Blast Exposure & Brain Injuries MCPL Justin MacPherson Part V

Continuing the 6 part series on Blast Exposure and Brain Injuries, this episode is dedicated to Master Corporal Pete Duff - a soldier, husband, father, and friend whose memory remains woven into the lives of those who knew and cared for him. Through this series, we’ve heard from those who honour his legacy, and today, we continue that promise - to keep speaking his name, supporting those who struggle, and ensuring no one feels alone. In this fifth installment, we sit down with Master Corporal Justin MacPherson, who reflects on his time entering the armed forces as a young man - never thinking about injury, only about serving his country and standing with his brothers. In Afghanistan, the war was real where they did good things, but now, as a father of young children, his priorities have changed. We dive deep into the long-term effects of blast exposure and overpressure, exploring what it takes to meet Veterans Affairs Canada’s (VAC) compensation criteria, the need of common sense and assumption of brain injury in Special Operations Forces, and the stigma surrounding reporting injuries - where soldiers often hide their wounds to avoid being sidelined. Why must Veterans make themselves look like victims just to be compensated for their service? They gave up their bodies, minds, and lives - and still, the battle continues. We discuss how losing consciousness is a requirement for VAC’s brain injury recognition, but why that doesn’t capture the full picture, and the symptomology of blast trauma. Justin shares his own regimen for managing flares, including therapy, mindset shifts, testosterone and growth hormone therapy. We also tackle the harsh reality of VAC’s Transition Centre in Canada’s capital - described as a horror movie - an abandoned hospital being the painful reflection of how Veterans are valued. This episode isn’t just about awareness - it’s about accountability, about demanding change, and about honouring those who have sacrificed everything.