Every November, Veterans Day brings a familiar rhythm: flags, ceremonies, handshakes and heartfelt thanks. But for many veterans, the harder part begins after the uniform comes off and the applause fades. The 22 Project was created for that quieter chapter.
This nonprofit helps veterans in a way you might not expect. For those living with traumatic brain injuries and other challenges connected to military service, the 22 Project offers brain SPECT imaging and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) at no cost. Participants receive scans before and after a course of 40 treatments, giving veterans, physicians and the organization a clear view of real changes over time.
Inside the hyperbaric chamber, the process can feel almost uneventful. A veteran lies down, the chamber closes and pressurized oxygen surrounds them while technicians monitor the session from outside. For roughly an hour, there is little to do but breathe.
That simplicity stands in sharp contrast to what many veterans carry.
Traumatic brain injuries are not always visible. Neither are the sleepless nights, changes in mood or difficulty readjusting to everyday life that can follow service. The 22 Project’s work is centered on creating access to treatment for these symptoms, while also connecting veterans with a larger network of physicians, nonprofits and community resources.
That network matters because the organization does not try to be everything to everyone. Instead, it works alongside groups that specialize in areas such as job placement, suicide prevention and other forms of support.
Peter Anderson has been part of that effort for more than a decade.
A financial adviser and Raymond James branch owner, Anderson first became involved through two of his clients, Alex and Erica Cruz. He had not served in the military, but he quickly realized there was still a role he could play.
“I lend them the expertise that I’ve developed over a number of years,” he says. “I help them connect to raise the money and [things] like that.”
For Anderson, that has meant making introductions, helping build philanthropic relationships and connecting The 22 Project with universities and other organizations. Over the years, those efforts have helped expand the nonprofit’s reach beyond South Florida. “We’ve been able to help a lot of great veterans, and a lot of that’s because the other nonprofit professionals and leaders in the community have been so supportive,” he says.
Anderson explains that the organization will fly out veterans from around the country to South Florida for treatment, where they will stay for several weeks while completing scans and hyperbaric sessions. The time away can offer something beyond medical appointments. It gives them a chance to meet other veterans and talk with people who understand what service can leave behind.
Over the years, that is one of the parts that has stayed with Anderson.
“It just gave me an appreciation for freedom and appreciation for those who’ve served,” he says. “Through working with The 22 Project, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of these young men and women, and hearing some of the stories.”
Those stories make the work feel especially meaningful in November.
For over a century, November 11 has been recognized as Veterans Day, giving the country a moment to honor those who served. The 22 Project focuses on what comes after that moment: the appointments, the treatment, the introductions, the funding and the people willing to keep showing up.
The chamber may be the most visible part of the program, but the end result is much simpler: Coming home should not mean figuring out what comes next alone.
