Brandon Bates served honorably in the Missouri National Guard as a Military Police officer, dedicating himself to protecting and serving both at home and abroad. His military journey began at a young age, as he enlisted at 18, eager to contribute to his community and country. However, the experiences he endured during his service have left him with lasting scars, both visible and invisible.

During his time in the Missouri National Guard, he responded to critical states of emergency, including a severe snowstorm in Lebanon, Missouri and the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In Baton Rouge, while distributing essential supplies, his unit came under fire, and he suffered a severe heat casualty due to dehydration. These events tested his resilience and marked the beginning of the challenges he would face.

In 2009, he was deployed to Afghanistan, where he was assigned to the Bagram Theater Internment Facility, a detainee prison. At just 18-19 years old, he was thrust into an environment of high stress, constant vigilance, and moral complexity. The trauma he experienced during this deployment has had a profound and lasting impact on his mental health.

Since returning home, he has struggled with severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a range of debilitating symptoms, including:

Chronic anxiety and near-continuous panic attacks

Persistent depression and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances

Impaired impulse control and unprovoked irritability

Occupational and social impairment, making it difficult to maintain relationships or employment

Sleep disturbances and near-continuous depression that affect his ability to function independently

These challenges have made it nearly impossible to reintegrate into civilian life, and he has been diagnosed with multiple service-connected conditions that severely impact his daily functioning. Despite his efforts to seek treatment, traditional therapies have provided limited relief.

We are now seeking funding for Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT), a promising therapy that has shown potential in alleviating symptoms of PTSD by promoting healing at the cellular level. This treatment offers hope for improving his quality of life and allowing him to regain some semblance of normalcy.

His service to his country came at a great personal cost, but he remains committed to finding a path forward. With your support, he can access the treatment he needs to heal and honor the sacrifices he made during his time in uniform. Thank you for considering his story and for helping him take this critical step toward recovery.