How CaringBridge helped my family – and me – after I almost died

2023-02-14T09:45:07-05:00

In late October 2015, I explored the local German city while on temporary duty in Germany that ended in a tragic accident. I had a traumatic brain injury, collapsed lung, and multiple fractures. I was in a coma and don’t have any memories between that day and Thanksgiving that year. That’s where my CaringBridge journey began.

When the casualty assistance team showed up at my wife’s door in Fort Carson to give her the news, she was told I may not live. Or, if I survived, I’d likely be in a vegetative state for the rest of my life. As you can imagine, this triggered a flurry of frantic phone calls, rushed long distance travel plans, child care planning for my three young children, and a great deal of uncertainty. Fortunately, for the mental well-being of my family and friends during this difficult time, my mother found CaringBridge, a 501(c)3 a nonprofit providing free and secure websites that helps family and friends stay connected during health journeys like mine.

It was hard for me to go from daily duties as a member of a Special Forces Head Quarters, serving my country in a fulfilling career – only to find myself relearning basic activities like speaking, writing, math, walking, and caring for myself. The great nurses and overall care team at the Richmond VA Medical Center provided me round-the-clock care that literally and figuratively got me back on my feet. They changed my life in ways I’ll never fully be able to thank them.

While I was busy with all that intensive rehab, the journals my mother maintained in CaringBridge not only delivered on the website’s promise of keeping my extended family and friends updated and able to communicate with us while we couldn’t call them all 1:1 regularly, everyone with every update. It also gave us the ability to share my health journey with our family and friends around the world so my loved ones didn’t need to repeatedly answer the same uncomfortable questions about my condition.

Finally, the CaringBridge journals were an incredible gift for me to have when my brain healed and my cognitive ability were back. Reading about how many amazing people were in my corner, supporting me and my family was overwhelming since I didn’t have any memories of what we went through.

I can’t thank my care team at the Richmond VA Medical Center, my family, friends, and CaringBridge enough for helping me through this tough time. I hope this story helps others who find themselves in a situation similar to mine and can benefit in the ways we did.

If you or someone you know is going through a health journey and would find CaringBridge valuable, you can start your own site here: https://rly.pt/CBcreate

If you don’t need a CaringBridge site now, but would like to learn more about supporting this great nonprofit organization, you can donate here: https://rly.pt/CBgive

Create Your CaringBridge Website | Health Journal | CaringBridge

Start a free CaringBridge website to chronicle a health journey, connect with loved ones and feel supported every step of the way. Get started today!

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Feb 14 at 2023 10:46 AM

2023-02-14T10:46:31-05:00

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member the journey from your injury to where you are now is inspiring. I can't imagine the level of strength you and your family have. Thank you for sharing the steps you took in recovery and highlighting the professionals & resources that helped you along the way.

Response by CPT David Gowel made Feb 15 at 2023 5:25 AM

2023-02-15T05:25:53-05:00

Thanks MAJ Private RallyPoint Member. Having seen you twice in Richmond at that VA hospital and followed your mom's journals on Caringbridge, I really can't believe how you've been through hell and back and because of your dedicated rehab work that I don't see any outward signs of that journey. We need more people like you giving credit where it's due to orgs like CB and the Richmond VA when the chips are down and they step up in big ways. When people get hit with tragic situations like the one you described, it's hard to know who to trust without personal stories being shared publicly like this. Thanks brother, and good on you for the miraculous recovery you made. I know that wasn't an easy road - and probably not a simple thing to share with all these people here you don't yet know - but am certain the hard work you put in to unshackle yourself from so many of your injuries made a huge difference for that beautiful family of yours. DE OPPRESSO LIBER!

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Feb 24 at 2023 10:24 AM

2023-02-24T10:24:19-05:00

Sometimes we pay little attention to the extreme stress on family members; in some of my published research, I focus on these lapses.
Rich

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Feb 25 at 2023 2:53 PM

2023-02-25T14:53:09-05:00

Don’t quote me, but I think there are like TDY and travel entitlements for spouses of SMs who are severely injured. The concept is to give the spouse an opportunity to be with the wounded warrior at medical facilities far from home and pay for the spouses travel should the soldier need to travel beyond the locality for medical treatments and needs an escort. Perhaps someone can illuminate on this topic further.

Response by Jennifer Ranaudo made Mar 6 at 2023 6:02 PM

2023-03-06T18:02:50-05:00

Thank you for sharing your story Brian. I am so thankful for the wonderful team of doctors and nurses that took care of you and the incredible support system that your family was able to lean. You and your family are an inspiration to all of us.