Woman Speaks Out Against Threats She’s Received After Sharing Clip of Husband Taking Care of Her Ex After His Brain Injury – Yahoo News New Zealand

Report on the Armstrong Family Case: A Model for Inclusive Well-being and Digital Peace

1.0 Introduction

This report examines the case of Kris Armstrong, her ex-husband Brandon, who lives with a traumatic brain injury, and her current husband, James. Their unconventional family structure, which has gained significant online attention, provides a compelling case study for the advancement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically, this case highlights practical applications and challenges related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

2.0 Case Background

The circumstances of the Armstrong family are rooted in a life-altering event and subsequent decisions made to ensure long-term care and stability.

1. 2008 Accident: Brandon Armstrong sustained a traumatic brain injury in a severe car accident, fundamentally altering his life and requiring continuous care.
2. Legal Restructuring: Two years post-accident, Kris Armstrong made the decision to divorce Brandon, subsequently becoming his legal guardian to better manage his extensive care needs. This decision was a pragmatic step to ensure his well-being, aligning with the principles of SDG 3.
3. Formation of a New Family Unit: Kris Armstrong later married James, who fully accepted the responsibility of co-caring for Brandon. This arrangement established a unique support system dedicated to Brandon’s health.

3.0 Analysis in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

The family’s public story offers critical insights into the real-world application of SDG principles, particularly in the context of disability, health, and online social dynamics.

3.1 SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The family’s care model is a direct embodiment of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all, including individuals with disabilities.

• Promoting Well-being: The consistent, compassionate care provided by both Kris and James ensures Brandon’s physical health and quality of life are maintained. A viral video clip from October documented James feeding and assisting Brandon, illustrating a hands-on commitment to his well-being (Target 3.4).
• Social Inclusion: By integrating Brandon fully into their family life, the Armstrongs actively work to reduce inequalities faced by persons with disabilities (Target 10.2). Their actions challenge societal norms and promote a model of inclusion rather than institutionalization.
• Resilience and Adaptation: Kris Armstrong stated, “Brandon has taught us every day that life does not end when tragedy happens. We have to get creative and find ways to keep on living.” This sentiment reflects a core tenet of building resilient communities that support the health of all members.

3.2 SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The viral nature of the family’s story exposed them to significant online harassment, highlighting challenges to achieving peaceful and inclusive societies in the digital age.

• Online Violence and Harassment: Following the viral video, the family received a high volume of negative comments, including name-calling and direct threats. This form of online violence undermines personal security and contradicts the goal of creating peaceful societies (Target 16.1).
• Response to Negativity: Kris Armstrong reported implementing a strategy of blocking negative and threatening users. She framed this action as a necessary measure to protect her family’s mental well-being and to refuse to allow “negativity and ugliness” to proliferate on her platform.
• Promoting a Peaceful Digital Environment: Her actions can be interpreted as an effort to build a more peaceful and inclusive online space, demonstrating individual responsibility in moderating digital interactions to foster a supportive community.

4.0 Conclusion

The Armstrong family’s experience serves as a powerful illustration of modern challenges and innovative solutions related to core SDG principles. Their commitment to Brandon’s care exemplifies the goals of promoting health (SDG 3) and reducing inequality for persons with disabilities (SDG 10). Simultaneously, their confrontation with online hostility underscores the urgent need to foster safe and peaceful digital platforms in line with the objectives of SDG 16. The case demonstrates that achieving these global goals often begins with personal and familial commitments to compassion, inclusion, and resilience.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article’s central theme revolves around the health consequences of a car accident. Brandon’s “traumatic brain injury” is a severe health issue that has permanently altered his life and requires constant medical and personal care. This directly connects to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • This goal is relevant through its focus on the social inclusion of persons with disabilities. The article describes how Kris and her new husband, James, provide “around-the-clock care” for Brandon, ensuring he is included in their family life despite his severe disability. Their actions promote the social inclusion of a person who might otherwise be marginalized.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • This goal is addressed in the context of reducing violence. Kris speaks out about the “threats and negativity” she has received online. She states, “people have literally threatened me and would hope that horrible things would happen to me.” This online harassment and psychological abuse represent a form of violence that undermines peace and personal security.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.6: By 2020, halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents.
   • The article explicitly states that Brandon’s traumatic brain injury was the result of being “t-boned by a moving truck in an accident” in 2008. His condition is a direct example of a severe, life-altering injury resulting from a road traffic accident, making this target highly relevant.
2. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
   • The family’s “unconventional arrangement” is a powerful example of promoting the social inclusion of a person with a disability. Kris’s condition that she and her ex-husband “came as a package deal” and James’s subsequent actions of feeding and assisting Brandon demonstrate a commitment to his inclusion within their family structure.
3. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • The article details the psychological violence Kris faces online. Her account of receiving threats, being subjected to “name-calling,” and having her character torn down directly relates to this target’s aim to reduce all forms of violence. The online harassment she endures is a modern form of aggression that this target seeks to address.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicator for Target 3.6: Incidence of severe injuries from road traffic accidents.
   • While the official indicator (3.6.1) is the “Death rate due to road traffic injuries,” the target itself also includes halving *injuries*. Brandon’s case serves as a qualitative data point representing a severe injury from a road traffic accident. The story highlights the long-term consequences and the need for lifelong care resulting from such incidents.
2. Implied Indicator for Target 10.2: Social integration and support systems for persons with disabilities.
   • The article provides a narrative example of this indicator. The “around-the-clock care” provided by Kris (as his legal guardian) and James (as a caregiver) illustrates a micro-level support system that ensures Brandon’s social integration within a family unit. The description of James “feeding him and helping him into a chair” is a tangible measure of this support.
3. Indicator 16.1.3: Proportion of population subjected to (a) physical, (b) psychological or (c) sexual violence in the previous 12 months.
   • Kris’s testimony provides direct evidence related to this indicator. Her statement, “people have literally threatened me and would hope that horrible things would happen to me,” is a first-hand account of being subjected to psychological violence. Her need to do “a lot of blocking” due to the negativity is an implied measure of the frequency and severity of this online abuse.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: nz.news.yahoo.com