"I believe I'm here for a reason"
Jacksonville Army Sgt. Ron Hawthorne wasn't expected to wake up.
He certainly wasn't expected to walk, talk or reason ever again.
While serving in Iraq, the 32-year-old was shipped to a German hospital where he spent time in a seemingly irreversible coma.
"I had a very low chance of surviving - eight percent - and a 108-degree temperature for three days, which anyone will tell you is practically brain damaged," Hawthorne said. "I feel like it’s a miracle that I'm still here, and I believe I'm here for a reason."
When he awoke, Hawthorne was given a backpack that had been shipped along with him to Washington D.C. where he was being rehabilitated. Inside, he found information about the TRACK program, and he decided to enroll.
"I think APEX is probably the best benefit we have here in the TRACK program," Hawthorne said.
"I think setting goals is an important base for training that they've set for us because in order for us to achieve something, we have to have it laid out in our mind, and we have to tell ourselves that this is what we're going to do."
Hawthorne, who said he still combats rage and anger issues stemming from his traumatic brain injury, most enjoys the relaxation techniques employed by APEX. D'Ambrosio installed a program on each of the soldier's TRACK-supplied computers that helps them practice relaxation techniques.
"I did it today, and I got a 91 in the green and a nine in the blue, which is excellent," he said. "I'm on a medium level; I'm not on hard yet, but I was pretty proud of that."
Hawthorne is pursuing a degree in early childhood education. He works with kindergarten and first grade children at a local church.
"There is a little religion behind this answer, but I really believe I'm left here to influence children."