Monday, January 24, 2011

Apathy

I have been shaken out of my apathy. I'd like to think I'm a very caring person, but it's very rare that I'm completely moved to where the thought of not doing anything, is not an option.
My sister called me a few days ago. She is currently in Washington DC, staying with my brother as his NMA (non-medical assistant) as he goes through his surgeries and recoveries for his hand. They became friends with a man and his wife who are pretty affluent figures in New York, and see them every so often, usually with things related to the Wounded Warriors.
They came to visit Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital last week, and started telling them about a soldier in the hospital that they also visit. This soldier is a quad-amputee, meaning that he's lost parts of both his arms and both of his legs. When he got flown back from Afghanistan, his wife left him in the hospital. He has no family there to take care of him (like the NMA). The first 4 times they visited the soldier, he didn't remember them and they had to reintroduce themselves, until finally the husband intervened and told the staff that they needed to cut back on the pain meds. Usually you'll have a family member there to monitor how the drugs are affecting that person, but he didn't have anyone there.
This story has been weighing heavily on my heart for the past few days. Maybe because I've been there and I've seen what these men who have given everything for us, are actually going through. The anger, sadness, and sometimes even rage. I can't even begin to understand and know what they are going through. It's one thing to die in a war zone, and it's another heart breaking thing to lose parts of your body, and not have anyone to come back home to, to help you get through it.
I think that my sister will try to visit him before she comes back. My brother's recovery is going extremely well and he doesn't really need anyone to take care of him now.
If you have some time though, please thank a veteran for what they have given. Also, when I went to visit my brother the Wounded Warriors organization was absolutely fantastic in all the support they give to veterans and their families. Please help honor these fallen heroes and ensure that they know, they are not forgotten.

No comments:

Post a Comment