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About the Artist: My name is Major (Retired) Christina Helferich-Polosky, and I was 100% disabled and medically retired by the US Army in 2009 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 report, until very recently. Out of those dark moments, I turned to art as a way to express what I could barely say out loud: "I may be wounded, but I'm NOT worthless!" Thus, as part of my specific healing process, I created the free online art gallery cooperative WoundedNotWorthless.com LLC for female military, veteran, and wounded warrior artists, like myself, as a source of inspiration and empowerment so we can each find our own true artistic vision and voice. I invite all female military related artists to join this site for mentorship, guidance on how to write and develop our own artist statements, as well as just discovering a safe space to share our works and brands within a galvanized network of support. Please check out my newest collaboration with fellow WoundedNotWorthless.com artist, the amazing poet COL Lisa Carrington Firmin, USAF (Retired). This bronze star combat commander bestowed the great honor of asking me to illustrate her autobiographical work in poetry and prose: LATINA WARRIOR, published this past October 2023 by Blue Ear Books, now available on Amazon.com or better yet, get a signed author’s copy at lisacarringtonfirmin.com and “Latina Warrior” merchandise as well as art prints at the WoundedNotWorthless.com website on the ‘Latina Warrior Shop’ page.