Despair turns to hope as Marines and civilians help a family

Despair turns to hope when Marines, civilians join to help family
September 19, 2010 9:43 AM
HOPE HODGE
Marines are fond of the self-description “no better friend; no worse enemy.”

A Jacksonville Marine said he has experienced both sides of that dichotomy with military and veterans healthcare in his battle to get treatment for severe post-traumatic stress disorder and recurring seizures caused by a traumatic brain injury.

During his first deployment to Iraq, from Oct. 2006 to Feb. 2007, Lance Cpl. David Brown, now 23, earned the nickname “mortar magnet” for his knack of being in the wrong place at the right time. After a few close encounters with the blasts, one mortar blew up in his face, rattling his brain, knocking him out and blanking his memory of the time surrounding the incident.

Later in the deployment, a Marine buddy, fatally wounded by an improvised explosive device, died in his arms, making the injuries he would carry with him back to the states emotional as well as physical.

Brown’s wife Brooke said her husband returned home displaying classic symptoms of PTSD: anger, increased use of tobacco and alcohol and depression. He also suffered from head-splitting migraines and a sensitivity to light that forced him to wear sunglasses even indoors, although he seemed physically healthy otherwise.

Brown deployed to Iraq again from late 2007 to May 2008. In September, Brooke said, she witnessed David’s first grand mal seizure during an evening at home: He foamed at the mouth, lost control of his bowels and could not speak. The couple rushed to the Naval Hospital where they said medical personnel ran tests, did a spinal tap and finally released him with light duty orders.
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Despair turns to hope