Brain Injury Awareness Month: DOD Initiative, A Head for the Future, Shares Inspiring Stories of Recovery

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A Head for the Future, a Defense Department brain injury awareness initiative, will highlight videos of service members and veterans who sought help to recover from traumatic brain injury throughout March. The Military Health System will feature these videos, and more, all month long on Facebook and Twitter through a social media campaign.

"Sharing inspiring stories throughout Brain Injury Awareness Month spreads knowledge of TBI in the military community," said Navy Capt. Scott Pyne, Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) division chief. "Many individuals may not be aware of brain injury risk factors, or what to do if they have a TBI. We want our military community to better understand TBI, know the signs and symptoms to look out for in themselves, colleagues or family members, and encourage them to seek the advice of a medical provider if they have any concerns."

The video series features a variety of service members' and veterans' personal TBI experiences, including the following stories:

• Retired Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Gary D. Moran sustained a TBI while serving in combat and ignored his symptoms for years. He decided to get help after a high-ranking commanding officer talked about experiencing TBI. Moran continues to recover today with the help of his son.
• While deployed, retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Victor Medina sustained a TBI when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle. After the TBI, Medina could barely speak, but with the support of his wife, Roxana Delgado, he became fully independent and went on to earn a master's degree
• During her first deployment, retired Navy Lt. Amanda Burrill slipped and lost consciousness. Before long, symptoms including loss of concentration and memory issues arose, but she kept working. One day, Burrill realized she couldn't recall the brief she had just written, and she knew something was wrong. She sought help and doctors diagnosed her with TBI.
• A 7.62 mm round bounced off Army Sgt. 1st Class Bradley Lee's helmet during a firefight while deployed. He continued to serve in the military for years. When his wife noticed his TBI symptoms, she called Lee's sergeant major to intervene.

According to Pyne, A Head for the Future (managed by DVBIC) also provides several educational resources, such as fact sheets with safety tips, and information for caregivers and providers of service members and veterans with TBI.

"Throughout Brain Injury Awareness Month and beyond, use these resources to spread the word about TBI prevention, recognition, and recovery," said Pyne.

To learn more about TBI and A Head for the Future, and to find additional videos and educational resources on preventing brain injury, visit dvbic.dcoe.mil/aheadforthefuture, and follow A Head for the Future on Twitter and Facebook.

Sign up for Military Health System e-mail updates at www.health.mil/subscriptions.

Connect with the Military Health System on Facebook and Twitter.

The Military Health System and the Defense Health Agency administer the worldwide health care plan for more than 9.4 million eligible beneficiaries of the uniformed services, retirees and their families.

DVBIC, the Defense Health Agency traumatic brain injury center of excellence, is a division of the DHA Research and Development Directorate.

SOURCE Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center