My name is Ron Grigsby and I am a traumatic brain injury survivor. I am actively involved with the Brain Injury Association of Washington’s Spokane chapter, as well as a member of the NIBIF.
On March 21, 2007, while working as an independent contractor for Blackwater in the Middle East, the convoy I was riding in was hit. The contact threw me more than 40 feet, with an impact estimated at 13 g. My helmet was caved in 1½” and was found several feet away. I was LifeFlighted to Germany, and then spent months in hospitals in Idaho and Washington. The injury resulted in a devastating traumatic brain injury (TBI) and broken neck.
Family, friends, good doctors, support groups, training and the strength to drive on have made this tough journey to recovery a much easier path. After many diffcult months of recovery, I
am proud—and lucky—to be working again.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and TBI are life-altering conditions that greatly impact our military and frst responders, as well as our communities. Throughout my lifetime, I have overcome many obstacles and have surely beaten the odds. It is our goal now to educate society on the effects of TBI and PTSD.
With knowledge and discussion, we can begin to help our survivors rebuild their lives.