In this powerful episode of Lived Experiences with Traumatic Brain Injury, host Melaney Grenz welcomes retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Victor Medina and his wife, Roxana Delgado, PhD—co-founders of the TBI Warrior® Foundation. Together, they share an inspiring story of resilience, transformation, and unwavering commitment to serving others impacted by brain injury. Victor recounts the life-altering moment during his third combat tour in Iraq when he sustained a moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) on June 29, 2009. A Purple Heart recipient, Victor describes the physical and emotional challenges of recovery, including years of rehabilitation and the difficult decisions that reshaped his life. With determination, he became a rehabilitation counselor and dedicated his life to helping others navigate similar paths. Roxana Delgado, PhD shares her unique journey from professional researcher to include national advocate. As a health scientist and epidemiologist, Roxanna has led critical research on military families and veterans, bringing awareness to the psychosocial impacts of injury and the systemic gaps in support. Her lived experience as Victor’s wife informs her groundbreaking work, especially in developing the Military and Veteran Research Portfolio.

The couple also discusses the founding of the TBI Warrior® Foundation, a nonprofit based in Boerne, Texas, that provides rehabilitation counseling, access to care, and caregiver support—not just for veterans, but for anyone affected by brain injury. Their mission is driven by faith, family, and a commitment to community service. Listeners will learn about the foundation’s outreach efforts, including veteran-specific and community-wide support groups, educational webinars like their recent “Thinking, Thriving, and Well-Being” event, and their vision for expanding advocacy and policy change around TBI. "While TBI is prevalent, it’s also a very underserved community," Victor notes. Together, he and Roxanna are determined to change that. Tune in for a story of love, sacrifice, and hope—and find out how you can support their mission at tbiwarriorfoundation.org.

Podcast Transcript