Page 86 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017- Online Magazine
P. 86
Michael Vasquez
From Combat Casualty
to Veteran Advocate
brain swelling. The VA disputed
the origin of the disease and
refused to help me. I had a
genetic test done which ruled
out genetics. My support system
recommended a specialist from
New York who agreed to a
consultation, and I paid my own
way. He examined my MRIs
and advised me on surgery,
stating it was better sooner
Germany. From there I was flown than later, highly risky, and
to Brooke Army Medical Center potentially deadly. In July 2013
(BAMC), where I slipped out of I elected to have this surgery. I
my medially-induced coma and stayed 2.5 weeks in the hospital;
[spent seven months in recovery.] afterwards, my brain and spinal
cord traumatized. Overall, the
“As my health plummeted and surgery was a good thing, as it
“ am totally medication-free the paralysis took over, I sought stopped my blackouts. However,
now, but it’s been a long help from the VA. My TBI caused I am now in a wheelchair
I road. After joining the Army me to black out permanently. I
in 2005, I sustained paralyzing sometimes 20 remember not
injuries in Ghazni Provence, consciousness, “ being able to feel
times a day, lose
Afghanistan which caused a lot I felt God pulling my left side and
of pain. I took 30 medications and fall over. me back to him. I not being able
a day, masking the agony any After numerous broke down and He to even drag my
way I could. Finding no help trips in the softened my heart. legs. I flew home
physically or emotionally I went ambulance and and continued to
to appointments grasping for many checks for He let me see how seek help from the
clarity, hope, and healing and concussions, I some of my actions VA, and had to be
[always] came home with pills, finally found a compounded the sent to Amarillo,
only a temporary solace. I also support group situation and I Albuquerque,
drank to soften the memories on social media longed to come and Dallas for
and medicate my broken spirit. of other vets treatments.
Shrapnel damage to my abdomen with TBIs. This clean and live for
and back, Traumatic Brain Injury is an informal Him. “Many people
(TBI), left side paralysis, loss group comprised have helped
of feeling and use of legs, and of people who “ encourage me
partial blindness in my left eye, were also suffering, keeping it in my struggles. I want to
only magnified motives to self- real, and finding better ways to emphasize the word STRUGGLE.
medicate. manage. In 2012 I was diagnosed I, like so many other veterans,
“I am grateful for the people who with Chiari Malformation which really struggle, often alone, with
the weight of military and life
provided emergency medical is considered a brain disease. experiences and opt for a quick
treatment early on in the med Most people [who have it] are fix of alcohol or drugs. It was
station on our outlet post at born with it, however, it can be only after looking at myself in the
Ghazni, then at the Garrison acquired also. My cerebellum mirror one day, that I felt God
in Bagram, and at Landstuhl was herniating into my foramen pulling me back to him. I broke
Regional Medical Center in magnum which caused stubborn
86 Lubbock Senior Link
