Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans with traumatic brain injuries can
receive free, comprehensive rehabilitation in Grand Rapids through a
program funded by the Department of Defense.
Officials from Grand Valley State University and Mary Free Bed
Rehabilitation Hospital discussed details of the Wounded Warriors
Traumatic Brain Injury Project (WWTBIP) at a news conference November
9 at the hospital. They were joined by U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers, who was
key to securing the $1.279 million grant from the U.S. Department of
Defense that will fund the project.
Ehlers, who will retire after serving Michigan for 17 years in
Washington, said he was pleased that he could get funding for the
project. "It's really the least we can do for our soldiers,"
he said.
The WWTBIP offers opportunities for standard physical and
psychological care, and community support to veterans who sustained
traumatic brain injuries while they were deployed in either
Afghanistan or Iraq. Jean Nagelkerk, principal investigator and vice
provost for health at Grand Valley, said the idea behind this project
came from area families with loved ones who received a traumatic brain
injury. "We are so excited to be able to provide care and
rehabilitation services to wounded warriors and help reintegrate them
into society to lead productive lives," Nagelkerk said.
Grand Valley faculty members from the Kirkhof College of Nursing
and College of Health Professions will help develop the educational
program to enhance the knowledge base of Mary Free Bed staff members
who will be directly involved with the veterans.
Dr. Jacobus Donders, co-investigator and chief psychologist at
Mary Free Bed, said the services through WWTBIP will not duplicate
those veterans already receive through veterans hospitals or clinics,
but the WWTBIP project will deliver enhanced services such as driver
rehabilitation, on-site job evaluation and coaching, and group and
family support.
Grand Valley President Thomas J. Haas said announcing the program
so close to Veterans Day was appropriate; he also called the men and
women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan “the next greatest generation.”
Those service members include Haas’ two sons and daughter.
The program is open for enrollment. For more information about
the WWTBIP, call (888) 736-0208 or visit www.maryfreebed.com/woundedwarriors.
