A Day as a Wounded Warrior
When I joined the military many years ago, I would never have imagined that my days would be what they have been for the last 14 months. I can still remember getting up at 0400 to do PT. Then I would be off to chow and back, and that’s when my day would really get started. Those are the days I hope I may get back some day. I miss the days my team and I would spend on the range or doing drills. I miss spending time at the gym with all my guys. I miss my time on deployments and the time I spent doing mission planning, and of course, mission execution. I used to get on my guys about complaining about doing “stupid stuff” as we all call it in the military. I am glad I had that type of personality because now since being wounded in 2015, I spend my days far differently than any of that.
My Typical Day As A Wounded Warrior
My typical day now here at Walter Reed begins at 0600 with a simple call in to my squad leader to let him know that I am okay. Then it is off to breakfast and back to my cozy dorm room. I then look over my daily schedule filled with doctor’s appointments and physical therapy. My doctor’s appointments will usually start around 0800, then I’m off to the waiting rooms and kiosk check-ins. As I sit and wait, I usually wonder what my platoon is doing or even why I am still sitting here in the waiting room at 0845 when my appointment was at 0800.
Then I meet with the plastic surgeon to go over my progress and schedule my next appointment. Afterwards, I go to my sanctuary, the fitness center, to work out. I am usually there for about an hour or so. Then I go back to the dorm room for lunch. Around 1300, I go to physical therapy, which for me is not very physical, but I have to do it anyways.
As wounded warriors, our jobs here at Walter Reed are simple: we are to be at our appointments on time. That’s not so bad except that after a while you get pretty tired of sitting in a hospital or waiting room for a half hour or more just to be seen by a doctor and schedule your next appointment.
I look at and listen to the soldiers and military members that surround me, and I am constantly amazed at what they go through here. They deal with pain on a day-to-day basis knowing this is not what they asked for or where they ever dreamed their military careers would lead them. I will never complain because it could be far worse. I will never ask to be given a medical evaluation board so I can get out of the military due to a disability. I will refuse to get out but instead fight to stay in because I do not want my career to end here at Walter Reed.
No Sympathy Please
I have been here for over a year now. I have not complained once, and I never will complain for being here. I look at it this way; I would rather be here than have one of my soldiers be here. I am taking the hand I was dealt, and I continue to strive every day to get stronger so I may help someone else. I continue to look at my injury as a small obstacle put in my way until I can lace up my boots, put my uniform back on, and really go back to work. I do not ask for sympathy. I only ask that you thank the troops who are here that have been wounded or ill. Thank the doctors that help them heal and do the same as I have done. We represent each of you and the freedom we all enjoy every day.
- What’s Missing in Today’s Military: Integrity - March 20, 2018
- What’s Missing in Today’s Military: Honor - March 19, 2018
- Veterans without Care: What’s Wrong with the VA? - December 18, 2017
