My Injured Brain … My Wounded Heart

By Jayne Davis, DCoE Strategic Communications

Loss and recovery are common themes for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). In my interview with Army Sgt. Mike Ortiz, he revealed his loss and his hope. This is his story.

It’ll be two years this June since I sustained a mild traumatic brain injury while serving in Iraq … since I worked as an Army mechanic … since I felt wholly myself—funny, athletic, outgoing and caring … since my wife said goodbye.

I’m stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, but hope to find a job as a mechanic closer to where my two-year-old son lives. The Army says I’m fit for duty now (some days I’m still not sure) except for the weight gain from my long rehab. I’ll fix that, but I don’t see my wife and me fixing things. My behavior after the injury was just too hard on her. But, I want to be there for my son.

During my two tours in Iraq, I drove a wrecker, recovering blown-up vehicles and parts. One day, I was in a convoy on unfamiliar roads. In a convoy, you have to keep certain intervals for safety and we kept falling behind, so we punched it. What we didn’t see ahead was a hole in the road made by an improvised explosive device three feet deep and four feet wide—we hit it at 65mph. I tried to bounce with the seat, but there was so much force my head hit the roof like a projectile. When they asked me if I was ok, I said yes. Truth was my back was killing me—I didn’t even think about my head.

My back hurts … why are you talking about my head?

When I returned to the states, I saw a doctor for my back and related the story. He asked me a bunch of questions: did you develop a stutter? (I had); how many times did you hit your head? (twice); did you have anger issues that weren’t there before? (yes). I was getting frustrated because I didn’t know why he was asking those questions. I was there for my back, not my head.

When the doctor said I probably had a brain injury, I denied it. I later learned that denial and short-term memory loss are symptoms of TBI. I checked into the Jump Start program at William Beaumont Army Medical Center, Texas, which offers speech, physical and occupational therapy to service members with traumatic brain injuries and posttraumatic stress disorder. I did well. Then my wife left.

I didn’t want to tell my son: ‘Daddy got kicked out of the Army’

After that, I was constantly late for work, got into trouble, didn’t shave and didn’t care. Nearly seven years in the Army and I never got in trouble once. Now, I was in danger of being kicked out—what would I tell my son?

With encouragement from Army Staff Sgt. Victor Medina, I entered Mentis Neuro Rehabilitation and spent six months in cognitive and behavioral therapy. That was my turning point. The therapists helped me to understand that I had to take care of myself before I could take care of others.

I don’t blame her for leaving

Depression, anger, denial, problems sleeping, concentrating, memory loss—my wife dealt with all of this without the benefit of understanding traumatic brain injuries. She thought I was lazy, uncaring and belligerent when I didn’t bring things she asked for from the store or brought the wrong item home. I felt dumb because I couldn’t remember simple things. Little stuff, but it piled up.

I believe the real mistake was not involving her in my therapy from the beginning. If my story could serve a purpose, it would be to raise awareness of the impact a traumatic brain injury can have on partners and families; how incorporating them into the healing process from the beginning can help everyone understand and cope with the symptoms. Doing so just might save a marriage … and keep a family intact.

Support for families can be found with these resources:

■DCoE Outreach Center (866-966-1020)

■Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support (855-260-3274)

■Family TBI Resources

■BrainLine.org

■Traumaticbraininjuryatoz.org

USNH Guam Health Fair Educates Community, Families

By Shaina Marie Santos, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Service members, civilians and families learned about several health subjects during a health fair at the Charles King Fitness Center (CKFC) on U.S. Naval Base Guam April 14.

The event was sponsored by U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Guam, CKFC, Navy Exchange Guam, the American Red Cross, Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), and Airman and Family Readiness Center (AFRC). The fair included learning stations, fitness demonstrations, a food demo and giveaways.

Luis Martinez, USNH head of health promotion, said the emphasis of the fair was maintaining a healthy lifestyle that can also prevent some health issues.

"The family health fair is our effort to get the word out to our beneficiaries about the importance of health promotion, prevention and wellness," he said. "The truth is, the vast majorities of diseases we suffer from can be prevented. So the emphasis today [is] on all of those things that we can do as well as some of the things we shouldn't be doing is just live better, be healthier, live longer, be happier."

USNH Guam Nurse Manager Lt. Serena Darity echoed Martinez' sentiments and added the need to concentrate on family health as previous fairs were focused specifically on women's health.

"We had a women's health symposium back in October of last year and realized that after talking about the event that we really needed to get the rest of the families involved to talk about what keeps family healthy and talk about preventative measures," she said. "It's important to get the family involved in learning about their health."

Darity said the fitness demonstrations were designed to encourage patrons to add new elements to their fitness routines.

"Maybe we can bring a different routine into their schedule for eating healthy, and doing things healthy and getting together as a family and doing healthy things," she said.

36th Medical Group Airman 1st Class Casey Kosbiel manned the women's health booth.

"Everyone seems really interested," she said. "Everybody knows about breast exams, but nobody really knows what they're looking for. We have models; you can come and feel the [breast] lumps."

Kosbiel said she enjoyed the atmosphere of the fair.

"Everybody's really welcoming and fun," she said. "[Presenters] try to incorporate games into [presentations] so everybody gets interested and for the kids, there's little given away stuff."

Panetta Rejects Conduct Shown in 2010 Troop Photos

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2012 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta strongly rejects the conduct depicted in 2010 photos of soldiers posing with corpses of insurgent suicide bombers in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.

