I have been helping this charity for more than three years and I am still awe struck at the difference the neurotherapy makes in the lives of our veterans. Like most of the board members, I was a patient whose life was changed by Dr. Esty. I was so shocked at the difference in my own life, I wanted to help others. It is impossible to describe how rewarding it is to see people come to Dr. Esty at the end of their ropes, having tried numerous other treatments, and end up with all or almost all of their symptoms healed. The story gets better and better as you learn more about it. The successes are not the exception; they represent the high majority of patients. If you have ever wanted to help and to know that your help will make a difference, reach out. We can use you or your financial contributions. There is so much more we can do.
First off: Beth was outstanding representing the Brain Wellness Fund. From day one she calmed my nerves and made me feel appreciated. I knew from the first day I talked to her; she was an angel and believed so strongly in the treatments: that I was confident in making a decision to come out for six weeks. I left everything behind and got on a plane headed out there a month later and never looked back. To me it was days on a calendar and an investment if the treatment worked; where nothing had worked up to this point. I met with Dr. Esty on day one and we got to learn a lot about one another; which furthered my trust. I also met with Mike on the board who was so supportive and also part of the team.
Beth worked hard with another non-profit to ensure I got out there safe, and returned home; after treatment ended. She was the first to meet me when I got off the plane and the last person I saw from my window leaving. I had two great pilots; Mike and Bob.
My story: I suffered a TBI from Iraq and was never myself again. We got lit up a lot but it only took one 107mm Rocket to damage my brain. I was having a successful career in the military making Sergeant First Class in seven years and got out after 12 years. During my time in the service I competed at the Department of the Army level for NCO of the Year, I was inducted into the Audie Murphy Club and had other accolades: with the injury happening within a 1 1/2 of my departure. I knew I was not the same; and I knew I needed to get out to get treatment outside the military. I knew it was time to get out of the service because I could no longer continue with my career and be seeking treatment with the culture and climate of the Army at the time. At the time there was a stigma for anyone suffering post explosion injuries that were not visible to the naked eye. I was suffering from seizures, migraines, headaches, chronic back pain (herniated disc,annular tears, and rare traumatic neuromas around my spinal cord) and pts-to name a few. I kept it bottled up inside like a secret and signed a declination to move on past my reenlistment. I got out and sought care at the VA after the first day of my ETS. It was a downhill spiral of hideous care from there. I soon found myself out of pocket thousands of dollars a month in private care; and was able to find a good team of specialist; whom helped me but never dealt with my type of issues. Draining all of my savings as I spent multiplies of tens of thousands of dollars. These specialist were not taught in medical school how to solve these types of problems that post explosion injuries were causing: but boy the Docs tried their best as years went by and by; and money went out and out.
I did not know what to expect coming out to MD but figured I had nothing to lose. Nothing worked until this. The VA had failed me years ago, and I struggling within my own life living day by day with care from specialist.
So what happened: I was able to get state of the art treatment through a private institution in Bethesda MD: The Brain Wellness and Biofeedback Center (Dr. Mary Lee)/ and treatment paid for by the Brain Wellness Fund-a 501c3. I was able to get parts of my brain working again through a series of these treatments that have not been working since my injury. I came there with a mind set that I will not believe that this is going to work; unless proven otherwise. Somewhere along the first several treatments I began to notice a change in my brain. I was getting better. I was having less migraines, I wasn't having seizures, I was regaining some mental alertness and capacity. My speech was becoming more fluent. I was indeed proven otherwise.
This treatment needs to get out there; this treatment needs to get in the VA system. This treatment needs to be brought up to our congressman to get on the VA schedule. I have my life back, or at least a better life than I can remember. My family has noticed subtle changes in me; immediately. I feel better, because I am better, because I allowed the Brain Wellness Fund to help me. Please donate; and realize that I am just one story, and there can be thousands more. This truly changed my life and health. Thank you Beth-thank you to the board of the Brain Wellness Fund, and thank you Dr. Esty. You will forever have my gratitude, and be part of a life changing treatment that occurred over six weeks. My grandkids and greatgrandkids will know about what happened not only during my time in service but how a few came together to pick me up out of the trenches; when other medial professionals kept kicking me back down as I tried to crawl out.-Thank you and please support the organization that has helped me with actual proven treatments that are beyond theoretical; when there is measured objective evidence of my improvement(s).
It's not often that you find an organization that has found a way to change lives directly and permanently by connecting people to the technologies that they need to heal their brain!
That's why I'm on the Board of Directors at the Brain Wellness Fund; I want to help our heroes regain their lives the way that my family and friends have regained theirs through the treatments offered at the Brain Wellness Center in Bethesda.
For all of the talk in the media about helping veterans and our military recover from their PTSD, it is so refreshing to find an organization that is determined to reach out and get funding for treatment for as many veterans/active service members as possible.
The best part? The reward is in their faces. It's so remarkable to watch our damaged, frustrated, military heroes come in with vacant, haunted faces and return to their families with hope, and health - complete with twinkling eyes and engaging smiles. The joy of watching them get their lives back makes my work here all worthwhile.
bmruk 05/31/2017
We have the greatest Board! Thank you!!
I have been involved in raising money for this charity for approximately a year. Their support of a revolutionary technique to treat victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Military Sexual Trauma has been amazing. They are raising money to defer the costs of treatment to our veterans for therapies that are not yet on the approved list from the VA yet are having amazing success alliterating symptoms in our heroes. Every dime of this money goes toward the cost of treating our veterans. This group has literally saved lives. It is the finest use of donations that I have every seen in an charitable organization.
bmruk 05/31/2017
A few months ago, a veteran from across the country asked me, "why would you do this for me?" Question answered! Can't think of a better reason to wake up in the morning than making the world a brighter place for national heroes like you sir!! Thank you for your service!