I wanted to share a bit today that is the real--the true meaning of overcoming and/or getting through each day.
Here's a story example of possible causes of PTSD:
He started to scoot out onto the balcony when pain shot through his whole body, and he wanted to scream. He pulled himself from the window ledge and staggered forward two steps before falling on his face.
What had happened? Marshall’s screaming voice echoed outside his head, but the world had faded to mental darkness. His left leg had gone numb. He shook his head. He couldn’t lose consciousness. To do so might mean death. He hung over the rail and surveyed the climb
he’d have to make. His stomach churned with nausea.
The pain, the danger, the loss and more can affect men and women so much it takes months, years even to recover.
The pain and fear of facing the unknown, of knowing you're injured...
“What happened?”
Her gaze flicked to the bottom of the bed, then back. “You were shot.”
The memory of that night swarmed in. “How long—”
“Must you talk? You’re still pretty weak.”
“How long?”
She sighed. “Two weeks. You almost died.”
Facing the fact that you are injured. Learning what exactly that injury is. Knowing you're at the mercy of the doctors, possibly your wife or family, sometimes it all seems too much...
“Jerry. Lie still. You’re too weak to get up.”
Squeezing his eyes shut, he gritted from between his teeth. “I have to. It’s too dangerous for you to be coming here.”
“I don’t mind.”
“I do. Help me, and I’ll try it again.”
“I wasn’t able to get a doctor. Our family doctor is not to be trusted. You almost died. Medwin—my cousin—has a bit of medical training and he thinks a bone or bones was shattered in your leg. He did what he could but your leg still became dangerously infected. I thought—”
“What?”
Vanda bit her lip. “I thought we’d lose your leg if not your life.”
“The infection’s gone?”
“Yes-s. But it still looks bad.” Her brow lined with another worried frown. Her gaze flicked to his legs and back. “I-I’m not sure you’ll ever completely recover from that wound.”
The reality of the truth: you won't ever be the same as before. Through luck, carelessness and/or lack of training or funds or uncooperative military bureaucracy, life will never be the same.
Soldiers who've given their lives for their country and come back injured severely—and their families—face extreme difficulties. It takes strong and determined companions to get through, to accept the fact that this new life will be a life long endeavor. There are no magic wands to change the facts of war.
Besides the horrific injuries many face, the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with its moodiness, verbal abuse, feelings of wanting to commit suicide, embarrassment, rejection, etc. takes its toll on soldiers.
What You Can Do:
In the second book of my THE SPIES OF WWII series, Book Two: A Flute in the Willows, I tried to show a bit of this in Jerry and the effect it had on Josie, his wife. Young and inexperienced, both of the Pattersons struggle to understand and deal with conflicting emotions. Josie's father, experienced in war service, offers advice and encouragement.
“You're going to have to be stronger than you've ever been in your life.” He warns Josie, and those words stay with his daughter over and over to strengthen and give her a boost to not give up on Jerry. In time her patience and love for Jerry win out.
“I'm here if you ever need to talk.” Knowing what military service is like, and having lived long enough to know a few things, Captain Ossie, Josie's father, offers, but never intrudes on
- Families need to understand that their soldier is going through unspeakable damages. Love, offer help and listening ears, don't talk when their loved one is moody, encourage and never, never give up on them.
- Appreciate Friends who are there, offering hope and encouragement. Accept any help given and be grateful you have those kinds of friends.
- Encourage your hurting soldier to turn to God. Ask and accept God's guidance as you do what you can for your soldier. God is truly the only source who can pull a person through. Whatever comes, God is the strength, the supreme encouragement, the one who understands all, and the one who loves you unconditionally. Lean on him. Trust. Believe.
That's what it takes for servicemen/women to overcome the worst of the nightmare of PTSD and injuries during the Christmas season--or anytime throughout the year. God, understanding, and love.
Read about the Patterson's struggles and how God helped them overcome
their troubles in the midst of danger and heartache.
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