Jake Halpern (Host)

So, Dex just didn't say anything. Besides, at this point, Sarah was fighting lung cancer. And from time to time, she'd mention to Dex that her medical bills were piling up. That the VA wasn't covering everything. Dex wanted to help, even from far away. That's when she heard about this charity called Hunter 7. Hunter 7 helps veterans who struggle to pay their medical bills.

So, Dex just didn't say anything. Besides, at this point, Sarah was fighting lung cancer. And from time to time, she'd mention to Dex that her medical bills were piling up. That the VA wasn't covering everything. Dex wanted to help, even from far away. That's when she heard about this charity called Hunter 7. Hunter 7 helps veterans who struggle to pay their medical bills.

The reality is many veterans face huge gaps in the health care the VA provides. Long wait times, denied claims, and charities like Hunter 7 come in as a stopgap. So Dex tells Sarah she should apply for financial assistance. At first, Sarah seemed reluctant. Maybe she was just underwater with everything she had going on. So Dex offered to step in and submit an application for Sarah.

The reality is many veterans face huge gaps in the health care the VA provides. Long wait times, denied claims, and charities like Hunter 7 come in as a stopgap. So Dex tells Sarah she should apply for financial assistance. At first, Sarah seemed reluctant. Maybe she was just underwater with everything she had going on. So Dex offered to step in and submit an application for Sarah.

She couldn't know this then, but this simple act of kindness would set something in motion. Something that would forever alter the way Dex saw Sarah.

She couldn't know this then, but this simple act of kindness would set something in motion. Something that would forever alter the way Dex saw Sarah.

Tom Schumann first met Sarah Kavanaugh in the snowy mountains of Boulder, Colorado, at a patrol base abate retreat.

Tom Schumann first met Sarah Kavanaugh in the snowy mountains of Boulder, Colorado, at a patrol base abate retreat.

This retreat was similar to the one in Montana we told you about. Hang out, workout, talk, connect. That was the goal. That's why Tom founded PB Abate in the first place. He's a Marine. And when he returned from his tours overseas, he watched his comrades struggle. He told us three of his fellow Marines died by suicide over the course of one month. And that is what led him to start PB Abate.

This retreat was similar to the one in Montana we told you about. Hang out, workout, talk, connect. That was the goal. That's why Tom founded PB Abate in the first place. He's a Marine. And when he returned from his tours overseas, he watched his comrades struggle. He told us three of his fellow Marines died by suicide over the course of one month. And that is what led him to start PB Abate.

In Colorado, Tom and Sarah started to get to know each other. Sarah told him she was a professor, which appealed to him. Tom himself taught literature at the U.S. Naval Academy. Sarah also told him that she had a kid who just crashed her pickup truck. She seemed down-to-earth and genuine.

In Colorado, Tom and Sarah started to get to know each other. Sarah told him she was a professor, which appealed to him. Tom himself taught literature at the U.S. Naval Academy. Sarah also told him that she had a kid who just crashed her pickup truck. She seemed down-to-earth and genuine.

On the last day of this retreat, a guy named Brian Shantosh led them on an adventure workout. Shantosh is a former Marine and a leadership guru famed for his wilderness programs. And his workouts have a reputation for pushing people to their limits. So everyone, even Tom, was nervous. They were told to break down into teams of two. Sarah and Tom partnered up.

On the last day of this retreat, a guy named Brian Shantosh led them on an adventure workout. Shantosh is a former Marine and a leadership guru famed for his wilderness programs. And his workouts have a reputation for pushing people to their limits. So everyone, even Tom, was nervous. They were told to break down into teams of two. Sarah and Tom partnered up.

They get to it. They start pushing this weighted sled up the mountain and then back down the mountain on this mile-long loop again and again and again. And remember, this is the Rockies in December, so it's freezing, and the wind is whipping them as they trudge through.

They get to it. They start pushing this weighted sled up the mountain and then back down the mountain on this mile-long loop again and again and again. And remember, this is the Rockies in December, so it's freezing, and the wind is whipping them as they trudge through.

Tom's not a very effusive guy, so this is basically his version of gushing. He didn't know about all of Sarah's health issues, the cancer, and the leg amputation. Sarah had never told him about this, though he would soon find out.

Tom's not a very effusive guy, so this is basically his version of gushing. He didn't know about all of Sarah's health issues, the cancer, and the leg amputation. Sarah had never told him about this, though he would soon find out.

So he wants to get all his ducks in a row. He asks Sarah for a copy of her DD-214. That's the official military discharge paper that all service members receive explaining how and when they left the service. Sarah sends him the paperwork. He says he remembers vividly the moment he received it. He was sitting in his car, in a parking lot, about to get a haircut.

So he wants to get all his ducks in a row. He asks Sarah for a copy of her DD-214. That's the official military discharge paper that all service members receive explaining how and when they left the service. Sarah sends him the paperwork. He says he remembers vividly the moment he received it. He was sitting in his car, in a parking lot, about to get a haircut.