A New Beginning All Over Again

It was a bright and warm morning in early May 2009. Many families gathered in an hangar at Fort Bliss, TX, for the farewell of the 1st Armored Division Soldiers getting ready for a new deployment to Iraq. One of these Soldiers was my wonderful and loving husband, at the time staff sergeant (SSG) Victor Medina. Before leaving, he ran to me three times for a last hug and kiss. I will never forget that memory and how it felt. 

Some weeks later on May 29th we celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. Victor always made me feel so special and important in his life, and this time was no different. It was the fourth time we celebrated our anniversary apart and as always, he didn’t forget and planned ahead to make sure it was special. Little did we know we were a month away from experiencing a life detour, the biggest test of our love and lives, all in a click of a button.

On June 29, 2009 during a patrol mission, Victor’s MRAP was hit by an explosive formed projectile, one of the deadliest forms of improvised explosive devices. After moments of confusion, disorientation and pain, he was indeed “wounded in action”. Victor sustained a moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI), with scattered hemorrhage in his brain among other injuries.

The road to recovery was far from ideal, easy or pleasant. We encountered many challenges along the way, but we also experienced the beauty of faith, love and strength. We witnessed what resilience looks like, we tasted the bittersweet of new beginnings and although we bled while grabbing the thorns of frustration and sorrow, we smelled the fresh fragrance of family, friendship and support. 

It is undisputed that June 29, 2009 is a day we will never forget, but also a day we will never regret. 

Because of it, Victor and I have met and have been embraced by a wonderful community of people with disabilities, we are one of those families that appreciate the good in life, that doesn’t take anything for granted and that live by faith, knowing we will prevail. We have risen from the ashes.

This journey has taught us that perseverance is the master of success, gratitude opens the blinds to beauty and opportunity, that good leaders lead by example and that the healthcare system needs significant advances to understand and treat the brain. 

Now, 9 years later, our healing journey hasn’t been easy but well-traveled, with many memories and stories to tell. 

Yet, this is not over, our newest endeavor started 3 months ago when TBI Warrior Foundation was born. TBI Warrior® Foundation is a labor of love, passion and resilience, bringing together lived experience experts, friends and community, to bridge the gaps between veterans, civilians, children and families affected by brain injury and illness. Together, creating awareness, exploring and sharing solutions to improve quality of life. Because while science advancements catch up to the problem, those living with brain injury need to know there is hope. With proper support and resources people with brain injury and their families can rise from the ashes and walk the path of a fruitful healing journey.

With Love,
Roxana (~ Dr. D)

Comments

  1. Lisa SchusterJune 30, 2018 at 7:22 AM

    "... those living with brain injury need to know there is hope." Yes they do! Thank you for this. Beautifully said.

    ReplyDelete
  2. leeJune 30, 2018 at 9:30 AM

    I too feel so blessed to have met you guys and others like me. I have always been so glad that I have my TBI because of the great people I have met and been able to help just a little bit by what I have gone thru and learned. Maybe that is because I have gotten so much back. Thank you for being the people that you are! love ya, Lee

    ReplyDelete
  3. best ed pillsNovember 24, 2020 at 6:54 PM

    Hello mates, pleasant paragraph and fastidious arguments commented here, I am truly enjoying by these.

    ReplyDelete
  4. erectile dysfunctionNovember 24, 2020 at 7:10 PM

    What's up, constantly i used to check weblog posts here in the early hours in the daylight, for the reason that i enjoy to find out more and more.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Marriage after a Brain Injury

Image
Today was a beautiful day in El Paso, TX. The Sun was shining and a blue sky make my eyes appreciate how spectacular is to live day by day. I do not worry about tomorrow, the enjoy the blessings of today. Life after a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can be challenging not only for the patient but for the family. My husband sustained a TBI and I also suffered the consequences that comes with it. That may be just me but I don't believe so, the more I hear spouses the more I realize that this injury although unknown by many, it is well lived by others. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the incidence of brain injury is approximately 1.7 million a year (http://www.cdc.gov/TraumaticBrainInjury/). That means that every day 46,575 people sustained a TBI. This statistic excludes TBI in Soldiers, so the incidence is even higher. The short and long term consequences of a TBI are(http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/outcomes.html): •Thinking (i.e., memory and rea...
Read more

Marriage and Intimacy

I was asked to write about marriage and intimacy. What a topic of so much divergence and complicated to the human nature. When I see marriages that survived WWII, Korea and Vietnam I can’t avoid thinking “wow, how they made that happened”, but the more I speak with more experienced couples the more I see a common theme among them, values and commitment. I remember seeing my grandparents’ growing old and still saying “I love you” like it was part of their daily language. “What have we forgotten or when did we disconnect?” “There is no intimacy, there is no marriage”. These question and statement are so common and have been brought to my attention by spouses of wounded warriors. One afternoon I am sitting at home and I am reflecting in all the comments that I have heard and the pain and sorrow that these situations bring to these spouses. Are you the spouse of a wounded warrior? Life is not over, like my husband will say, “It is a new beginning”. The problem is that sometimes we are y...
Read more