The power of love really does wonders! A British Army hero just proved this after he became the first double amputee to climb Mount Kilimanjaro – all thanks to the motivation that his wife’s letters provided him with.

James Rose, who lost both his legs in Afghanistan, revealed that exercise helps him deal with the trauma that he endured. The Invictus Games medal winner was determined to climb Africa’s highest peak despite the physical hindrances that held him back. It is stories like his that make us want to do more to support our soldiers.

The climb was far from easy – imagine having to climb a 19,340 ft high summit after having lost both your legs. But nothing stops our veterans from rising to great heights once they set their mind to it.

The climb left Rose injured; a wound filled his prosthetic leg filled with blood due to which he was left with extremely bruised knees while his knuckles were completely worn down.

He also fell sick during his climb. However, he revealed that the only thing that kept him going was the inspiration that the letters from his wife Naiomi gave.

His wife handed him the notes at the airport when he was departing for Tanzania. Her words, although simple, were the source of all his strength.

She promised him that she would be with him ‘through every step of the way’ and that she was ‘missing him already’. She also told him that he was her hero and that he would see him again very soon.

His injuries got so bad that almost 200 metres from the top, he believed he wouldn’t be able to carry on and that’s what he told his teammates.

At that time, Darren James, a fellow team member, along with his wife Mel sat down to encourage Rose to go forward.

Darren had served for 16 years in the RAF after which he couldn’t continue because of injuries to his spine and shoulders due to which he too looked for comfort in exercise.

It was at that time that James remembered the message from his wife that he had read the night before which said that she was proud of him because he had made it.

His friends support and his wife’s faith in him made him get up once more and he made it through the final stretch of his journey.

The moment was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful moments of his life. Rose revealed that the entire team was extremely emotional and told that they had climbed for 14 hours the previous day and had only slept for an hour before climbing another 12 hours. Everyone was in tears at the triumph.

Rose says that his wife has been a constant source of strength for him. He lost his legs shortly after meeting her and at that time, chances of him surviving were slim. He married her last year, the same year in which he won two medals at the Invictus Games.