“I get kind of emotional about this. I try not to use the word ‘frustrating’. Because I always say, okay, what’s my next opportunity? What’s my next challenge here?”

Despite suffering one of the biggest setbacks of his life, disabled United States Army veteran Rick Tillman is picking up the pieces of his dream — literally — and trying to figure out how they fit back together.

On November 13, a blaze in a suburban Washington state strip mall severely damaged Tillman’s small business — the fitness center he opened, owned and operated beginning this year: Eagle Fitness.

Authorities charged a woman for arson after she allegedly started the fire because “the store ran out of shopping carts.” She was a customer at the retailer next door to Eagle Fitness — Dollar Tree.

In order to reopen, the veteran must now put out thousands of dollars to replace burned out equipment. There’s some insurance money pending, but it won’t be enough. The building itself will be under construction for another six months.

“I’m going to get this place back up. I’m going to get it operational again. And it’s going to flourish. I’m going to bring it back even better,” Tillman told KOMO News.

After serving in the Gulf War, Tillman was diagnosed with Raynaud’s syndrome, which he developed while stationed in Alaska, carrying out missions despite subzero temperatures and severe frostbite.

To contribute to a GoFundMe page that aims to get the vet’s place back in business, click here.