Military mom, son advocate for mental health in story of faith and hope
Never underestimate the power of a mother’s love.
“If not for my mother, I would probably be dead, in jail or on the street somewhere homeless,” said U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jerome Brown, who spoke to the Jacksonville Breakfast Rotary Club on Friday.
His mother is Million Heir-Williams, a former Onslow County Commissioner and the author of Military Mom on a Mission: An Advocate for Mental Health, a book inspired by the experience of helping her son through his bout with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a nine-month deployment to Iraq.
“We went through a lot of hell,” Heir-Williams said, who joined Brown in Jacksonville last week to speak about the book.
Six weeks after Brown's discharge from the military, he suffered a complete mental breakdown and was diagnosed with PTSD, severe psychosis, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
“I don’t think anyone who goes to war is the same person when they come back,” said Brown, who recalled erratic behavior post-deployment and bizarre, irrational thoughts.
In time, through trials and tribulations, treatments and therapies, he was able to regain vitality.
“It’s been a long road from where I was to where I am now,” Brown said. “I have more clarity and I am able to think through things. I am a changed, renewed person.”
Military Mom on a Mission is a story of hope.
“This book is also a self-help book, a guide to those that are dealing with or are going into the military, because they need to be better prepared,” Heir-Williams said. “The families need to be better prepared that when your loved one leaves, they may not come back the same person.”
Brown, 41, says the focal point has always been God.
“I think my sole purpose in life is first to serve God,” Brown said, “Second is to give the information or knowledge I know to help somebody else out.”
His mother says seeking immediate help and being able to effectively communicate with her son were keys in his recovery.
It also took a lot of persistence, faith and courage.
“Everyone does not have my fortitude and resilience,” Heir-Williams said. “That’s why I’m here to be a voice for those that don’t carry the resilience that I have.”
Brown is now a certified peer support specialist and hopes to one day work for the Veterans Administration.
“The deep bond and rooted connection that I have with my mother is one of the reasons I am the man I am today,” Brown said. jdnews.com/…ry-mom-and-son-share-story-ptsd-battle/5091322001/
“If not for my mother, I would probably be dead, in jail or on the street somewhere homeless,” said U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jerome Brown, who spoke to the Jacksonville Breakfast Rotary Club on Friday.
His mother is Million Heir-Williams, a former Onslow County Commissioner and the author of Military Mom on a Mission: An Advocate for Mental Health, a book inspired by the experience of helping her son through his bout with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a nine-month deployment to Iraq.
“We went through a lot of hell,” Heir-Williams said, who joined Brown in Jacksonville last week to speak about the book.
Six weeks after Brown's discharge from the military, he suffered a complete mental breakdown and was diagnosed with PTSD, severe psychosis, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
“I don’t think anyone who goes to war is the same person when they come back,” said Brown, who recalled erratic behavior post-deployment and bizarre, irrational thoughts.
In time, through trials and tribulations, treatments and therapies, he was able to regain vitality.
“It’s been a long road from where I was to where I am now,” Brown said. “I have more clarity and I am able to think through things. I am a changed, renewed person.”
Military Mom on a Mission is a story of hope.
“This book is also a self-help book, a guide to those that are dealing with or are going into the military, because they need to be better prepared,” Heir-Williams said. “The families need to be better prepared that when your loved one leaves, they may not come back the same person.”
Brown, 41, says the focal point has always been God.
“I think my sole purpose in life is first to serve God,” Brown said, “Second is to give the information or knowledge I know to help somebody else out.”
His mother says seeking immediate help and being able to effectively communicate with her son were keys in his recovery.
It also took a lot of persistence, faith and courage.
“Everyone does not have my fortitude and resilience,” Heir-Williams said. “That’s why I’m here to be a voice for those that don’t carry the resilience that I have.”
Brown is now a certified peer support specialist and hopes to one day work for the Veterans Administration.
“The deep bond and rooted connection that I have with my mother is one of the reasons I am the man I am today,” Brown said. jdnews.com/…ry-mom-and-son-share-story-ptsd-battle/5091322001/