There are all kinds of story tellers in the world. The great ones tell their stories from the heart, they make them personal and meaningful. Marlene Rodriguez, the first woman to join the Military Order of the Purple Heart, has a story to tell—a story about perseverance and dedication. A story with a happy ending.
Marlene completed three combat duty deployments to Iraq as a heavy-wheeled vehicle operator. During her first deployment, the vehicle she was driving took a direct hit from an improvised explosive device (IED). She was knocked unconscious and suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Marlene’s passenger died and she struggled with survivor’s guilt. On her third deployment to Iraq, Marlene’s vehicle again took a direct hit by an IED. This time she was left with shrapnel wounds throughout her body and suffered another TBI, which left her with a severe seizure disorder. Marlene spent over two years in the hospital recovering from her injuries and trying to get her seizures under control. The seizure disorder has been very challenging for her, but she has learned that staying active and sticking to a healthy diet help. That’s the idea that ignited Marlene’s passion for helping other veterans through recreation.
Sentinels of Freedom (SOF) assisted Marlene while she faced the hardships of her transition, providing financial and personal support and mentoring. “Since being a part of SOF, I was able to study more and stay much more focused without worrying about how I’m going to get through the months financially. Thank you SOF for the opportunity and the support,” Marlene gratefully acknowledges.
She used her resources to overcome the memorization issues the TBI caused. Despite the odds stacked against her, she completed her associate’s degree from Northwest Vista College and has just recently completed her bachelor’s degree in recreational administration from Texas State University.
Congratulations Marlene. It is an honor to have been a part of your journey. Your SOF family is so very proud of you.
If you would like to help other severely wounded veteran’s like Marlene, please support their dreams and goals by making a donation through sentinelsoffreedom.org today.
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