As a seasoned military wife, you think you’ve been through it all. I’ve been with my husband his entire military career (12 years), and been involved in most of his commands that he has been with. However, when you get the call that someone you love has been injured in combat, life stops momentarily.
My boys and I were with my parents, waiting on my husband, Zach, Seth’s brother, between duty stations when we got the news. I’m so thankful that we were there, my parents were able to take the boys and keep them occupied that weekend while we waited for news.
I notified Z’s command, and let Z know what was going on. I knew he would want to be with Seth if it was a serious injury, and at that point, we just didn’t know. I kept in touch with Laura throughout the day, as much for me as for her. And from there, I prayed, and waited, and prayed some more. It felt like a lifetime passed in that one weekend. It was hard to hide my fears and my tears and anxiety from the boys, so I tried to be as honest with them as possible. They were almost 7 and almost 5 at this point, so it was hard to hide anything from them, especially since they are very aware of everything going on.
After we found out the severity of Seth’s injury, steps were taken to get Z to be with his brother ASAP. Seth and Zach arrived in Washington, DC right about the same time.
The boys and I waited about one week before we set off for Walter Reed. Zach and I decided that it would be better for the boys for Seth to be out of ICU and completely stable before they were brought into the situation. Hospitals can be scary places, and when someone you love is involved, it is even scarier.
One of the psychologists/social workers at the hospital commented on how well-behaved the boys were, and not intimidated by all the uniforms around. One big plus about Daddy being in the military, and using military clinics for our health care.
It was so good to see Seth, and to be able to hug his arm and talk to him. The boys weren’t quite sure what to do, but they helped distract their dad and me from the seriousness of the situation. We took them to a lot of different sites in Washington, DC while we were there to distract them from the hospital.
It’s really hard to put this all down. So, I will stop for tonight. Nothing can prepare you for the bad news that a loved one is injured, it’s how you react to the news that really matters.
January 21st, 2013 at 9:35 pm
I am sorry to hear of your husband’s injury and this difficult time for you family. I have worked with many military families that have endured injury and/or loss and it is never an easy process. While I am located in the DC area, I am also available via online and phone and have specialized experience in supporting families during this difficult time, including helping parents talk to their children about combat injury (physical and emotional), the safety of other service member friends and family members, and tools for staying connected and supporting throughout this journey. I also know of additional resources and would be happy to send them your way.
Best,
Sarah
January 21st, 2013 at 11:29 pm
Thank you for your kind words Sarah, we appreciate them.