Mom's Story: Reality of Recovery
Each time we left one place for another, there was a feeling of success
and sadness. Leaving the known for the unknown. In mid October we left
Tampa and were flown back to Walter Reed, everyone there was so excited
at his progress, over and over again he was commended for his
dedication to get well. Chris was admitted for about a week, he was
re-evaluated, and set up with the doctors in Physical Medicine and put
on a regimen of PT, OT and speech. He was seen by the Neurological
Ophthalmologist and it was determined that his eyes, mostly his right,
had suffered considerable vision loss, he was prescribed glasses and
told, “we’ll just have to wait and see”!
Boy I heard those words OVER and OVER!!!
Chris was then told that he could be seen as an outpatient, he was allowed to stay with me at the Fisher House and go to the hospital for his therapies. The day he was being released to the Fisher House, more of the soldiers from his unit came to see him; they were all amazed at how well he was doing. They had brought Chris’ car up to me and all his things from the barracks. He went for a ride with the men and I spent time going threw the bags they had brought. I sat on the floor in tears for hours wondering if he would ever have a chance to do the things he loved, run, drive, or most of all return to the Army. The Fisher House is an amazing place where 8 families live together in a large house. Each family is dealing with health issues of a family member. This setting was great, for both Chris and I, he had a chance to feel like a person instead of a patient. I had a chance to talk with others that truly understood. We spent our free time going on outings and talking with the other “family” members. Chris was getting better and better physically but along with his recovery, came new problems, reality! His condition was becoming hard for him to handle it was staring him in the face each day. No longer was he just happy with the things he could do he was mad at the things he couldn’t. He wanted to cry, but he can’t tears don’t come. He wants to run, but he can’t in-coordination and increased tone, don’t allow it. He wants to use his left hand to tie his shoes and button his own shirt, but the loss of fine motor skills and shaking make it so hard. He wants to express himself, but he can’t his face doesn’t show the feelings that are in his heart. These are the times that the only words that would come out of my mouth were, “You can do this, you are strong and I will help you.” “ I will not allow you to give up, and I know you will not give up on yourself.” I said these words while dodging flying objects many times. Then I would go off into another room and fill a towel with tears, come back to Chris make a joke about his throwing arm and we would move on. There is a lot to be said for learning how to defuse the anger.
It became important for him to tell anyone he met what he used to be capable of doing. He didn’t want anyone to look at him with pity but wanted them to understand that this body and voice were broke and he was brain injured not that he was ignorant or stupid! He would smile in a persons face when they told him he looked good and then turn to me and say, “right, if they only knew what I was before my accident!” He so badly wanted to have his life back, and I knew I didn’t have answers, we still had no idea how much recovery he would truly have. In late November Chris was granted convalescent leave and finally we were going to be able to go home for a little while. We would have to be back in Washington in January but a couple of months at home would be great! We had a wonderful time during the holidays with family and friends, it was really tough on them though, everyone was hearing my reports of how well he was doing and then seeing him was not what they expected, some friends just couldn’t handle coming around. The time passed by so fast and we had to get back up to Washington.
Our trip back up to Washington in January 2001 had a stop along the way, Chris and I went to Ft. Bragg to spend time with his unit we attend the ALL HANDS BALL. The day before the ball, Chris was awarded the Army Achievement Medal at a luncheon held in his honor. His First Sargent gave him a dedicated print from his unit, It hangs on his wall in his room and I know he will cherish it his whole life. It is a true tribute to the kind of soldier Chris was. The words that were read from the Army Achievement Award gave me a feeling of pride and the strength to keep pushing on.
Chris gave a small speech thanking them all. There was not a dry eye in the house. I know that the continued support of his unit had given him the encouragement to not give up! We had a wonderful time at the ball; Chris received a standing ovation by over 300 soldiers. I shed more tears, and took with me the same pride Chris has in those men. Leaving Ft Bragg heading back to Washington the afternoon of the 13th of January was a hard day, Chris knew that his days in the Army were numbered, we were going back to Walter Reed Hospital to finish the paperwork for his Medical Board and Retirement from the Army. All I could say to him was that he would go on to have a great life and after this experience nothing can stand in his way.
Arriving at Walter Reed for the last time we thought we would be there for just a couple weeks! HA HA! Another L-O-N-G story, but military paperwork is far from quick. We once again got to stay at the Fisher House where we both gained new friends and a sense of family. Chris had a nice surprise, a friend of his from our hometown, came to visit. He also had a visit with General Timbo, General of the Hospital and the Command Sargent Major of the Army. Chris spent his weekdays doing more therapy, I spent mine going CRAZY with paperwork, and our weekends were spent touring Washington sight seeing. On April 2nd 2001 we left Washington heading home for good, after over 9 months of being on the road we were heading home. Chris is temporarily retired from the Army as of the 22nd of April 2001, he will be reevaluated in the future to see if he can return to service. I have to be honest neither he or I think that will happen. While he’s retired he wants to attend college and work towards getting his life back! His plans are to study to be a Physical Therapist; his desire is to work with children. I will not presume to know what the full outcome of his recovery will be, I do believe his goals are obtainable although he still suffers from lasting effects from his head injury.
