After being medically discharged from the army Kes Bradley felt lonely and that nobody cared. Thanks to Help For Heroes she is retraining to treat other injured army personnel in Glasgow
A former army medic, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after seeing the horrific injuries of fellow soldiers in Afghanistan, has told how a charity has helped her get her life back on track.
Kes Bradley, who grew up in Kendal, Cumbria, but now lives in Glasgow, completed two tours of Afghanistan in 2007 and 2011 but on her return, found herself faced with the symptoms of PTSD.
She was medically discharged in December, 2013 and credits Help for Heroes for giving back her independence through funding to start a new career and move house.
It was not just the relocation Help For Heroes helped with but they also provided me with carpets, a new oven, curtains and white goods through the British Legion,
Kes Bradley
“I always knew about Help for Heroes but I did not know how they could help me,” she said. “They are like a massive umbrella for other charities too. Through Help for Heroes, I was then helped by SSAFA and Combat Stress.”
Kes, 43, joined the Royal Army Medical Corp in 1996, initially as a combat medical technician, and later qualified as an Operating Department Practitioner, running surgical units.
During her second tour of Afghanistan she was part of the medical emergency response team (MERT), travelling by helicopter to the battlefield, collecting casualties and providing lifesaving first aid.
She was awarded the British Forces Foundation Morale Awards Unsung Hero award as a result of the care she gave to wounded soldiers both in Afghanistan and later when she was posted to the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine in Birmingham.
Following medical discharge and with little idea of a second career, it wasn’t until Kes contacted Help for Heroes and visited the charity’s northern Recovery Centre Phoenix House in Catterick, that she found a new lease of life.
There she took part in a variety of activities, such as horse-riding, archery, country walks, art, wood work and guitar lessons.
She also enrolled on the charity’s Pathfinder Course and became interested in Swedish massage as well as vehicle mechanics.
Kes has since moved to Glasgow, with the help of funding from Help For Heroes, and is now focusing on Swedish massage as a career while the mechanics has become a much-loved hobby.
She is currently working in a private hospital in the city while she trains in her new career at The Western School of Ayrshire through Glasgow Caledonian University – which the charity provided grant funding for.
She said: “I had moved in with my mum in Kendal but I felt I needed to stand on my own two feet,” she said.
“I moved to Glasgow, where I have family ties, and am living in a veteran's flat, which is great.
“It was not just the relocation H4H helped with but they also provided me with carpets, a new oven, curtains and white goods through the British Legion, after my key worker at Phoenix House put in a case for me. It meant I got in my flat and everything was ready.”
“I have a lot to learn [on the course] but it’s really fun. The whole idea came about because I wanted to work in a place that was calm and relaxed without any triggers for my PTSD. “Now I hope to use my qualification to provide massage therapy to soldiers to help them relax like it did for me.”
Kes says she feels very lucky to have found support through Help for Heroes and through the charity’s Band of Brothers network, which provides life-long support to those with a career limiting/ending injury or illness attributable to service.
She added: “The fact they are there for life is very comforting. Since I moved to Glasgow, I have been to several Band of Brothers coffee mornings in Scotland and it’s great to meet fellow veterans living in my area.
“To know Help for Heroes is there to help you is a humbling feeling.
“Just knowing they are there makes me feel warm inside. Every time I think of Help for Heroes, I think of happy, smiley faces and they just drop everything to help you.”
Bryn Parry, chief executive and co-founder of Help for Heroes, said: “At Help for Heroes, we understand that no recovery journey follows the same path which is why it so important that a holistic, individual approach to support is available.
“To hear that Kes has received support from our grant giving services, recovery centres, Band of Brothers fellowship network and Career Recovery Services is simply fantastic.
“We are excited to follow Kes’ progress with her course and are committed to supporting her, and all those who have been injured in the line of duty, for life.”
The nearest Help for Heroes Recovery Centre to Scotland is Phoenix House. Anyone who served in the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Royal Air Force who needs the support of Help for Heroes Phoenix House Recovery Centre in Catterick can self-refer by calling 01748 834148.
To find out how Help for Heroes can support you and your family visit the charity's website.
