Veteran makes it to the Golden Age Games

The first thing on her mind after the accident was the Golden Age Games.

Ret. Air Force Reserve Col. Edna Higa did not see the car before it hit her. She was going through a green light paying attention to the road ahead. The next moment there were people all around her and emergency crews coming to take her to the hospital. It was her first major car accident and one of the most frightening moments of her life.

“I just remember seeing blue. It turns out it was a blue car, but I couldn’t have told you anything about the kind of car. God must be looking out for me because the person who hit me didn’t hit the door where I was. They hit the front of the car just inches from me,” Higa said. “I heard them reading out my vital signs and my information just like I did when I was in the military. I heard them say I was a 69-year-old female and what my blood pressure and heart rate were. I remember thinking they were going to cut my clothes off and being upset about that. I remember wanting to tell them they had to make sure I was okay so that I could go to the Golden Age Games.”

Joined the Air Force Reserve for the opportunities

Higa (pictured above) had represented Pacific Islands VA in Paddlepaloosa not long before her car accident. That event was held in Montana, and she was excited to go because she had been stationed in Montana when she was younger. She enjoyed learning about Native American culture there.

Her family were poor farmers and her father struggled upon immigrating to the United States from the Philippines. She joined the Air Force Reserve for the opportunities it could offer her. She worked hard to go to college and improve her circumstances despite her humble beginnings.

When her unit was activated, she was deployed to Kuwait. She was proud to serve and continued to advance in her career until retiring with the rank of colonel.

“I was never interested in sports before. However, it’s important to stay fit as you age. I heard about the Koa Challenge and I participated. That gave me the confidence to sign up for the National Veterans Golden Age Games. I almost didn’t get to go because of my accident, but I was very lucky and I was able to make it despite my setback,” Higa said.

Higa came home and kept going to practices so that she could compete in the 2nd annual Koa Challenge Veteran Games. Having these events to look forward to gives her a reason to go and train each week. It’s also helped her make friends with some of the other participants and to experience camaraderie with her fellow airmen when she was in the military.

“Paddling is how I got into it. I always liked paddling. Then I met Melissa from the recreational therapy program and she talked me into getting involved in the Veteran games. I’m glad she did. It has been good for me,” she said.

First to cheer on her teammates

Higa has a personality that is very gregarious and people usually find themselves laughing along with her as she ‘talks story’ about her military service and her adjustment to other cultures after immigrating from the Philippines. She is the first to cheer her teammates on in the Veteran games, and she is one of the Veterans who brings “heart” to the team.

“I still have headaches since my car accident. I tell people we must just keep going and trust that God has a plan for us. I’m glad I got connected with the Veteran games. They motivate me and I am grateful for that. We all need things to hold onto, don’t we? To help us when we don’t feel very strong or when we are afraid,” she added.

If you are an enrolled Veteran and you would like to participate in the recreation therapy program, talk with your primary care doctor about getting a referral. Participating in programs from VA can help Veterans make friends, improve their mental and physical health and be inspired to do more.