Cross posted from Sancho Press. http://sanchopress.com/
TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury. The "signature" injury of the Iraq war.
A traumatic brain injury is usually the result of a sudden, violent blow to the head. Such a blow can launch the brain on a collision course with the inside of the skull. The skull itself can often withstand a forceful external impact without fracturing. The result — an injured brain inside an intact skull — is known as a closed-head injury.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/...
This is one of the issues I have studied the most in my efforts to help our troops and veterans. I have TBI from an auto accident in 1999.
House Addresses Traumatic Brain Injury, Week of July 23, 2007
TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee met recently discuss ways to provide treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is considered by many to be the signature injury of the war in Iraq. Among veterans and servicemembers from Iraq and Afghanistan treated at Walter Reed for injuries of any type, approximately 65 percent have TBI as a primary diagnosis or simultaneous injury. Medical doctors, neuropsychologists, researchers and family members attended the symposium to discuss the health care needs of our returning servicemembers. This symposium continues the series of roundtable discussions that the Committee will hold throughout the 110th Congress.
http://www.military.com/...
YES that is 65%. I think this says it all about TBI.
I have a friend who for 25 years has tirelesly worked on understanding and helping others with PTSD. Like me with TBI, she has a persoanal reason for this. A loved one of hers has PTSD. I don't need to say her name, she knows who I mean. These videos are dedicated to her for her passion and devotion to helping others. Notice the figures in the last video. These videos take less than 10 minutes in total to watch all four.
TBI and PTSD are the wounds that are not seen by others. These are not like those of the warriors who lost limbs or were burned over 80% of their body. They are in the mind. They are manifested hundreds of different ways in different people. If WE do not get our troops and vets better mental health diagnosis, treatment and health providers at the VA, their death toll will be higher than the number we see published in the paper. To date that is about 4000 since spring 03. TBI and PTSD warriors deaths will come from suicide, alcoholism, drug addiction, auto accidents and more. WE NEED to help by pushing our public officials for more funding for the VA and better support for these unseen wounds.
PLEASE take a look at my two part series which is a compilation of excerpts of 32 articles from Sancho Press from the last 30 days. Each article covers a differnt problem our troops and veterans are facing. There are videos and photos to break the monotony of reading about the horrendous problems our troops and veterans encounter that most Americans are not aware of.
Part 1- http://sanchopress.com/...
Part 2- http://sanchopress.com/...