Part 1: Situation Definition
The lecture with Kimberly Dozier was a great experience. Dozier was covering the war in Iraq from 2003 until 2006 until she was injured in a car tragic bombing. Dozier underwent more than two dozen major surgeries in the two months. She had to have Doctors removed shrapnel, fragments of a bomb, shell, or other object thrown out by an explosion, from her head. They had to rebuild her femurs because they were shattered, and they had to apply skin grafts, skin transplantation, to extensive burns on both legs. Kimberly was not able to speak. She was on a respirator, a device designed to protect the wearer from inhaling harmful gases. However, she was able to write to communicate. On June 7, 2006, she returned to the United States for further treatment.
Part 2: Analysis
When speaking, Kimberly mentioned how difficult it was trying to cover a news story in a very dangerous place, like Iraq. The reporting industry itself can be very dangerous and challenging at times. Reporters go places that they’ve never been to; put themselves in several dangerous situations, and like Kimberly, sometimes even risk their own life just to find news. No matter what you do, where you go, and who you have with you, you never know what can happen. This wasn’t planned and obviously Kim had no idea anything like this would have happened. I am sure that she was aware that at any point in time something tragic could occur but after being there for three years she wasn’t expecting this. The day before Kimberly even told herself that she was “safe” there.
The incident that happened to Kimberly was definitely life changing. Physically, mentally, and emotionally things changed so drastically. Shortly after the tragedy, Dozier was diagnosed with PTSD. It is always natural to feel afraid and have a “flight or fight” response when you feel afraid. However, due to post traumatic stress disorder, she felt threatened, stressed, or frightened even when she wasn’t in danger anymore.
“Images of them repeatedly hit me, and each time my mind said no…” Like any other person who has witnessed or experienced anything similar or like this, Kimberly had nightmares and kept having flashbacks about what had occurred which were some of the many symptoms that PSTD can have on people. Fortunately, she was able to overcome her PSTD.
About 3.6 percent of United States adults aged 18-54 (52 million people) have PTSD during the course of a given year. Kimberly began writing to communicate how she felt before she could speak again, and when she was able to speak, she started talking to people about the situation. You cannot escape you emotions completely. Not speaking about it or getting some type of help for problems will only be harmful to you, the people you’re around, how you act and function, and how you live your life. Kimberly, like many with PTSD, was able to overcome.
Part 3: Conclusion
Being a journalist isn’t easy. The more you know and learn about the field, however, can make it easier. Having Kimberly come in to speak was very useful. Her story opened my eyes up about the journalism field, made me more interested what can occur in the field, and it showed how dedicated one should be into the field. It was a pleasure to hear that even after such a tragedy, she got back up on her feet, she didn’t let what the doctors say define her, overcame many obstacles like having PTSD, and she went back to what she had such a passion for. That is something that I admire her for. It was an honor to have her speak.
Part 4: References
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml