It Transforms All of You: Lived Experiences of Partners of Iraq Combat Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injuries

摘要: Dissertation Abstract Just over two million service men and women have been deployed to the wars in Iraq Afghanistan past ten years. Conservative estimates suggest that nearly one fifth of those sustain a blast induced mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). Nearly half are married, meaning large number spouses unexpectedly find themselves navigating “new normal” after their partner returns from combat with ongoing sequelae TBI. Ultimately, sizeable veterans TBIs found role caregiver. The majority them were unprepared take on role. They had limited resources assist understanding guide through process obtaining quality health care for veteran themselves. purpose this study was describe lived experience wives Iraqi such appropriate interventions may be crafted support A phenomenological approach used interview seven who TBI military Operation Freedom. purposeful, snowball, networking technique identify participants met single researcher face-to-face lasting between 30 90 minutes. narratives analyzed units subsequently five figural themes identified: Change Difference, Making Sense, Redefinition, Alone, Commitment-Perseverance. contextual ground Shifting Sands. predominant experiences took place against existential element Others.