Captain Eivind Forseth – Casting for a New Role

"When God closes one door he opens another" — Eivind Forseth is living proof. His military career may have closed in January of 2005 but soon another door of opportunity would open.

Eivind, a Ranger with the 82nd Airborne, was seriously wounded in Iraq on January 4, 2005, while leading his platoon through Mosul. A bomb hidden in a taxi exploded next to his Humvee. The last words he heard were from an Army doctor: "You’re gonna go to sleep now."

Six days later he awoke in an Army hospital in Germany, then was airlifted toWalter Reed ArmyMedical Center. Eivind sustained serious injuries to his right arm and eye, causing excruciating pain. He has endured 23 surgeries on his arm, including skin grafts, a nerve replacement, and two grueling years of physical and occupational therapy.

Eivind is still recovering from his injuries. His right hand is paralyzed and his right elbow has limited motion. The endless operations and rehab have had a brighter side, however.

A native of Billings, Montana, Eivind grew up fly fishing, a sport he thought would be lost forever because of his injuries. He describes fly fishing as his passion, a sport he shared with his father as a young teen.

Salvation came in the form of a new organization called Project Healing Waters. PHW helps recently disabled veterans learn adaptive ways to tie flies and fly fish despite their injuries. Eivind discovered that going back to his love not only improved his finemotor skills, but also served to help dissipate the anger and frustration he felt because of his injuries. "Project HealingWaters saved my life…it brought me back to the person I used to be, from being really angry."

The Occupational Therapy Clinic at Walter Reed helped Eivind by making a special brace for his disabled hand that enables him to reel with his good hand. He has become so involved that he is working as a coordinator with Project HealingWaters and plans to work for PHW when he leaves the military.

In addition to fly fishing, Eivind served an internship the Yellow Ribbon Fund organized with the National Safety Council, and he has been a Yellow Ribbon Fund spokesman at several functions.