The Moonlight Fund
Survivors who have benefited from the Moonlight Fund
Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), home to the Army's premier burn unit, has treated nearly 1000 servicemen and women in San Antonio, Texas. Many of the Moonlight Funds contributions are used to help these individuals and their families.
The Moonlight Fund was thrilled with the opportunity to bring special guest, Spc. Robert "BJ" Jackson to attend our annual fundraising air show on October 23, 2003. BJ, member of the Iowa National Guard, was injured in Baghdad on August 7, 2003 when a vehicle he was driving struck a land mine and was then immediately hit by a rocket propelled grenade. On August 12th, BJ was transported from Germany to BAMC for additional treatment for severe burns and the loss of both legs below the knees. Amazingly, BJ began learning how to use new prosthetic legs in November 2003 and was snow skiing in December 2003.
BJ returned home and received his Purple Heart, the Congressional Medal of Honor, and is also in line to receive the Bronze star. He is certainly the definition of a true hero, survivor and inspiration to us all.
Cassandra Taylor
On August 12, 1998 Cassandra Taylor found out that life can be changed in an instant when she survived a plane crash and fiery explosion that ensued on impact. She sustained deep third degree burns to 73% of her body. She spent the next 73 days using the tenacity and fortitude that had brought her success as a single parent of 3 and a career in the legal field. She was transported to the burn unit at Brook Army Medical Center and found herself a civilian in a military facility. While her family and caregivers were expecting her death daily, she fought back and defied all odds. She underwent 32 surgeries in 73 days for skin grafts and to save her limbs. During her near death, she found solace in her deceased mother telling her she needed to return to raise her 3 children. This gave her the needed strength and courage to fight back and cheat death.
During her rehab process, she realized that her treatment in the burn unit had been innovative and very different in order to give her the best shot at a normal life as a single parent. Her scars haven’t really matured completely to this day, she was unable to wear compression garments that help most other burn patients, so she knew early on that she needed to do her research and homework beyond where she was. She also realized during this phase that her injuries were more than skin deep. She had sustained injuries to body, mind and spirit. She needed to heal in the same manner.
During the next 6 years, she searched and researched both western and eastern remedies to my health issues that she was left with after the burns. She has traveled all across this country and Canada searching for answers to her current issues. Her lymphatic system was badly damaged and left her with lymphadema that most western doctors didn’t recognize and also her high cortisol levels that have caused a myriad of issues to deal with. During her rehab in Austin, Texas in 2000 she met a physical, medicine and rehabilitation doctor while still trying to close my scars 2 years post burn. I felt a calling to help him realize his dream of bringing a great alternative to surgery for ligament repair to the world. I have blazed a trail in creating what I need in my personal and professional life to nurture me and continue to be productive. As a medical practice manager she can help many who have experienced traumatic events and have the physicological, emotional, physical and economic effects to deal with. In 6 short years in this career, she has risen to the top of her field culminating with her being named one of the top ten practice managers across the county for PAHCOM in 2005. This year she continued to create what she needed to educate and nuture her spirit in her career by founding the Austin Area Practice Management Association. A non-profit group for practice managers to receive continuing education and networking opportunities.
BJ is currently working as spokesman and Iowa
coordinator for the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, an
organization that helps severely wounded and disabled soldiers from
the Iraq and Afghan conflicts and their families.
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A truly blessed woman
with grace and gratitude for finding her purpose filled life. She
continues to support burn survivors in finding the way to become
empowered and look to the universe to live life to the fullest after
surviving the most devastating injury to the body, mind and
spirit. She loves sharing her experience and knowledge gathered from
both eastern and western medicine with others in order to heal to
her fullest potential. Why not embrace all of the avenues and
possibilities has been her motto!