The power of hope and having a plan in recovery...

Since 1975 Community Entry Services has become known for helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We ALSO care for people who face catastrophic injuries that leave them dealing with traumatic brain injury and a long recovery plan.

Like local Fremont county resident LeLand Fightingbear.

Leland with a vinyl copy of his Grandfather's music. He comes from a family of respected singers.

For nearly 40 years Leland was living the dream as a successful cowboy, welder, bouncer, and respected singer of a large family of singers and hard workers in Fremont County.

Like many in his generation, drugs, alcohol and fighting were regular temptations. He even actually fought off a black bear that was threatening his family while on a picnic in the mountains and escaped with little injuries, living up to his name.

Then coming off work one evening he suffered a fall and sustained catastrophic brain damage that nearly killed him. From seeming invincibility to partially blind and paralyzed in seconds, Leland was facing the greatest challenge of his life.

From a lifetime of horseback riding, hunting, and rough work as a welder he became bedridden and cut off of his past. Despair and depression threatened to cut off his future.

His Arapaho and Cheyenne culture of song, his Christian faith, and his parents helped pull him through the worst times. Without his parents and siblings advocating for him and seeking the best treatment options, he wouldn't have survived.

When insurance and family funds are exhausted, people in Leland’s situation often go from bad to worse as they can’t afford quality care and rehabilitation. But in Fremont County, Community Entry Services has an entire program devoted to helping adults with acquired brain injuries to recover and live as independent lives as possible.

At first he needed extensive round the clock assistance to get through the day. Now, thanks to the dedicated CES staff and his own fighting spirit to not give up, he’s able to mostly take care of himself.  He runs a very clean apartment. He cooks, cleans and get about fairly well with his wheel chair. Weekly physical therapy has helped him regain some function of his paralyzed left side – slowly regaining strength in his leg and arm.

He’s recognized as a Keeper of the Songs for his Arapaho people and comes from a long line of Arapaho and Cheyenne singers. His grandfather even cut a record titled “Arapaho Sun Dance”.

Leland showing a photo of his family performing at the Winter Olympics and his recent drum performance with his brothers this past Christmas in Riverton.

“Thanks to CES I have been given a second chance on life. I’m focused on getting better, bit by bit. I hope to one day get back on a horse and maybe even go hunting.”

As a private non-profit, we are able to provide round the clock care for clients like Leland thanks to support from the good folk of Wyoming who allow us to go the extra mile beyond what is covered by government healthcare support.

Leland gets physical therapy, regular visits from his family and the opportunity to get out into the community where he often has been able to literally rise to the occasion – with support – to leave his wheel chair and stand while playing his 100 year old family heirloom drum and sing the songs of his people.

His hopes include regaining full use of his now partially paralyzed left side so he can ride a horse again and maybe even go hunting. He promised to share some back-strap elk meat with his team of CES caregivers!

Together with his family and supportive Wyoming community, we’d like to offer him that chance someday.

To help him and the work of CES, consider a gift today at https://www.ces-usa.org/donate

To help us set up that hunting trip, call 307-856-5576 ext. 226 and together hopefully we can help him achieve another milestone in his recovery journey.