15 Jun 2016
My educational goals are to continue with my college career. I have achieved my Associates Degree, followed by my Bachelor’s Degree and the next step is to attain my Master’s degree.
I have been in the Army for 13 years. I actually got my TBI courtesy of the militant fighters in Iraq in 2009. Prior to this, I had been in 7 other IED attacks and the last one was actually the one that got me. I remember seeing the flash and hearing a boom, but I never felt anything. I woke up with people pounding on my thigh trying to check on me. I was evacuated out of theater and I convinced my doctors to allow me back into country to finish my tour with my guys. I could not allow them to be there without me, so I went back. They never let me go outside of the wire again though and that frustrated me, but at least I finished with unit I went with.
My wife and daughter had it the worst though, all I had to do was bumble through life and they had to be patient with me as I healed. It was one of the most difficult things ever because I could not recall things, I could not speak as clearly as before and a multitude of other things. I continued to have care for it through the remaining years (I received my TBI 6 years into my career, and I am now going on 14 years). I have had huge difficulties as I try to lead a “normal life” however I have had a very difficult time. The majority of the time, my wife and daughter have to remind me of things, this is in areas as simple things such as me saying to them, “we should go to the zoo and see how cool it is out here” (at our new duty station) they then will reply, “we went there when we first got here” and my reply is something as simple as me asking them if I liked it. It applies to places we have been (sometimes multiple times) and I just cannot remember it.
Last month (May 2016), I had a stroke. They advised that it was in the same area as my TBI. Some doctors advise that the TBI contributed to it and other doctors have said that it was not a factor. I am in the same situation as I was when I first came back home with my TBI. My thoughts are in my head, but getting all of it to flow smoothly from my mouth is a difficult thing. I also (more times than not) have no recollection of things that have happened. I tell my wife and daughter the same thing over and over again. Lucky for me, my wife and daughter are patient with me as I go through this all over again.
I would never take what I have done though, even to have my full mental capabilities. I am proud of what I have accomplished despite having the TBI, and I will be just as proud of my future accomplishments. I made it to 14 years and this last incident is going to be what gets me sent out of the Army. In November they will actually start the Medical Evaluation Board and I will be starting my civilian career 5 ½ years sooner than I had planned in my “big plan” for life. I planned on retiring from the Army, but I will actually leave the Army with 100% due to my disabilities.