Critically Ill Kids and Military Vets Have What in Common?
A few weeks ago Claire Shackelford, one of the women who’s part of www.ChristianMilitaryWives.com, interviewed me about A Different Dream for My Child. While we talked, I thought about the double whammy military wives with special needs children deal with every day. My only desire was to encourage the moms as they care for their kids.
But as Claire listened to our son’s story, she recognized a second link between my son’s story and the families of combat vets: post-traumatic stress disorder. Claire hopes that the interview, which you can hear at this link, will minister to struggling veterans, their spouses, and children.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
For a short course on PTSD, check out this link at google health. But be forewarned that it is not the last word on PTSD treatment. The cutting edge outpatient facility where our son was treated has a remarkable success rate, and our son’s experience differed from what’s described at the above link in the following significant ways:
- Because his medical trauma began at birth and continued for five years, he had no “before trauma” experience to compare it to. Therefore, we had no idea his behavior issues stemmed from PTSD. We thought they were part of his normal personality.
- The google health page says there are no tests for PTSD. But, The Intensive Trauma Therapy, Inc., where our son was treated, diagnosed his PTSD with a test administered before he was accepted for treatment.
- The treatment did not require any drugs.
Intensive Trauma Therapy, Inc.
If you suspect your special needs child or returning war vet has PTSD, I urge you to visit Intensive Trauma Therapy, Inc’s website and see what they have to offer. Read their literature. Check out their statistics. Call them and see if your loved one can take the diagnostic test and perhaps qualify for treatment.
Our son’s life was changed after a week of outpatient treatment. Maybe your vet’s life can be changed, too.
