Healing After Combat

A twice weekly internet radio show is but one part of a website set up by a Daphne veteran’s wife to help other families cope with life after combat.

“A family adapts and they grow together and they grow together and they figure it out but I think the coping process has to be ongoing,” says President and founder of familyofavet.com Brannan Vines.  She started the site four years ago when her husband returned from two tours in Iraq.  Caleb Vines had a number of close calls and was not only physically injured, but mentally was a different person--dealing with post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

“It was like living with this whole new person I didn't understand why or what was going on,” says Brannan.  She started the site trying to learn more about how to cope and keep her family together.  From there she developed a support network of other veteran families.  Brannan says she took one piece of advice close to heart.

“This is either going to kill you, or your going to reach out and help others and by doing that your going to heal yourself,” says Brannan.  She says she's used the site to find help for her family and others.

“Loving and caring for our heroes that have served has got to be about educating ourselves about the best way to help them and relate to them and encourage them to live the best life possible,” says Brannan.  Vines says the site has volunteers in 36 states and three different countries.