Brain Injury Awareness Month
By Juliana Hall, Polytrauma/TBI Program Manager
March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month, which was developed to increase public knowledge about the consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI), to promote services available to people living with brain injuries, and to provide education to prevent injuries.
The VA Polytrauma System of Care is an integrated and coordinated network of specialized rehabilitation programs dedicated to serving Veterans and Service Members with combat and civilian related TBI and polytrauma.
The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) is a Polytrauma/TBI Network Site, providing post-acute rehabilitation services across Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California. Whether Veterans are transitioning from a higher-level rehabilitation center after severe TBI or are seeking services after a mild-moderate TBI or polytrauma injury, our Polytrauma/TBI interdisciplinary clinical team balances access and expertise to provide tailored rehabilitation care to meet patients’ physical, cognition, and mental health needs after head trauma.
TBI is an injury to the head that affects how the brain works. TBI can happen to anyone. It can be caused by different events, such as blows to the head, nearby blasts or explosions, motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports, gunshots, and other mechanisms.
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 15%–20% of Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have experienced a TBI. Thankfully, not all head injuries cause TBI.
TBI can range from mild to severe, depending on several factors, such as duration of unconsciousness or alteration of mental status and structural changes to the brain. Brain injury can change the way a person thinks, behaves, and performs daily activities and can lead to other health conditions such as headaches, sleep problems, dizziness, imbalance, memory deficits, and mental health conditions. TBI can happen along with other injuries, such as a broken bone, burn, or loss of limb, which is referred to as “polytrauma.”
Justin Kennedy, a 48-year-old Army Veteran infantryman from Marana, AZ, suffered a severe TBI in 2021 after a fall that caused a brain hemorrhage.
“They had to remove a part of my skull, drain the blood, and patch me back up,” said Kennedy. “I was in the hospital for a month. I was in physical therapy for a week just to learn how to walk again.”
A few months after arriving in Arizona, Kennedy was referred to the SAVAHCS Polytrauma/TBI Clinic in Tucson. He participated in multiple rehabilitation services to improve his symptoms and function.
“Polytrauma has a whole team of people available to help. We would discuss anything that might be related to my TBI and my quality of life. We don’t just narrow it down to specific symptoms. This way, issues I’m dealing with do not fall through the cracks,” Kennedy stated. “I always felt support and respect. There are also case managers that help support most of your recovery, not just within their walls. When I needed help getting into another clinic or creating a future employment plan, my case manager was quick to offer insight and help me find the right support.”
For Veteran Kennedy, having a supportive team working closely with him to reach his goals was very important.
“Creating a relationship with the Polytrauma providers and the front desk staff is really what helped me develop an individualized TBI rehab plan,” said Kennedy. “A TBI can seriously distort or change one’s perspective, understanding, and temperament . . . Most important when starting a treatment plan is having providers and support specialists you are comfortable with. Someone who is understanding what is important specifically to you in your recovery.”
With determination, perseverance, and hard work, and with the help of the SAVAHCS Polytrauma/TBI team, Kennedy has had marked improvement in symptoms and function and has met many of his TBI recovery goals.
He stated, “Much of life is as back to normal as life can be after an injury like this. I can live alone, drive, and manage my personal life.”
Kennedy continues to work on managing his symptoms, rebuilding vocational skills, and strengthening relationships in his life.
“After this accident, I woke up very broken and with nothing but medical support," said Kennedy. "Of course there were problems present before my TBI, but with the help of my treatment team, I get to work on those too. Now I feel like I might actually have the chance at a good life.”
When asked what advice he would give to a Veteran or Service Member who may be just starting their journey toward healing after TBI. Kennedy stated, “Most important is [having a] respectful, reliable medical team. If you don't trust your medical team, that's a huge problem. Almost as important is your social support. This could be family, friends, a neighbor, or hobbies. We need those positive things in life to remind us why we're here.”
“It is very important to pat ourselves on the back whenever we can," said Kennedy. "This is important for the patients and the supporters! Wherever you are in your recovery, know that there are people out there honestly willing to support your recovery. You are not alone!”
Remember, safety is the key to preventing TBI! Always wear a helmet for bicycling, skating, skiing, horse riding, and contact sports. Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a motor vehicle, and never drive while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or certain medications that can cause drowsiness. Avoid falls by removing trip hazards, using proper lighting, and installing handrails in the home.
For more information on VA Polytrauma/TBI System of Care, visit https://www.polytrauma.va.gov/POLYTRAUMA/
For information about military-related TBI, visit the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence webpage at
For general information about TBI, visit https://biausa.org/