PHOENIX — James Finlay, like many veterans, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after leaving the military, where he served as an intelligence officer.
"When you come back from war or have PTSD like I do, you don't feel, just cold, numb, nothing. And that's a world I never want to go back to," Finlay said.
Finlay joined the military at the age of 20. He said he always planned to join the military after growing up as an avid mountain biker and adrenaline junkie.
"Ever since I was a little boy. Do you remember G.I. Joe? That's who I was," Finlay said.
However, before training ended, Finlay learned he had an extra vertebra in his back. Finlay said he got cleared by a German doctor to go to Iraq.
There, Finlay said he refused multiple medical evacuations, choosing to stay in Iraq.
"I wasn’t going to let anything keep me from serving my country. That was the most important thing in my life," he said.
After Finlay went home, he would quickly reenlist with the National Guard to go back overseas to serve. When he returned home for good, a doctor told him his extra vertebra bone was "shattered."
"He said, 'I have no idea how you were walking. It was just muscle and ligaments holding everything together in place,'" Finlay said, recounting his doctor visit.
The doctor would put rods and screws into James' back, but since then, he has continued to live with pain. Finlay would gain weight, ballooning to more than 240 pounds while suffering from PTSD, until one day, he was told about trikes.
When specialized, they can create a cradle, perfect for someone who has had back surgery.
"When I touched that bike, the feeling I felt before the war, like my old self was there. The James was there. He really was there. I thought he died in Iraq," Finlay said.
Finlay would customize his trike, adding a cushioned pillow and headrest to make it more comfortable. He would quickly see his weight drop and happiness return.
"I guess now looking back on it, it was hope," Finlay said. "There is actually something I can do to rebuild my body."
Finlay wanted to share his joy with other veterans who may have suffered like he did. Last weekend, Finlay planned to share his trike with fellow veterans.
However, Saturday morning, he found the trike stolen, the wire strapping the expensive tripedal vehicle to the car cut clean through.
"That’s when the whole numb rush came over with me," Finlay said.
Finaly said for now he is choosing to believe someone took the trike who needed it more than he does. However, if it was just for a joy ride, he would like to see the bike returned.
In the meantime, Finlay said he will start trying to raise enough money to buy a new one and find joy behind the wheel once again.
A Gofundme has been set up by a friend to help out. You can donate here.