Healing through nature took this Arizona man on a journey to hope through war-torn countries

As an inventor, author, veteran army paratrooper, community leader, artist and explorer, Jesse Fairchild wears many hats. Originally from Las Vegas, he grew up exploring the cattle ranches on his dirt bike and skateboarding once the roads around his family’s town were paved.

Fairchild fell in love with Arizona after visiting a friend 17 years ago. Nature drew him here and nature made him stay, he said. His journey to a deep connection with nature's healing benefits goes back about 20 years.

Fairchild remains close with his family. His father was a Vietnam veteran and Green Beret, and his mother worked as a full-time nurse. Both of Fairchild’s siblings also served in the military. He said he joined the army to follow in his father’s footsteps and serve his community.

'A paradox of life and death’

He enlisted in the Army after graduating high school in 1999. Fairchild served in the Army’s first and most elite Airborne Unit (1st Battalion, 509th Infantry Airborne). In September of that year, 9/11 happened and everything changed, he said. Fairchild was part of the initial forces in Afghanistan. While behind a C-130, conducting an airborne operation, he was almost decapitated. Later on, while standing in the gunner's hatch of his Humvee, Fairchild was, as he describes it, blown up and “about cut in half.”

After getting out of the Army, he had a minor surgery back in the states. Fairchild said a week after his surgery he woke up in his house at 5 a.m. bleeding. He was rushed into the operating room and said his goodbyes.

“I (woke up and) was sitting in the recovery room, and the nurse came in and looked at me with big eyes and said, ‘Are you OK? You scared us.’ Later I came to find out I had flatlined on the table,” Fairchild said.

After that experience, Fairchild said he faced many struggles and hardships. He fought what he refers to as the “darkness,” which came with a lot of suicidal tendencies. A lot of his friends who were also veterans ended up struggling with alcohol and prescription medicine abuse. Fairchild recounts having to tap into something deeper to find the answers he was looking for.

“I started meditating and soul searching. I was looking for such deep questions on such a paradox of life and death. I think if I didn’t get answers for what I was searching for I wouldn’t be here right now. In the universe when you seek you will be rewarded,” Fairchild said.

The healing power of nature

He hasn’t always had a deep connection to nature and the wilderness. After he recovered from his injury, Fairchild enrolled in college. During this time, he was back in Las Vegas and he said he continued to struggle with his mental health. One night, Fairchild told his mom he needed to spend time in nature by himself so he drove about three hours in the desert.

The only person around for a couple of 100 miles, Fairchild said hestarted a small fire as he sat on his blanket gazing at the stars. Then, just over the horizon he saw two balls of light hovering in the distance and started to record them on his phone. He realized, “if (he) could see them, then they could see him” too since he was the only person around.

“In that moment, I realized there was so much more out there. We can get caught up in all these emotions and personal struggles, but that I needed to relax and look around because there was so much out there. That night changed my life,” Fairchild said.

From that point on, Fairchild said he started spending more time in nature. He finds himself meeting friends in nature these days. He may stumble upon someone, out of the blue when out in nature. Fairchild believes that many people nowadays are disconnected from themselves and one another.

“When I walk around, I can see so many wounded people; people who don’t even know that they’ve taken on so much," he said. "I think that people can't hear their own truths anymore because they are so disconnected from themselves, nature and the universe. I mean when was the last time you slept under the stars or even just had a walk in the park?”

'We all want to help one another'

Fairchild not only has a love and appreciation for nature, but for humanity as a whole. He has traveled abroad numerous times to severe war-torn communities and provides support to the people by bringing them first-aid supplies, food and clothing. The first place he went on a humanitarian mission to was Venezuela where he spent time with families in a United Nations refugee camp.

“I found myself meditating in front of them, just sitting there and bring personal peace and joy to these people living in tents who had nothing," he said. "I had so much hope even though we couldn’t communicate the same language and they felt that.”

Fairchild describes these experiences as moments when the universe points him to where he is supposed to be. He describes himself as spiritual as opposed to religious. He focuses on bringing and moving positive energy to the communities that need it most.

“The world is in transition and it needs people to stand up. People to be leaders for themselves and their community not for their egos,” Fairchild said.

He visited Ukraine for the first time eight years ago. With Ukrainian relatives, he said he felt a special connection to the country, especially after seeing them stand up to one of the largest powers in the world.

Fairchild is currently selling his house in order to take another trip to Ukraine. Fairchild plans to buy himself a truck and bring the people medical supplies, clothing and other necessities. He doesn’t ask for monetary support, just support and positive thoughts.

“We all want to help one another. We all want to see everyone living a good life. … I am eager to go and help more people again because the world needs some positive reflections of selflessness, courage, balance and love,” Fairchild said.

Reach reporter Lauren Kobley at LKobley@gannett.com or on Twitter @LKobley.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jesse Fairchild combats PTSD and spreads hope in war-torn communities