Iraq vet: 'My brain will not let go'

[Kadie]

Iraq vet: 'My brain will not let go'
POSTED: 5:32 p.m. EDT, May 25, 2007

Story Highlights
• A year after homecoming, young soldier still fighting war in his nightmares
• Bomb survivor Jefferson diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder
• He describes haunting nightmares about blast and feeling helpless
• Jefferson's also struggling for a $50,000 military insurance payment

By Thom Patterson
CNN

CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee (CNN) -- A year after coming home from Iraq, AJ Jefferson is still fighting the war in eerie nightmares about the bomb that left him and two comrades seriously wounded.

"I've been told it's normal," the Army specialist said with a smile, "considering what I've gone through."

The 21-year-old soldier has been diagnosed by doctors with several ailments blamed on the attack, including severe post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. He's also been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, or TBI, which often is accompanied by forgetfulness and restless sleep.

"I have the dreams every night," said Jefferson, who also suffered severe leg wounds that left him unable to run or stand for long periods. "There are nights when I can't sleep because all I'm thinking about is just re-enacting what happened in my head. My brain will not let go of it."

more...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/18/soldier.nightmares/index.html

[flyarm]

1. BUT DON'T WORRY BUSH HAS NO NIGHTMARES!! HE WAS A DESERTER!! EOM