Trauma-informed relationships matter most when everything falls apart. In this episode, Joan shares how a traumatic brain injury reshaped her marriage, their finances, and the entire path to rebuilding stability.

In this powerful continuation of Joan VandeGreig's story, you'll learn: • What really happens inside a police family when a head injury goes undiagnosed for months • How chronic pain, confusion, and cumulative trauma strain a marriage • The financial reality behind workers' comp denials and stalled disability claims • Why police disability retirement is rarely straightforward • How Joan pieced together income, benefits, and resources to protect her family • What every law enforcement spouse should understand before a crisis hits

I'm Cyndi Doyle, licensed professional counselor supervisor, founder of Code4Couples®, and author of Hold the Line. I help law enforcement couples stay connected and resilient through the unique stressors of the job.

📘 Get the Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews

🎤 Book Cyndi for department trainings, spouse events, or keynotes: https://code4couples.com/training/

00:00 Why Joan's story matters for police families 01:00 When the injury changed everything 03:00 The long road to seizure awareness and medical clarity 04:30 Early signs, confusion, and emotional strain 06:00 The hidden financial dangers no one prepares you for 08:00 Workers' comp denials and delayed diagnoses 10:00 Mounting credit card debt and survival mode 12:00 Fit-for-duty complications 14:30 When the system doesn't talk to itself 16:00 Marriage impact: chronic pain and daily episodes 18:00 The medical maze of treatments, meds, and specialists 21:00 Rebuilding income after forced early retirement 24:00 The turning point: new diagnoses, new barriers 28:00 "Your brain is worth $45,000?" 30:00 The fight for disability, retirement, and benefits 33:00 What finally worked — and why 36:00 Living benefits, policies, and long-term planning 39:00 The PSOB journey and what families must know 42:00 The TLC Method explained 45:00 How Fetch Your Wealth helps first responder families 48:00 Final thoughts and resources for police couples