Who Cares for the Families of Wounded Soldiers?

My cousin was recently wounded in Iraq. His condition was very severe, and we all waited on pins and needles until we finally received news that he was well enough to be moved back to the U.S. He was sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center which is a twelve hour drive from where our family lives. As soon as he could see visitors, his mother flew there to see him. He stayed at Walter Reed for almost four weeks before being well enough to move to another hospital that specializes in therapy for brain damage.

While his mother stayed by his side every day, we all worried about her. Was she getting enough rest, was she eating, how was she getting her laundry done? I have to tell you that there are many programs in place to aid the families of wounded soldiers. These organizations have been there every step of the way so far, and I have faith that they will continue to help us in the days to come.

Have you heard of Operation Hero Miles? While most of you know that this program collects donated frequent flyer miles and uses them to purchase plane tickets to aid soldiers in getting home, you probably don't know about their other mission. They also purchase tickets for the immediate families of the wounded, so that parents and spouses and children can be with their ailing loved ones. (I encourage anyone who can to donate to this wonderful organization.) The government also pays for hotel rooms. This was invaluable to my aunt, who otherwise would not have been able to make the trip.

Once my aunt arrived at the hospital, she quickly realized that she was not prepared. They needed someone to stay with him during the day. Every day. She had only packed for a week. After the first few days they moved her to a hotel on the military base. It was set up for the families of the wounded. They took very good care of her. There was a table in the lobby where donations were placed. Several times a day you could find all sorts of items being set out. Clothing, shampoo, snack and drink items, puzzle books, movies, and even game systems were given away to the families. This was very important for my aunt who hadn't brought enough for a four week trip away from home.

Within Walter Reed hospital, the nurses and doctors made up a sort of family. While they tended to the patients, they also befriended the families and were genuinely concerned for their wellbeing also. When my aunt finally returned home, she was exhausted, but she said she never could have done it if it weren't for the people who helped to take care of her.