During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Reeve Foundation’s National Paralysis Resource Center created a special grants category (COVID-19: Addressing Social Isolation) for non-profit organizations to address social isolation by providing programs and projects to support the physical and mental health of people living with paralysis.
Active duty and military veterans can face challenges if they're injured while serving. Those who suffer from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may also have developed disabilities. Many of these disabilities may require long-term care. Often, a spouse or loved one becomes their caregiver.
The TBI Warrior Foundation, located in Boerne, TX, northwest of San Antonio, was founded by U.S. Army retired Sargeant First Class Victor Medina, MRC, CRC, after he was wounded while serving his third tour in Iraq in 2009. Victor was diagnosed with a moderate TBI and sustained several injuries linked to his disabilities.
At the time of Victor's injuries, his wife, Dr. Roxana Delgado, was working as a researcher. Once the full extent of his injuries was known, Dr. Delgado became his caregiver. The couple worked together to navigate the various treatments and medical services required to help Victor. In addition, Victor decided to advocate for other veterans with TBI to aid them on their unique journey and adversity challenges. The couple's experiences as patient and caregiver helped them identify gaps in treatment and diagnosis which led to the shaping of military health care policy.
Victor and Roxana didn't stop with shaping new healthcare policies. In 2018, they began the "Health and Wellbeing Support Program" Respite Care for primary caregivers, specifically family members. The program's goal is to increase the overall health of family caregivers of ill, wounded, and inured veterans and the caregiver community impacted by TBI and conditions linked to TBI. For example, several caregivers are helping a loved one who is paralyzed.
The Reeve Foundation's COVID-19 grant of $25,000 is integral to exploring how to provide support to those in the program. The program's staff also assesses the needs of the family. Sometimes the needs are addressed by the "Health and Wellbeing Support Program" Respite Care, but if the family needs outside help, staff will direct them to partnered organizations. Victor and Roxana credit the Reeve Foundation's grant "to help define and implement a robust program." The couple established a platform where caregivers could share their thoughts and feelings. The funding also helped create a network of mental health and care coordination that caregivers could access to help them.
The couple decided on the definition of health and well-being holistically. The goal is to increase the overall health and well-being of each participant. They chose to improve a person's quality of life by giving the tools to reduce loneliness, regain or expand a sense of control, and feel prepared to face medical care and potential issues. Participants are encouraged to take advantage of seminars and workshops by the Respite Care program or their partners. Once a family becomes involved in the program, they're a part of it until they decide to leave.