Iraq war's signature wound: Brain Injury

[Tellurian]

Iraq war's signature wound: brain injury

By JORDAN ROBERTSON, Sep 15, 2006

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Lance Cpl. Sam Reyes bears scars from three horrific attacks in
Iraq, but his most debilitating wound cannot be seen.

He recovered from the chest wound delivered by a machine gun-toting insurgent and the bullet wound to his back that came during an ambush. He survived the severe burns and broken ribs inflicted by a suicide bomber who struck a lightly armored 18-wheeler he was riding in — an explosion that killed 12 of his fellow Marines.

One injury initially went undetected. It continues to cripple him long after he arrived home with a clean bill of health.

Reyes suffered a traumatic brain injury in the truck explosion. The blast sent a powerful shock wave through his brain tissue, bursting blood vessels and smacking his brain against the inside of his skull.

"I thought I was a mess-up, just damn near dumb," Reyes, 22, said about the mysterious fogginess that plagued him long after his physical wounds healed. "I thought I was just a failure at this. I was recognized before as being the best. I knew my stuff real well. It made me feel like I wasn't a Marine no more."

Doctors say traumatic brain injuries are the signature wound of the Iraq war, a byproduct of improved armor that allows troops to survive once-deadly attacks but does not fully protect against roadside explosives and suicide bombers.

So far, about 1,000 patients have been treated for the symptoms, which include slowed thinking, severe memory loss and problems with coordination and impulse control. Some doctors fear there may be thousands more active duty and discharged troops who are suffering undiagnosed.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060915/ap_on_re_us/iraq_war_brain_injuries

[Tellurian]

1. Hidden from News Reports: Media needs to pickup on this story...

Shocking residual effects from an illegal war.

Volunteers following Bush's orders, suffer irreparable HARM..

NICE!

[Karenina]

2. Funds for research were recently cut.

[Tellurian]

3. According to the article...they're pulling out all the stops for rehab..

Your post is not surprising, just pointing to more lies perpetuated by this administration!
This info needs to go public big time. Why should our soldiers be needlessly debilitated for the Liar's agenda?

[Tellurian]

4. ...

:dem:




:kick:

[genie_weenie]

5. Wowee! This sure generated a significant amount

of interest. 1 comment... :cry:

[Tellurian]

6. Someones got to say it..

appreciate your help keeping it kicked!

:kick:

[genie_weenie]

7. It's a sad, sad, sad day

when the Debra LaFave story gets 120 comments http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2147175
and this story gets 1.

Maybe it's because so many feel so powerless against the Machine of Government, it's so easy for the Apparatus of Government to stifle the few voices in the Wilderness... But, the DU perplexes me on occasion. It's resignation more than ambivalence (unlike the rest of the Nation) which guarantees a minimum of 857 Deployment Days in Iraq.

Which if we keep the current casualty rates means:

Another 2000KIA Americans
Another 16000WIA Americans
Another 30000KIA Iraqis

So sad and so ignored in the Rush to Regain Control of the Machine of Government. And the picture doesn't get any better come Nov 2008. It's not like the Darlin' Hillary will be pushing for troops out 21 Jan 2009. She needs to show the World a Woman President has the *Balls* to let men die overseas. That she's tough. And would Wesley Clark call for an immediate withdrawal? Will any Democratic want to be tarred with the label of "The One Who cost the US Iraq"?

[genie_weenie]

8. I'll give this one last kick attempt

and then retire...

[Solly Mack]

9. I appreciate that you've posted this

recommended

[Tellurian]

10. Good- Solly..

With Gulf I it was Agent Orange.
When we didn't think things could get worse;
They just did!

Brain Damage from concussion trauma!

no media reports here- Matt, *Katie*, Al & Ann

where the Hell are You?

:kick: