Traumatic brain injury treatment center opens on Camp Lejeune

CAMP LEJEUNEAn $11 million facility for treating traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress opened on Camp Lejeune Wednesday, and its been a long-awaited moment for Marines and sailors there.

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund funded the project, and they cut the ribbon on the satellite center at Lejeune.

They are truly forging a path forward, in comprehensive and holistic care and research to benefit our service members [and] benefit their families, Brigadier Gen. Robert Castellvi, commanding general of all Marine Corps installations on the East Coast, said. And not just for now, but for the generations to come.

The center will treat more than 1,000 service members like Lance Cpl. Kyle Jastren, who suffered a TBI last December.

It destroyed my life, Jastren said. You know, divorce, work issues, problems with being able to do things that I love to do. You know, go out and go shooting, go out and go hiking, go mountain biking, go running with my dog.

Its stories like Jastrens that made Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund chairman Arnold Fischer want to build the facilityand eight others like itin the first place.

You need this at every major base, Fischer said. So that when [service members] come back to their unit, to their families, and thats where you need to help them right away.

Since the center on Lejeune unofficially opened its doors six weeks ago, Jastren said hes already made tremendous improvement.

The progress Ive made thus far has been exponential, Jastren said. And I dont think without the center, I would be even close to the point that Im at.

He said he hopes that dedication to wounded, ill and injured service members like him will continue for years to come.

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Traumatic brain injury treatment center opens on Camp Lejeune