student highlight: Lelia restivo
VPF Executive Director Kelli Campbell-Goodnow met with Valor Scholar Lelia Restivo during a recent visit to MTSU. Also pictured are Dr. Hilary Miller and Lori Ogden.
Lelia’s Story:
In December of 2012, Lelia Restivo received an abrupt call informing her that her husband, Army E4 Scott Restivo, had been injured in Afghanistan and would be med-evacuated home from deployment. Little did she know how that phone call would forever change their lives. Scott joined the Army in 2006 and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan three times over the next eight years. During this last deployment, Scott’s guard tower was rocketed, causing a traumatic brain injury (TBI), resulting in ongoing seizures and PTSD. The blast also caused a rod that had been previously placed in Scott’s leg after a fracture sustained in combat training to dislodge into his knee. Despite these injuries, Scott was honorably discharged rather than medically retired or med-boarded, which adversely affected the level of care his family would later receive. The damaged rod in his leg eventually had to be surgically removed but became infected, eventually leading to the loss of his limb above the knee.
Two weeks after Scott came home from his first deployment in 2008, Lelia became ill. She was completely paralyzed and on a ventilator in a coma, fighting for her life against Guillan-Barre Syndrome. In consideration of the severity of her condition, doctors told Lelia she would never walk again, but within 6 months, she beat the odds. It’s been a long slow road to recovery with a lifetime autoimmune condition.
Scott and Lelia have been married for 15 years and have two children who suffer from neurological birth defects linked to toxins Scott was exposed to throughout his combat deployments. The severity of Scott’s service-connected medical issues, the special needs of their children, and the uncertainty of the future led Lelia to choose to pursue furthering her education to provide for her family.
“Everyone tells you that they will come home from War and be different because of what they have seen and done, but no one prepares you for them to come home and battle for their life due to illness and injuries.”
Lelia fiercely advocates for her husband’s medical care amid the trials they face, and she has fought for legislative reform to VA policies that restrict access to quality care and prosthetics for all veterans. Lelia looks forward to finishing her degree this December at Middle Tennessee State University and furthering her education to become a licensed counselor serving military families who are facing the same hardships she has endured.
“Receiving a Chapter 35 scholarship means more than just financial relief; it's an acknowledgment of the challenges my family has faced and the resilience we've shown. I felt seen, not just as a representation, as a mom, or military spouse, but recognized for my hard work and accomplishments. After my husband’s life-changing injuries and my own battle with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, the path ahead often seemed impossible. This scholarship represents hope and opportunity as a chance for me to pursue my education so I can continue advocating for veterans and military families, just as I’ve done for my own. It’s a reminder that despite the hardships, there's support that allows us to keep moving forward."