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Invisible Wounds: Veterans' Lifelong TBI Battle
11 Nov
Summary
- Hundreds of thousands diagnosed with TBI since the global war on terrorism.
- Jon Kohl survived a severe TBI after a 2013 Afghanistan helicopter crash.
- Wounded Warrior Project offers free TBI therapies via its Independence Program.
This Veterans Day, awareness is being raised for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) affecting the post-9/11 military generation. Hundreds of thousands of veterans have been diagnosed with TBIs over the past quarter-century, with recovery often being a lifelong process.
Army veteran Jon Kohl is an example of this ongoing struggle. After a 2013 helicopter crash in Afghanistan that resulted in a severe TBI, he faced a challenging recovery. Doctors removed a significant portion of his skull to relieve pressure, with initial concerns about his ability to walk or talk again.
Thirteen years later, Kohl is utilizing art and music therapy through the Wounded Warrior Project's Independence Program. This initiative offers specialized, no-cost therapies to veterans with moderate to severe brain injuries and other neurological conditions. Program director Kelly Parker notes that over 530,000 service members and veterans have been diagnosed with TBI since 9/11.
Parker describes TBIs as invisible wounds with varied symptoms, including headaches, memory and concentration issues, anxiety, depression, and mood disturbances. Early intervention is critical, though symptoms can manifest years after the initial injury. The Kohl family urges proactive treatment for unseen injuries, emphasizing the need for support akin to that for physical disabilities.
