As I mentioned in an earlier post, Fried Okra Productions was in beginning stages of promoting a benefit concert with Little Feat and the Brain Injury Association of Texas. There is already an overwhelming need for services for TBI patients, and new studies from the Iraq War show that troops are returning home with TBI not only from direct injury to the head, but from trauma sustained through just being in proximity to explosions. The shock waves pummel the brain and lead to degeneration of neurons long after the exposure.
Veterans medical services are just not footing the bill. We are fixin' to have a problem that we have no means of handling at the present.
I am very excited that my brother in law is attending a summit on TBI in Washington, D.C. next week along with only 30 or 40 other TBI experts from the private, public, and military sectors. Their consequent report will be a must read for all medical providers and TBI supporters.
Perhaps it's time to dust off the old plans and try once again to put together what we envisioned before the war. We have even more reason to do it. Originally, we were going to limit it to Texas, but I don't see why we can't start with Texas and go national. Takes a lot of grassroots effort, and we had some good traction. Some of the obstacles have disappeared, so the prospect is even more hopeful.
I'll need to retire from my day gig, though. At the moment, it's eating up my time, energy, and health. I love what I do, especially learning new tech. There's a limit to how much I'll give to the man on such lousy pay--much rather be doing something I love with other people I love for free all day long.
10.28.2007
Traumatic Brain Injury
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2 comments:
Not properly caring for our veterans is nothing short of criminal regardless of what ones position is toward any war to which we send our citizens.
You're certainly correct about the TBIs and the focus of attention they need. Those with closed head trauma, especially high level functioning, but still evidencing subtle cognititive difficulties often are discounted as not needing any therapy, when nothing could be further from the truth.
Thanks for your comment, joared. I fully agree with you on both issues. It underscores how the US lags in health care issues across the board.
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