John Hamilton

Also anger and alcohol. Lozano's first marriage ended. He entered a law enforcement training program in Georgia, where he met Valerie. The headaches continued, though, and Valerie Lozano noticed other signs.

She got her husband to the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.

She got her husband to the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.

She got her husband to the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix.

Surgeons removed the AVM, but couldn't fix Lozano's memory. There's compelling evidence that the pressure waves from powerful weapons can cause concussion-like symptoms in the people who fire them. Those symptoms include the sort of headaches and memory problems experienced by both Lozano and Wilcox. But could all those blasts also have contributed to their AVMs?

Surgeons removed the AVM, but couldn't fix Lozano's memory. There's compelling evidence that the pressure waves from powerful weapons can cause concussion-like symptoms in the people who fire them. Those symptoms include the sort of headaches and memory problems experienced by both Lozano and Wilcox. But could all those blasts also have contributed to their AVMs?

Surgeons removed the AVM, but couldn't fix Lozano's memory. There's compelling evidence that the pressure waves from powerful weapons can cause concussion-like symptoms in the people who fire them. Those symptoms include the sort of headaches and memory problems experienced by both Lozano and Wilcox. But could all those blasts also have contributed to their AVMs?

Lozano leans toward trauma. Lozano's surgeon, Dr. Michael Lawton, has doubts.

Lozano leans toward trauma. Lozano's surgeon, Dr. Michael Lawton, has doubts.

Lozano leans toward trauma. Lozano's surgeon, Dr. Michael Lawton, has doubts.

Because most AVMs are caused by genetic changes that affect the growth of blood vessels. But Lawton, the president of Barrow Neurological Institute, says recent studies suggest that blast waves can alter genes in the brain.

Because most AVMs are caused by genetic changes that affect the growth of blood vessels. But Lawton, the president of Barrow Neurological Institute, says recent studies suggest that blast waves can alter genes in the brain.

Because most AVMs are caused by genetic changes that affect the growth of blood vessels. But Lawton, the president of Barrow Neurological Institute, says recent studies suggest that blast waves can alter genes in the brain.

The evidence is stronger for blood vessel changes less extreme than an AVM. Dr. Ibolya Chernak of Belmont University in Nashville has spent decades studying the health effects of blast waves.

The evidence is stronger for blood vessel changes less extreme than an AVM. Dr. Ibolya Chernak of Belmont University in Nashville has spent decades studying the health effects of blast waves.

The evidence is stronger for blood vessel changes less extreme than an AVM. Dr. Ibolya Chernak of Belmont University in Nashville has spent decades studying the health effects of blast waves.

Chernek says even a single blast can leave blood vessels in need of repair.

Chernek says even a single blast can leave blood vessels in need of repair.

Chernek says even a single blast can leave blood vessels in need of repair.

In rats, this has led to malformed blood vessels that resemble AVMs. Much of the research on blast waves is supported by the military, which has taken steps to minimize blast exposure, especially in training. But that won't help veterans like Wilcox and Lozano. So they are learning to live with their disabilities. For Lozano, that often means assisting veterans in the corral at War Horse Ranch.