Chris was then told that he could be seen as an outpatient, he was allowed to stay with me at the Fisher House and go to the hospital for his therapies. The day he was being released to the Fisher House, more of the soldiers from his unit came to see him; they were all amazed at how well he was doing. They had brought Chris’ car up to me and all his things from the barracks. He went for a ride with the men and I spent time going threw the bags they had brought. I sat on the floor in tears for hours wondering if he would ever have a chance to do the things he loved, run, drive, or most of all return to the Army. The Fisher House is an amazing place where 8 families live together in a large house. Each family is dealing with health issues of a family member. This setting was great, for both Chris and I, he had a chance to feel like a person instead of a patient. I had a chance to talk with others that truly understood. We spent our free time going on outings and talking with the other “family” members. Chris was getting better and better physically but along with his recovery, came new problems, reality! His condition was becoming hard for him to handle it was staring him in the face each day. No longer was he just happy with the things he could do he was mad at the things he couldn’t. He wanted to cry, but he can’t tears don’t come. He wants to run, but he can’t in-coordination and increased tone, don’t allow it. He wants to use his left hand to tie his shoes and button his own shirt, but the loss of fine motor skills and shaking make it so hard. He wants to express himself, but he can’t his face doesn’t show the feelings that are in his heart. These are the times that the only words that would come out of my mouth were, “You can do this, you are strong and I will help you.” “ I will not allow you to give up, and I know you will not give up on yourself.” I said these words while dodging flying objects many times. Then I would go off into another room and fill a towel with tears, come back to Chris make a joke about his throwing arm and we would move on. There is a lot to be said for learning how to defuse the anger.
It became important for him to tell anyone he met what he used to be capable of doing. He didn’t want anyone to look at him with pity but wanted them to understand that this body and voice were broke and he was brain injured not that he was ignorant or stupid! He would smile in a persons face when they told him he looked good and then turn to me and say, “right, if they only knew what I was before my accident!” He so badly wanted to have his life back, and I knew I didn’t have answers, we still had no idea how much recovery he would truly have. In late November Chris was granted convalescent leave and finally we were going to be able to go home for a little while. We would have to be back in Washington in January but a couple of months at home would be great! We had a wonderful time during the holidays with family and friends, it was really tough on them though, everyone was hearing my reports of how well he was doing and then seeing him was not what they expected, some friends just couldn’t handle coming around. The time passed by so fast and we had to get back up to Washington.
Our trip back up to Washington in January 2001 had a stop along the way, Chris and I went to Ft. Bragg to spend time with his unit we attend the ALL HANDS BALL. The day before the ball, Chris was awarded the Army Achievement Medal at a luncheon held in his honor. His First Sargent gave him a dedicated print from his unit, It hangs on his wall in his room and I know he will cherish it his whole life. It is a true tribute to the kind of soldier Chris was. The words that were read from the Army Achievement Award gave me a feeling of pride and the strength to keep pushing on.
“PFC
Lynch’s sheer determination has been an inspiration for all;
after sustaining a severe head injury during the French RUE he has
fought and made a near complete recovery. His willingness and
dedication to rehabilitate himself and the seemingly endless positive
attitude is an inspiration to all.”
Chris gave a small speech thanking them all. There was not a dry eye in the house. I know that the continued support of his unit had given him the encouragement to not give up! We had a wonderful time at the ball; Chris received a standing ovation by over 300 soldiers. I shed more tears, and took with me the same pride Chris has in those men. Leaving Ft Bragg heading back to Washington the afternoon of the 13th of January was a hard day, Chris knew that his days in the Army were numbered, we were going back to Walter Reed Hospital to finish the paperwork for his Medical Board and Retirement from the Army. All I could say to him was that he would go on to have a great life and after this experience nothing can stand in his way.
Arriving at Walter Reed for the last time we thought we would be there for just a couple weeks! HA HA! Another L-O-N-G story, but military paperwork is far from quick. We once again got to stay at the Fisher House where we both gained new friends and a sense of family. Chris had a nice surprise, a friend of his from our hometown, came to visit. He also had a visit with General Timbo, General of the Hospital and the Command Sargent Major of the Army. Chris spent his weekdays doing more therapy, I spent mine going CRAZY with paperwork, and our weekends were spent touring Washington sight seeing. On April 2nd 2001 we left Washington heading home for good, after over 9 months of being on the road we were heading home. Chris is temporarily retired from the Army as of the 22nd of April 2001, he will be reevaluated in the future to see if he can return to service. I have to be honest neither he or I think that will happen. While he’s retired he wants to attend college and work towards getting his life back! His plans are to study to be a Physical Therapist; his desire is to work with children. I will not presume to know what the full outcome of his recovery will be, I do believe his goals are obtainable although he still suffers from lasting effects from his head injury.