Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts
Stories of American Soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Veterans’ stories of PTSD and TBI anchor this “invaluable volume . . . another important cry for the proper treatment of the nation’s defenders” (Publishers Weekly).
In the twenty-first century, the US military has vastly improved its combat medical and medevac capabilities. But even as more soldiers survive the thick of combat, they are returning home with invisible wounds that go tragically untreated. Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts details the ever-increasing documented cases of physical or mental brain trauma among veterans. The authors share the “harrowing, inspiring stories” of soldiers who came home from Iraq or Afghanistan with life-altering injuries to the brain and psyche, along with their equally dramatic stories of recovery (Publishers Weekly).
The chapters are developed from interviews with troops and their family members, and supported with essays by mental health professionals, veterans’ advocates, and members of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense, all of whom are working on the front lines of this national health crisis.
All royalties from this work will go directly to the front line of support for wounded warriors with PTSD and TBI and their families.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In 2003, author and film producer Straus (Prayers on My Pillow) began interviewing troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for the non-profit Armed Forces Foundation; as they returned home, she found their psychological wounds going unaddressed by the Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (DVA). In 42 harrowing, inspiring stories, Straus crafts a multi-faceted view of the neglect and bureaucratic nonsense faced by returning warriors and their families. Though neurologist Col. Christopher Williams denies that the DoD or DVA are "falling short" in caring for vets with "invisible wounds" like traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), the stories of servicemen like Marine Corp Sergeant Christopher Horman speak for themselves: discharged with noted injuries, including PTSD, he secured treatment (with help from the AFF) only after he had lost his job, was forced to send away one of his sons, pawn his and his wife's wedding rings and move the family into a motel. With a thorough resource guide and input from caregivers and family members, often dealing with their own psychological hurdles, this is an invaluable volume for vets and their families, and another important cry for the proper treatment of the nation's defenders on the field and at home.
