Bad Ass Women

Words From Our Four Warriors [we all fight our own battles] of the STORIES Project: Expressing our story, our way, in our own words.

Lisa Carrington Firmin

I am a tough, no-nonsense leader. Climbing up in the ranks in the military, I was taught to never show weakness, especially as a woman and a Latina. It was all right for others to seek assistance or to talk about their traumatic experiences, but not me. As a commander, I was expected to always convey strength. I suffered in silence and buried deeply my combat and military sexual trauma experiences along with the discrimination I encountered. It wasn’t until ten years after my military retirement, in late 2020, that I was ready to face my demons. I started writing and speaking about my experiences, in books, in poetry and storytelling.

My art emerged as a way to save myself from my most traumatic experiences and to live an authentic and fuller life.  My poetry is an intimate reflection into the invisible wounds of MST, PTSD, trauma, combat, hardship, and the wonders of my Latina culture. I write about the pain, sorrow, and joys that I have experienced. Never could I have imagined how therapeutic, liberating, and empowering my writings would be. Finally able to show my vulnerability, I found I wasn’t alone, and that my art could not only help myself, but others as well. I speak and write about how it took more courage to battle my demons then it did to serve as a commander in Iraq and I work to destigmatize getting help and living with PTSD. My post traumatic growth continues and reflects in mym work and art as an award-winning author, poet and storyteller.

[The Experience: I write because I feel compelled to do so, not only to express myself, but to help others understand that they are not alone and that there is life after trauma. The power of my pen allows me to share deeply personal, lived experiences. I share my art in hopes that others might gain insight into the mind of a diverse woman who served. Importantly, I also bring awareness into my intersectionality as a Latina, a combat and disabled veteran with PTSD and a sexual assault survivor.  I’m a storyteller, bringing the stories of diverse and underrepresented individuals out of the dark and into the light to affirm our contributions and to educate others]. 

Major Christina Helferich-Polosky, US Army (Retired)

WoundedNotWorthless.com LLC Founder, Artist, Soldier, Mom

In 2009 I was medically retired by the US Army because of multiple physical and mental injuries and illnesses I suffered after 11+ years of successful active-duty service as a Transportation and Information Operations Officer. Most of my disabilities were later attributed to unknown chemical, environmental and burn pit exposures that occurred during my combat deployments to Kuwait/Iraq (OIF) in 2003 with the 7th Transportation Group (Forward) out of Fort Eustis, VA where I was awarded the Bronze Star and Bagram, Afghanistan (OEF) in 2008 with CJTF-101 out of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) from Fort Campbell, KY where I was MEDEVACd home after becoming seriously ill several months into my deployment. But some injuries—some wounds and abuse—I buried deep and couldn't bring myself to talk about—or even recognize within myself to report, until very recently. Instead of seeing my professional accomplishments, the differences I could have possibly made in the lives of my Soldiers, and the

role model I was (on my good days) to my five children—I just became overwhelmingly sad and overcome by darkness. So, after decades of hiding the pain, clarity and eventual forgiveness following an acrimonious divorce in early 2021 and several unconventional therapies that incorporated different forms of art—I am finally beginning to truly believe that my traumas are  not what's wrong with me—they are simply things that happened to me. And it was art—in all its healing forms; for me painting, sculpture and mixed media collage—that genuinely aids in helping me see that I am more than my broken past and the stigma of a 100% disability rating.

The power of art—to include the written word, has finally set me on a true and healthy path forward to finding the voice I thought I lost—or had taken from me—over all those years spent laying in the darkness, finally being able to express what I could barely say out loud:

 "I may be wounded, but  I am NOT worthless

Carissa DiPietro

Creativity has been a part of my healing journey from my trauma with serving in the military.  I feel when words fail me, art has the ability to tell my story.  During basic training the Army breaks you down to build you back up to be a soldier.  Unfortunately, when you leave the military they don't help you leave the soldier behind.  Art has given me my humanity back.  I feel excitement when creating my artwork.  I've found comradery with my fellow veterans which has created a community which has been a safe place for me to heal.  Then when I have the ability to showcase my different creative outlets such as tapestry, jewelry, photography, poetry, theater, painting, etc it gives me a sense of pride for what I have not only lived through but also the ability to tell my story and help other veterans heal through their trauma. 

Twelve years ago I couldn't get out of my bed.  If I wanted to spend time with my children they would eat dinner in bed with me.  I found a flyer from my local VA to have the ability to use Shakespeare and theater to heal from PTSD.  That step changed my life and has helped me build a better relationship with my husband, my children, friends and family.  I never thought I would live to see the age of 40 and I am now 47 wand will be getting a bachelors degree in studio arts next spring, who has showcased my poetry and photography through creative arts festivals and who is excited about having my whole life ahead of me.  I have dreams for my future which I never ever even considered.  Someday I will own an RV and travel all over the United States and expand my creative outlets and continue on this lifelong journey of healing and loving who I am. 

Martha Lluch

“Reconnecting with my creativity has given me the opportunity to create space within my self to better process my experiences and the world around me.

It is a skill I continue to cultivate that has also allowed me to draw a path to connect with my spirituality and through painting, dancing and other mediums I have been able to reclaim my story and agency over my life.”