Home Depot co-founder SHARES a blank check for injured soldiers

I am a very proud sister of a soldier serving in the United States Army. My 26 year old brother, Nathan, decided to join the military right after we lost our 28 year old sister, Liz, to breast cancer. He wanted to use his life to make a difference, and in his short time enlisted he has excelled in all their physical demands and shown (to no surprise to his friends and family) to be a great leader. He is my baby brother and only sibling left, and I worry a great deal about the danger he may encounter while at war.

That is why I was so touched to hear of the limitless generosity of billionaire philanthropist, Bernie Marcus, who has agreed to fund the care, transportation and housing of any wounded soldier, sailor or Marine approved for treatment by the renowned brain and spinal injury clinic, the Shepherd Center. Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot, will start paying the bills and hopes others will join him and Humana Military Healthcare Services in their efforts through the SHARE initiative.

According to the Army, an estimated 10 to 20 percent of troops leaving Iraq have concussions or mild traumatic brain injury. The military health-care system is overwhelmed with these injuries and the damage often goes undiagnosed, says the CEO of Shepherd, Gary Ulicny. "The mild ones can be more deceiving than the serious ones — the guy looks fine and is walking around talking," he said. "He becomes overly emotional, becomes very impulsive and becomes frustrated easily and this makes it hard for him to hold a job."

The Shepherd Center, faced with loss of funding before Marcus stepped in, has specialized care the military doesn't. "We scan all [the wounded] for brain injuries and they are taken care of," Brig. Gen. Donald Bradshaw said. "It's not that the military can duplicate Shepherd. ... We don't have its expertise."

I feel grateful that my brother is healthy (and unharmed), but for those of you who are not so fortunate, I wish you and your families comfort and peace wherever you may find it.

For more information on the Shepherd Center, go to http://www.shepherd.org/.