The Hill family home was a mile from a rock quarry and about 100 meters from railroad tracks.
For most people, it's an annoyance. For Allen Hill, an Iraq war veteran diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress disorder, the blasts represent incoming mortars and the loud noises and vibrations are interpreted as danger.
These environmental triggers would send him running into the middle of the street completely unresponsive to anything outside of his head or cause him to duck in a corner taking cover for hours. Fifteen times in a span of two years his wife, Gina, called 911 for assistance.
Yet, Allen was not considered injured severely enough to qualify for much of the assistance available to the more physically injured military personnel and veterans.
Gina has done her part, fighting the system hard not just for Allen's sake but for all his peers, winning over military leadership, testifying on Capitol Hill and using media platforms, including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," though she noted much work remains. She does not share her story for sympathy but instead to help people understand that post traumatic stress is real and affects the entire family.
"Allen and I know that if we want things to change, we have to lead it," she said at the "Erase the Stigma of Mental Illness" conference at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Ill., Aug. 27. "We hope that by sharing our personal struggles and accomplishments, we will shed some light on things that need to be fixed and share the blessings we have received that others may not know about. And, more importantly we hopefully can make things better for those who follow."
Gina noted that she has not been alone in her struggles. She pointed to organizations such as the Army Wounded Warrior Program. Her sister has spent her vacations and many weekends at her home, giving her a respite; her parents have always been there to help; friends and other family have pitched in; and her church has helped as well. The church reserved a back pew for the Hill family, ensuring that no one is behind Allen, which would intimidate him, and educates members on his needs such as only giving him a hug if he initiates it.
Congregations can do much to educate themselves and others about post traumatic stress as well as other mental illnesses, Gina said, noting that her church took part in a walk for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. "Take the time to meet the (returning injured military) families in your church community, welcome them and let them know you appreciate them," she said. Friends also can initiate phone contact, send cards and make specific offers of help such as "I'll cut your grass on Tuesday."
Sometimes, Gina noted, returning military are reluctant to get help on their own. Some end up in jail, homeless or dead. The wife of the now-retired Army staff sergeant urged people to take on the role of caregiver. Be advocates, she added.
"I learned not to take no for an answer and always feel there is hope.You have to be able to speak for them when they can't speak for themselves. You have to pick them up when they're falling ... be a cheerleader and put them in the fast lane again."
Her faith has been a huge factor. In her talk, which was similar to what she said on Capitol Hill, Gina remarked that "we simply put our faith in God and in our belief that He will provide."
In an answer to a question, she said: "God didn't save him so he'd have a shell of a life. God has a plan for him."
The Hills have been on a long road since the day before Thanksgiving 2007 when Allen, on his second tour of duty in Iraq, was in a Humvee in the front of a convoy that was hit by a roadside bomb. The man who was known as the "neighborhood welcome wagon" had physical wounds that landed him in Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and a diagnosis of post traumatic stress, which is typically called a disorder but Gina and others say should be termed an injury.
The impact on the family, including his children -- now 8 and 15 -- was immediate. The youngest, then 4, sensing that his dad had trouble with long hallways, grabbed his father's hand and said, "Don't worry daddy ..."
"My children are caregivers first, and kids second," Gina said, explaining how things quickly get chaotic sometimes. Their father sacrificed for the country, and his children have as well. "They served and continue to every day," Gina said.
After her husband's suicide attempt, Gina fought hard to get help and coverage for his treatment. Finally, he was admitted into an inpatient treatment facility called The Pathway Home in California. The family was forced to look for a new place to live because of the noises around their home, and fortunately had come to the attention of the TV show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," which built a house fitting Allen's needs.
Another blessing came from an organization called Puppies Behind Bars, which provided Allen with a service dog, Frankie, trained to bring him back from his dissociations. What used to end up in a 911 call now ends with him coming back to reality with Frankie kissing his face. The dog was trained by prison inmates in New York who are incarcerated for serious crimes. "I see similarities between Allen and the inmates," Gina said. "It taught me that everybody deserves a second chance."
Tom Smith of the Karla Smith Foundation, which sponsored the conference along with the Office of Apostolic Services of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and others, said the shrine is a perfect place for the conference because of its mission. "A quick glance at the Gospel shows a Jesus of compassion, outreach and healing," Smith said.
Resources of help
• The Mission Continues challenges post-9-11 wounded and disabled veterans to serve once again in their communities through a fellowship program. Call (314) 588-8805 or see missioncontinues.org.
• Yellowribbon.com provides a variety of sites to learn about post traumatic stress disorder and other veterans’ issues. See yellowribbon.com.
• Give an Hour program of the American Psychiatric Foundation provides complimentary and confidential mental health counseling to returning troops and their loved ones. See giveanhour.org.
• Karla Smith Foundation serves family members and friends of those affected by mental illness and suicide with support groups and other programs. Call (618) 624-5771 or see karasmithfoundation.org.
• Puppies Behind Bars trains inmates to raise puppies to become service dogs. See puppiesbehindbars.com.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness offers education and support. Call (314) 962-4670 or see nami.org.
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