When a warrior is wounded he/she is flown from a (CSH) combat
support hospital near the field of combat to Germany to Andrews AF
Base to Walter Reed. With each stop the patient required
stabilization over days or weeks, their families often flown to
their hospital bedside overseas. Many in a medically induced coma
while their families spend days at their side, watching the medical
staff tend to their patients, everything so unfamiliar and
frightening.
In time clarity comes, the wounded begin to heal. Each warrior
recovers at a different pace. You can imagine the enormous range
of injuries, both internal and external, including the loss of
limbs. The visits I made were, for me, a blessing as well as an
eye opener. So many of our combat wounded want to share their
personal war stories.....want to relate what happened to them when
they were blown up or shot. I know that for them it is therapeutic
to repeat what they see in their minds over and over. For others
it is too painful to speak of what caused them to be here. Each of
the warriors expressed gratitude when groups of veterans cared
enough to visit and listen to their horrific stories of their
experiences in combat.
Most crucial to the healing process is the presence of family and
friends. Without them the healing process would be much
lengthier. The sacrifices that their families endure is not
stressed nearly enough. Usually families are split up with one
parent or spouse here while the other parent and siblings remain at
home holding down a job. Family life is utterly broken apart.
The benefits in these circumstances are the non-profit organizations
that supply all the needs of the family members that are here. A
free place to live, transportation, assistance with expenses back
home and also providing airfare to bring families together when
possible, both here or when the wounded are able to visit home.
Remodeling homes and refitting vehicles are also covered. These
organizations are the backbone of survival for every one of the
families that have dropped everything to be here.
Their progress is evident with each of my weekly visits. Through
numerous surgeries, hours of rehabilitation, more surgeries, more
rehab, countless hours adapting to their new prosthetic legs and
arms, they rebuild their bodies and rebuild their spirits.
Sometimes the bodies heal faster than the spirits, sometimes the
reverse. I can tell you that what they endure on a daily basis is
astounding and not what any civilian could ever imagine. With many
there are the issues of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Whether physical or psychological,
they have months and years of therapy ahead of them. I have known
some multi-limb amputees who were so motivated that they were out
of the hospital in less than a year! That is not the norm, as the
usual stay is one year or longer.
The most unbelievable examples of motivation have been amputees who
have tackled all sorts of athletic activities that they never
imagined possible prior to being injured. Skydiving, surfing,
snowboarding, cycling, rock climbing, court sports, archery.... and
the list goes on. Some have taken up musical instruments such as
guitar and piano......for we all know music is a therapy all it's
own. These fearless warriors know no bounds. They are willing
to try things they never dreamed possible before they enlisted.
One of the major catastrophic results of our years in combat are the
hidden wounds........the psychological damage that is causing so
many suicides in our military ranks. Self inflicted deaths were up
to 345 in 2012. All branches of the Armed Forces are affected.
The numbers of veterans who are suffering is astronomical and the VA
system is overwhelmed. Our military attempts to bring about
changes to the system.......there are hotlines, there are
non-profits that have been formed specifically for assisting these
veterans in need of help. One of the greatest and seemingly
insurmountable issues is the stigma of seeking help. I am not sure
how this can be addressed, as one cannot force someone to reach out
for help if they fear it will somehow be a black mark on their
record. Changes must be made to overcome this high rate of suicides
in our military.
The bittersweet end of this story is saying goodbye to these brave
warriors as they recover and move on with their lives. I know God
places each of us together for a certain time. To be a part of
someone's healing process is so special that I will carry those
memories with me always. As I have written in previous articles,
some of the patients and their families I met eight years ago are
still part of my life. Again I thank God for this path He chose
for me.......these opportunities to share with our warriors their
roads to recovery. I have such great respect and admiration for
each of them as they move from Walter Reed back home to live their
'new normal' lives.
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