Wall Street Journal Veteran PTSD War Torn_00005
DALLAS, TX - DECEMBER 12: Katie Brickman, 23, walks with Ian Welch, 28, in the Dallas, TX, VA Hospital following his appointment, on Monday, December 12, 2011. Ms. Brickman is the girlfriend of Mr. Welch, a United States Marine Corps. Veteran. She is also Mr. Welch's caregiver through the Department of Veterans Affairs Caregiver Support Program. The two moved to Dallas in November 2011 because they felt that the VA Hospital in Dallas could provide more affective care for Ian than they had experienced in Cleveland. Mr. Welch suffers from PTSD and a traumatic brain injury that he received while in combat in Iraq during his first tour of duty in 2003. As caregiver Ms. Brickman holds the role of daily support for Ian, whom is considered 100% disabled. She keeps him on daily tasks, like medication reminders, or whether he has brushed his teeth, or eaten, as well as arranges his appointments with the VA.