New facility for wounded active-duty service members at Fort Carson
FORT CARSON, Colo., (KRDO) -- The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and Fort Carson's Evans Army Community Hospital have opened a new Intrepid Spirit Center at Fort Carson. The Intrepid Spirit Center will diagnose and treat traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress in regional active-duty service members.
Fort Carson’s new center, which cost approximately $13 million to construct, is equipped with the latest in brain technology and treatment facilities and spans 25,000 square feet. Funding for the project was raised privately through the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
The opening of a new center brings hope to thousands of wounded warriors working to back on their feet.
KRDO spoke with Lt. Colonel George Lambos on the importance of the center.
In 2019 he suffered an injury that led him on a thirteen-month recovery journey.
"So I realized I was getting better than I saw there was hope to get back to work and it was very inspiring," said Lambos.
During that time, he received care in Colorado Springs, but there wasn't a center.
"The TBI center has a great facility, they did a lot of work for me and they used to work out of trailers. And they were dedicated and focused," said Lambos. "Now, they have a wonderful place to treat soldiers."
Director of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, General Richard Cody says this facility was especially needed at Fort Carson.
"After 20 years of war, there is over 400,000 of our service men and women that have gone through concussive events. They are suffering from PTS or mild TBI and we created these centers to be able to attack and help them in rehabilitating mind body and spirit."
According to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, more than 90% of service members treated at the intrepid spirit centers can continue on active duty after being treated.
The facility is the ninth in a series of ten centers built by the IFHF and located at military bases around the country. IFHF is a non-profit organization and a national leader in the support of the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.
Currently, these centers operate at Fort Belvoir, VA; Camp Lejeune, NC; Fort Campbell, KY; Fort Hood, TX; Fort Bragg, NC; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA; Camp Pendleton, CA; and Eglin Air Force Base, FL.
