Meet Joel

Three years ago, Joel Hunt became a soldier and went to Iraq soon after completing basic training. He made powerful friendships, survived fierce combat, and sustained blast injuries to his brain. He didn't see the signs of any problems after his first tour, or his second tour, and he did not want to see it after his third tour. But exposure to blast injuries finally took its toll.

Philosophical about his traumatic brain injury (TBI), Joel has a message for his buddies: "I want to tell soldiers who are fighting now that they should be honest when answering questions on the TBI assessment. It's important to start getting help. I didn't get help until a year and a half after I returned home."

Joel is one of the first Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) soldiers to take advantage of a new TBI program for veterans, called Colorado Connections, offered through Denver Options. An anonymous donor earmarked funding to support veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF) conflicts who have returned with traumatic brain injury. He approached Denver Options to oversee the program because of their experience providing case management to people with brain injuries. Reporter Bob Woodward brought the high rate of TBI to the public's attention last year. Many soldiers who experience a TBI also have significant post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

"It's difficult for veterans to find the community resources they need to make a successful transition back to civilian life," said Jennifer Anderson, a Colorado Connection Manager. "We work with the Veterans Administration, the Department of Defense, and community veterans service organizations to help soldiers find the services they need to reach optimum health. We help them set and achieve goals as they create life beyond their service years."

Fredia Johnson provides care coordination for Joel. A veteran herself, she knows the road back isn't always easy. "Joel is setting some clear goals and has begun to work on them. One of the neat goals Joel has for himself is to be able to again go country line-dancing." Fredia encourages Joel to stick with the different therapies and instructions he receives from the VA that will help him reach his goals. Fredia has helped Joel complete countless applications for services throughout the nation and locally. They are working together to raise the quality of life Joel will access in the future. Fredia has assisted Joel with finding needed information on his finances, household budget, victims' services, and other necessary resources. Joel values Fredia's willingness to listen to him.

Joel is moving forward. He helped one of his buddies identify a TBI and get help from Denver Options. He's working on balance problems, putting time into therapy every day. Joel has high praise for the care he's received both through the Veterans Administration and Denver Options. He said his Veterans Administrations advocate, Tommy Murphy, made a real difference in his life. Joel smiles when he talks about how much Fredia's support has meant to his recovery. "Once I found Frieda, things started looking up. I can talk with her when I need to just process–even when things are tough. How does that song go? ‘Amazing Grace'? When I think of Fredia, I think of that line from ‘Amazing Grace' that says ‘I was lost but now I'm found.'"

Joel is making progress in every aspect of the healing process. Increasingly, he is able to put the difficult memories of the war behind him. He can take his dog, Cowboy, for a walk with his new cane, which also offers him a seat if he gets too tired. And he hopes to be driving again within a year. Joel turned 30 this summer, and he knows the future holds promise with all the support he is receiving; he can see new opportunities opening up every day.

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Read about Joel's journey to become a Paralympic skiier!

See the tribute page that was created in honor of Joel.