Where are you located?
Stafford, VA
Where did your veteran receive the majority of their medical treatment?
He had most of all his surgeries at Bethesda Naval ( Walter Reed now) and all his Rehab at the Tampa VA.
Which branch of service is your family affiliated with?
USMC
Please share how you came to be a caregiver.
Well I met my husband just about 4 years after he was shot, so by marriage is how I became a caregiver but more important his wife!
What did I do before he was shot?! I was a sophomore in high school! haha! But the crazy thing is…the month after he was shot I felt like I should start to pray for my husband, not knowing who he was and where he was from (I’m from Baltimore, MD and he is from Memphis, TN) not knowing he was in a hospital bed clinging to his life only an hour away from me! He was shot in the head and lost 1/3 of his brain. With that he is paralyzed on the right side of his body and he suffers with aphasia.
How has caregiving impacted your day to day routine and your personal life?
Not sure how to answer since this all I know and have adapted to! I married young and we started a family soon after so it just was the flow of my day to day life. Just waiting on someone like I do just comes natural. I definitely get worn out faster now with a husband with limitations and 3 small children but I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
Besides caring for your veteran, what other interests/jobs/passions do you pursue now? What are your personal interests?
I am a Wedding/ Event Coordinator! I started my own business right out of high school and went to night school to learn and get my certificate in it! Thankfully I’m only busy 3 weekends out of the year and able to be very flexible while being a stay at home mom and caregiving wife!
How has QoLF helped you to renew your passion in your interests or to change something to improve your quality of life?
I’m still new to QoLF but they have given my family and I reassurance and encouragement for the first time ever in this caregiving journey! We are so grateful for them and their support!
Do you have a favorite inspirational or motivational quote?
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
What advice would you give a new caregiver?
You may not feel like you are appreciated everyday by the ones you care for but knowing that you are a reason to get them through each day is an encouragement in itself. And yes it’s hard, no doubt it is, but you were given this amazing life ability to care for someone who needs more love and support then any other could handle. You are strong, wise, and loving! Don’t forget it!
What would you like to tell the average American?
BE THANKFUL! Each day we take for granted that someone is laying down their lives to keep our sorry, selfish rumps alive! I’m not very patriotic, even being married to a Marine but I am thankful for the sacrifices of him and all the others before him and of those now choosing to do so.