In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing Book

Simply stated, it is a miracle that Bob Woodruff survived a blast from an IED (improvised explosive device) in Iraq. His level of recovery has been remarkable.

Working in rehabilitation, I was mainly interested in the experience they had while recovering from his TBI. I expected the book to be more of that. The story of recovery weaves in and out with the personal history of Bob and Lee (his wife), his career, and other significant events.

Mr. Woodruff had to overcome serious physical and cognitive challenges. Finding the right words was often a challenge. My favorite examples of this was how he would call pajamas "sleep puffers" and when describing a family friend who had breast implants done, he said, "she had a breast explosion". He has recovered to the point he can look back on that with humor. Many families are not so "lucky".

Sadly, thanks to this lovely war in Iraq, too many soldiers are coming home with brain injuries and, more sadly, are not receiving the care and rehabilitation they need.

From the book:
...many soldiers' injuries have gone undiagnosed. Men and women who have been near a blast are also at risk. The concussive effects are damaging... these people were sent back to the battlefield-unsure of why they couldn't think straight or why their judgement was off... Each of these injured soldiers needs professional cognitive rehabilitation to help connect those neurons... Traumatic brain injury will be a tragic and desperate legacy of the Iraq War here at home."

I hate for anyone to go through the trauma the Woodruff family has endured. On the plus side, Bob has recovered to the point he can shed some light on TBI and the soldiers who are our walking wounded.

www.bobwoodrufffamilyfund.org
www.biausa.org