SAN ANTONIO — She served our country for a decade, including three tours in combat in Iraq.
Then, a traumatic injury ended her military career.
For years, Retired Staff Sergeant Marlene Zander struggled to find her purpose. As KENS 5 learned this Veteran's Day, sometimes the answer is found within.
"[I served] ten years in the Army as a motor transportation operator," said Zander.
Zander drove trucks in Iraq. On Sept. 16, 2007, while driving in a 10-vehicle convoy, her truck was attacked.
"My vehicle was hit by an IED and an RPG," said Zander. "I was placed in a medically-induced coma because my head was swelling. Once they brought me out of that, then the epilepsy began."
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Zander suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). She couldn't walk more than five feet without having a seizure.
"I was having 10 to 12 seizures a day," she explained.
Doctors also diagnosed Zander with severe PTSD. These traumatic events, she says, pushed her to focus on fitness.
"I first walked on a treadmill. Then I started to run. Then I started to take myself outside," said Zander. "I went from that to running a half-marathon."
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Three years and 40 fewer pounds later, Zander's seizures cut back to three per week. During that time, she also worked to transition back to civilian life.
"It was horrible," she recalled. "I went from job to job to job to job. I could not find my purpose."
Zander took time to reflect and went back to school. She earned her Associate's in Kinesiology and a Bachelor's in Recreation Therapy at Texas State University.
"That's where I learned how much just recreation in general can change somebody's attitude," said Zander.
She soon realized the same way she improved her mental and physical health, others could, too.
With the help of a case manager with Semper Fi & America's Fund, Marlene started her own business called Fitness Brigade.
"When you're in the military, a brigade is a huge family," she explained. "It takes a brigade to take a hill if you're in war."
She's a mobile personal trainer catering to adaptive fitness. She helps others who are just like her.
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"For people who are housebound, who mentally cannot take themselves to the gym...I have clients that have one leg, no legs, one arm. I have children who are on the spectrum," said Zander. "The reason why I drew myself towards adaptive type people is because I feel like I'm in that category of people and they are neglected."
Validation for her mission came early.
Within three months, Zander hit her one-year business goal. Among her clients are fellow veterans.
November 4, Fitness Brigade celebrated its one-year anniversary.
"To be able to say that it's my new purpose and it's my business, it's something I own, I love it. I love waking up to have to do it every day," said Zander. "I've found my purpose."
To support veterans like Zander, donate to the twelfth annual Double Down for Veterans Match Campaign, where The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and PXG will match every donation made to Semper Fi & America’s Fund up to $10 million until year-end.