Military spouse shares story of caregiving in compelling new video

SILVER SPRING, Md., Nov. 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Ever since Jasmin's husband, retired Marine Corps Capt. Wally Blair, sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) when his convoy hit a roadside bomb, she has served as his caregiver. "I view myself more as a spouse [who] wants to help her husband lead a fulfilling life," Jasmin said. "My goal every day is just to know that when we close down for the night to go to bed, we have let him lead a normal day and be productive."

The Blairs share their story in a new video released today in recognition of Warrior Care Month by A Head for the Future, a Department of Defense (DoD) initiative to help raise awareness of TBI prevention, symptoms and treatment. The video is available online at dvbic.dcoe.mil/aheadforthefuture and on the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury's YouTube channel.

The DoD Office of Warrior Care Policy initiated Warrior Care Month in November 2008 to honor the courage of wounded, ill or injured service members, recognize various wounded warrior programs and highlight stories of recovery and personal triumphs.

"This Warrior Care Month, we're honoring injured service members and their families, as well as those who care for them," said Scott Livingston, director of education at the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. "The A Head for the Future initiative makes it is possible to share testimonials from military families like the Blairs about caring for a wounded warrior to show that living with and getting better from TBI is possible with treatment and family support."

After Blair was injured, Jasmin recognized his symptoms right away. He experienced memory loss, slurred speech and his temper was short fused — all common symptoms of brain injury. It was a combination of Jasmin's insistence and a visit to the military's TBI clinic at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina that convinced Blair to learn more about TBI symptoms and recovery. That was his first step toward leading a more productive life.

"If you need help, you need help," Blair said. "It isn't one of those things where you can self-medicate or you can go without treatment, because it does affect more than you." 

Through her own research and guidance from her husband's health care provider, Jasmin finds ways to help him cope with his symptoms. Every day, she and their children do things to assist him — like placing keys where he knows to find them, keeping a family calendar to remind him of medical appointments and making sure he gets enough sleep at night.

"It's important to be an advocate for your service member to better help them with their treatment plans," Jasmin said. "Recovery is possible to help you lead a normal life; you just have to make sure you're looking and find the places that will help you do it."

Blair has shown tremendous progress since his TBI diagnosis, thanks to his supportive family. He hopes to educate others in the military community about the symptoms so they can recognize when it's time to get help. Fittingly enough, he is now in school to become a teacher.

As for Jasmin, she wants to remind other caregivers to focus on their own well-being, too. "I feel it's important for caregivers to take care of themselves, because if they're not doing that, then they can't really better support their service member or their family," she said.

The risk for TBI is not limited to combat. According to recent DoD data, since 2000, more than 370,000 service members have been diagnosed with TBI — most occurring in noncombat settings. Falls, motor vehicle collisions, sports-related incidents and training accidents are the most common causes of noncombat-related brain injury among service members.

Visit dvbic.dcoe.mil/aheadforthefuture to learn more, and follow A Head for the Future on Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center