Today it has been 4.5 years exactly since I received that phone call late on a Sunday night. Today I can say I feel like we have made it around another corner, we have hope. Maybe it has something to do with being through with the medical review board process (for the most part) and for the 1st time today we are getting all of the pay and benefits he has earned, 4 months after retirement. I know that we will still face setbacks and encounter tough days ahead, everyone does. But today we can see blessings in the trauma we had to face as a family and my husband in almost losing his life. When I say we can see the blessings that have come out of this nightmare, it does not mean that I am happy that it happened. It means that I am at peace with where we are in life, despite that it happened. I can see that good has indeed come out of tragedy. I do believe with all of my heart that my husband can as well.
Some positive changes that have come out of our tragedy are:
1. We are all together as a family everyday without the threat of long term separations due to deployments, schools and training exercises. And without the threat of imminent danger.
2. We have stability. We have a home to put roots in. We have a place to call our own. We can decorate without having to worry about getting orders and packing up again.
3. Our children have 2 parents at all times. After single parenting for years (his total foreign service time is 5+ years) I KNOW and UNDERSTAND the importance of co-parenting. I can say without a doubt that our youngest is doing much better today with Dad at home.
4. We are fine. Our needs are met. It has been a long battle, but we are in a good place. We have life, medical, auto, and home insurance to protect us. We don't go buy new stuff all the time, and we don't buy a new car every couple of years. But we are just fine.
5. My husband can pursue his next love for a career, his art.
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Ever since Scott was a young boy he wanted to be a soldier and he loved art. He was always drawing. He has a beautiful gift for art. He also had a beautiful gift for being a soldier, he was a great one. His records prove that, he had an admirable 17 year Army career. At 14 years in service, he was pinned his E-8. He definitely would have made SGM. He LOVED the Army. His career, service to country and dedication to duty was the priority 1 in his life. Even above family. That all came to a screeching halt on April 1, 2008. In the days, months, and years after his injury it has been his art that has helped him find direction again. Not only did it give him a release, it has brought him joy again. He creates daily. He now has the time and opportunity to develop his art and he is passionate about something once again. This door may not have opened for him without being injured. We now know that good CAN come from tragedy. We can rise above our situation and live a good life, despite the daily struggles. War will not take away from this family more than it already has. Our family will not be one of the many casualties of our generation's conflicts.
