children pulled him out of the funk and he vowed to get back in shape.
“I wanted to be a better father, better person, better man,” the divorced warrior said. “I owe it all to my children.”
He started competing in long-distance running and landed on the November cover of Men’s Health as the magazine’s “Ultimate Guy” for 2014.
Then, "DWTS" came calling and Galloway said it was a perfect fit instead of other reality shows he was offered, such as "Survivor."
Galloway couldn’t bear going to a remote location, cut off from his kids.
But "DWTS" has arranged for Galloway and his partner, Sharna Burgess, to rehearse in his Birmingham, Alabama hometown, where he plans to get a new state-of-the-art prosthetic arm suitable for dancing.
Meanwhile, dance pro Burgess said, “Yes, he’s a double amputee and yes, there are going to be things he can’t do, but what he has is an incredible drive and dedication.”
Galloway, an "American Sniper" fan who doesn't like to talk about the film "because it’s become so political" still likes to share his favorite part of the film, when Chris Kyle visits a therapist who urged him to help fellow veterans.
"I’ve worked closely with other veterans who have been injured after me and that was a healing part for me to work with them," Galloway said.
Galloway said vets reached out to him after his Men’s Health cover, “thanking me for being a positive image of veterans. I didn’t see that coming. It touched me. The military is my family.
“I’m hoping I make them proud on this show.”
Kinda makes us re-evaluate the challenges that we face on a day to day basis.
H/T: Fox News
But Galloway said thoughts of his three children pulled him out of the funk and he vowed to get back in shape.
“I wanted to be a better father, better person, better man,” the divorced warrior said. “I owe it all to my children.”
He started competing in long-distance running and landed on the November cover of Men’s Health as the magazine’s “Ultimate Guy” for 2014.
Then, "DWTS" came calling and Galloway said it was a perfect fit instead of other reality shows he was offered, such as "Survivor."
Galloway couldn’t bear going to a remote location, cut off from his kids.
But "DWTS" has arranged for Galloway and his partner, Sharna Burgess, to rehearse in his Birmingham, Alabama hometown, where he plans to get a new state-of-the-art prosthetic arm suitable for dancing.
Meanwhile, dance pro Burgess said, “Yes, he’s a double amputee and yes, there are going to be things he can’t do, but what he has is an incredible drive and dedication.”
Galloway, an "American Sniper" fan who doesn't like to talk about the film "because it’s become so political" still likes to share his favorite part of the film, when Chris Kyle visits a therapist who urged him to help fellow veterans.
"I’ve worked closely with other veterans who have been injured after me and that was a healing part for me to work with them," Galloway said.
Galloway said vets reached out to him after his Men’s Health cover, “thanking me for being a positive image of veterans. I didn’t see that coming. It touched me. The military is my family.
“I’m hoping I make them proud on this show.”
Kinda makes us re-evaluate the challenges that we face on a day to day basis.
H/T: Fox News