Five years ago today my life was changed in a major way. I was injured in Mosul, Iraq when an improvised explosive device (IED) sent shrapnel into my brain. Throughout the last five years, things could have gone one way or the other, from possibly not living through the initial blast to not ever becoming a functioning member of society. It has been a long tough fight and it has never been easy. I have fought every step of the way, sometimes fighting myself and loved ones along the way. I did survive and became not only a fully functioning member of society, but a member of society that believes that one vote can make a difference.
I was not very political before my injury and never even really voted. I was frequently deployed and never had any politicians speak to me about what I cared about. And I never thought that I could change anything by voting.
I was in Walter Reed before it became a national story. I saw the horrible treatment firsthand. I saw soldiers getting lost in the shuffle, inundated with paperwork and excuses from the military. I found myself in the same situation and I was unhappy. I vowed to myself that if I could find a way, I would make sure that it never happened again, to anyone.
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