“These images by no means represent the values or professionalism of the vast majority of U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan today,” he added.

Little, who is in Brussels with Panetta for a conference of NATO defense and foreign ministers, said in a statement that an investigation is under way that could lead to disciplinary measures. “Anyone found responsible for this inhuman conduct will be held accountable in accordance with our military justice system,” he said.

According to the Los Angeles Times story that accompanied publication of the photos, a soldier who had served in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne’s 4th Brigade Combat Team from Fort Bragg, N.C., anonymously provided 18 such photographs taken over several months because he believed they represented a breakdown in leadership and discipline that compromised troop safety.

Little said Panetta was disappointed that the newspaper published the photos despite a Pentagon request not to do so.

“The danger is that this material could be used by the enemy to incite violence against U.S. and Afghan service members in Afghanistan,” he explained. U.S. forces there are taking security measures to guard against that, he added.

In Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul, Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, issued a statement strongly condemning the actions depicted in the photos.

"The actions of the individuals photographed do not represent the policies of ISAF or the U.S. Army," Allen said. "This behavior and these images are entirely inconsistent with the values of ISAF and all service members of the 50 ISAF countries serving in Afghanistan.”

Allen said ISAF continues to work with its Afghan and international partners to resolve any issues related to improper treatment of remains.

“This incident is being thoroughly investigated by U.S. national authorities,” he said, adding that ISAF has a strict policy for the handling of enemy remains and dictates they be processed as humanely as possible.

“The incident depicted in the LA Times' photographs represents a serious error in judgment by several soldiers who have acted out of ignorance and unfamiliarity with U.S. Army values,” the general said. Such actions, he added, “undermine the daily sacrifices of thousands of ISAF troops who continue to serve honorably in Afghanistan.”

Allen said ISAF will collaborate with Afghan authorities to examine the facts and circumstances shown in the photos.

TAPS Seeks Military Mentors for ‘Good Grief Camp’

By Elaine Sanchez

April 18, 2012

The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors is seeking active duty service members and recent veterans to serve as volunteer mentors to children of the military fallen over Memorial Day weekend in Washington, D.C.

TAPS, a nonprofit organization that provides support and care to families of the military fallen, will host nearly 500 children and teens from across the nation at its 18th Annual TAPS Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp.

Volunteer mentors work with these children one-on-one, serving as a camp guide and offering a sympathetic ear or shoulder to cry on. Mentors have ranged from privates to generals, and represent all military services.

I remember seeing a mentor’s impact firsthand after stopping by a “Good Grief Camp” a few years ago in Crystal City, Va. I had arrived just in time for a balloon-release ceremony. Hundreds of children stood by a fountain gripping strings holding a rainbow assortment of balloons. Tied to each was a message to a loved one who had died while serving the nation.

With a “Let ‘em go!” the children released their balloons and watched intently as they became distant specks in the sky. The mentors stayed close by, some with an arm wrapped around a child’s shoulders.

Mentors have a powerful role at these camps, TAPS officials said. “We know it is no small favor as you will be giving up your personal time over the holiday, but bringing a smile to the faces of our nation’s youngest heroes and reminding them they will always remain a part of the military family is worth every minute you selflessly donate,” they said.

Mentors must be available all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the holiday weekend. Monday is optional but encouraged.

For more information about the TAPS Good Grief Camp or to register as a mentor, visit the TAPS website and click “Event Registration.” Registration will be open through May 7.

For more information or to request a time-off letter, email mentors@taps.org or call 1-800-959-TAPS (8277).

US Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay Initiates S2M2 Program

By Stacey Byington, U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY (NNS) -- Five W.T. Sampson High School students spent their spring break taking advantage of a Science, Service, Medicine, and Mentoring (S2M2) program at U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay (USNH GTMO), April 9 - 13.

"This was the first year this program was conducted here," said Lt. Eric Dunbar, organizer of the weeklong event. "We did our very best to limit any break time to keep the students active and engaged at every visit and in-between."

The S2M2 program, sponsored by the hospital's cultural diversity team led by Lt. Sonia Williams, was developed to encourage high school students to pursue their interests to become medical professionals and scientists, and engage Navy physicians and other military medical personnel with high school and college students in their geographic area.

The program developed at USNH GTMO was along the lines of a weeklong job fair, with medical providers and hospital staff interacting with the students, both in a classroom setting, and throughout the hospital. Students participating were Gabriel Dunbar, Braden Galloway, Ofelia Pastora, Tataina Wynder, and Dane Stone.

"The staff did an exemplary job of engaging the students in hands-on activities when and where possible," added Dunbar. "We kept the schedule flexible and even added a laboratory and radiology visit when time permitted. This was key to the success of the program."

During one activity, an orthopedic technician put a cast on each student's dominant arm. They wore the cast for about 24 hours, after which it was removed, and then they discussed how the cast affected their everyday lives, how people with disabilities constantly deal with those limitations, and patient communication.

Stone appreciated the effort the entire staff put into making the program fun.

"Thanks to everyone for taking time to show us an unforgettable experience and I can't wait to come back next year and learn even more," he said.

"The students had nothing but praise for the entire hospital staff and especially the Orthopedic doctor and the Operating Room team," concluded Dunbar. "The partnership between W.T. Sampson High School and USNH GTMO has only grown stronger through this program, and will continue to do so."