Talk of The Towne Local Heroes

Former Army Staff Sergeant Jon Warren would like the average American to consider this: What if entire football teams were to kill themselves on a daily basis? “If the NFL was disappearing before their eyes, the American people would be in an uproar demanding a solution, but where is the uproar over the staggering loss of our veterans—our nations heroes?” asks Warren of the 22 veteran suicides currently occurring on a daily basis. Warren is painfully aware of the sometimes fatal mental and physical injuries of warfare. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, who survived five IED blasts that led to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), he struggled for years to find relief, including undergoing a wide variety of counseling and drug treatments. It wasn’t until Warren received the groundbreaking treatment, Magnetic Resonance Therapy (MRT), at the Brain Treatment Center, which has Orange County offices in Newport Beach and Mission Viejo, that he experienced a significant reduction in symptoms. Today Warren lives an active life that includes managing the Brain Treatment Center’s efforts to provide widespread access of MRT to veterans in need. The Brain Treatment Center is one of the organizations receiving funding from Infinite Hero Foundation, a Foothill Ranch based nonprofit organization focused on innovative programs and piloting new initiatives focused specifically on combat recovery. “Rather than putting a Band-Aid over a bullet hole, our focus is on getting to the root of the problem and healing folks,” says Infinite Hero’s Executive Director, Laurie Baker, who is the sole employee of the organization, which uses all proceeds to help fund combat victim treatments and relies heavily on volunteers and partnerships.

During this year’s Orange International Street Fair, The Pizza Press will contribute to Infinite Hero’s efforts by donating proceeds from sales made on the restaurant’s patio. “Part of The Pizza Press’s initiative is to raise money for worthy causes, so when I heard about Infinite Hero and the work they’ve been doing to help veterans, I thought that I absolutely wanted to support them,” says Dara Maleki, owner of The Pizza Press, located in the Plaza. “On a personal note, I’m 34 and a majority of my classmates served, including going to Fallujah right before 9/11,” says Maleki. “I saw some of them come back injured and suffer from PTSD and struggle to acclimate, while some didn’t return. I strongly believe in anything we can do to help them rebuild their lives.” Lives are being saved and transformed because of Infinite Hero, says Warren. “With MRT, we are miraculously able to watch PTSD/TBI symptoms dissipate as synchrony is restored in the brain. Infinite Hero’s mission is to provide veterans access to such innovative, healing technologies. Unfortunately, the public sector/ government/VA has not been effective in addressing the mental health needs of our veterans, and I believe the fastest way to heal America’s veterans will be through private funding, private technologies and private companies. “The VA simply has too much red tape to be able to provide any new and innovative treatments in the near future, and we don’t have the luxury of time to continue applying the same outdated theories and treatments when so many are dying. Infinite Hero is looking for treatments and technologies that are making a real difference in the lives of veterans and their families and then providing financial support to help make those treatments/technologies more readily accessible to veterans in need.” To support Infinite Hero, visit The Pizza Press at 155 N. Glassell during the Street Fair. For more information about Infinite Hero, visit www.infinitehero.org, and for more information about the Brain Treatment Center, visit www.braintreatmentcenter.com.