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Forty-four thousand Utahns, and thousands more from surrounding western states, who are living with traumatic brain injuries sent out a battle cry today. Their numbers are climbing dramatically because many are now returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Compared to soldiers who died in battle in previous wars, today's soldier survives the injuries. Former Lt. Col Raymond Rivas is one of them.
In Afghanistan, and then later in Iraq, Rivas was hit with shock waves from exploding bombs and shells. Each time, he got up and went back with his unit, taking Tylenol for severe headaches.
"I know the one in Iraq, the explosion was just ungodly. All I remember is I was over here, and after I remember I'm way over here," Rivas explained.
He banged up his back, knee and elbows. But Rivas never thought he had a brain injury until military doctors, via a pet scan, saw the damage in his brain. "I'm really emotional. My wife says I cry a lot," he said.
Losing focus now, he's left a car in gear and in motion as he stepped out. He's left his credit card and cash in an ATM. His short-term memory sometimes fails him, and he doesn't sleep well, only one or two hours a night.
This soldier with a promising career never lost a leg or an arm, but because the brain inside his head bounced around from explosive concussions, his life has changed forever.
Now encountering many veterans like this, the Department of Veterans Affairs is allocating new monies to treat a broad range of brain injuries.
As for Rivas, doctors had somber news for his wife. "They told her she probably ought to start looking for long-term nursing care for me in the next two to three years," Rivas said.
As courageous as he was in battle, Rivas is determined to make the most of what life he has left. Soldiers like him, along with many others, are here for a two-day conference of the Brain Injury Association of Utah.
E-mail: eyeates@ksl.com
