The hospital in Toulouse has a neurological
intensive care unit and I received wonderful care there. My unit kept soldiers
posted outside my room for days and my Mom arrived a couple days after my
fall. I have been told that it was touch and go for a while but I'm here
to tell you this story ! I spent 24 days in a deep coma. When I was removed
from the respirator and breathing on my own it was decided to try and get
me back to the states.
On August 8th the US Air Force flew in to France to take me to Germany.
I spent one night in Germany at the US Army
Base and then was flown to Walter Reed Army Hospital
in DC.
Still in a semi comatose state for another
21 days (RANCHO level 2-3) and suffering paralysis of my left side,
I was not able to speak, walk, eat, dress or ANYTHING without assistance.
I also had lost about a third of my body weight,
I went from 180 to 126! My mom says she
knew I could hear but didn't know for a while if I could see! After the doctors
decided it was time, the therapists started trying to help me. I do not remember
much during this time at Walter Reed but I do remember First Sergeant Westover
and Sergeant Bazara, from my unit coming to see me, they brought me a challenge
coin and a new barret’ from my unit.
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