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Rev. Clyde Silver 68 ADR 3 United States Navy
Buffalo, NY Spain
I was particularly happy to read in "Parade" magazine about the newer position on recovery from TBI, "Can Brains Be Saved?", by Lee Woodruff. To see the progress of her husband, Bob, after his trauma, and others regaining abilities after TBI, was indeed encouraging.
As a former Chaplain at the City Mission in Buffalo, I had met many who had suffered damage to their brains from alcohol and drugs, and those who were mentally traumatized from various experiences of life, including war. A number of these, with persistent encouragement to right thinking, made significant improvement towards normalcy.
One with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from the Viet Nam War, was able to reckon with the events causing that stress, making recovery and an effective life possible. He became a leader among the men.
One day, another potential resident in our program, who had lost memory capability due to Substance Abuse, demonstrated capacity in a private quiz. I had asked the class to memorize the names of the first five books of the Bible, which this man, repeatedly could not do.
Having studied Pre-med Biology, and believing that the brain could adjust from injury, I had given this man repeated opportunities to cite this information from memory. I considered that with patient and caring encouragement that improvement in his ability could be made. I asked this man one day if he could give me two of the five names. To both his and my surprise, he rattled off perfectly all five names.
After that, his mental capacity continued to demonstrate this renewed ability, bringing him a great joy in his life.
These and other instances among troubled men and women, gave me hope that many could be helped, with the right care and encouragement.
