Garret recently bought a necklace carved from whale bone. This design symbolizes marriage and growth in love. He had “G (heart) A” engraved on it! I love this necklace! Not only is it the coolest design, but the symbolism behind it makes it a thousand times more awesome! It will make a great Hawaiian keepsake!
A couple of weekends ago Garret and Company went on one of their Kaneohe Bay fishing trips! Here are the pictures of that adventure! Garret’s friend, AJ, caught a stingray! Fun times!
Ok, so I haven’t written in a while about what’s going on with Garret and the Army situation. So here’s the Reader’s Digest condensed version (notice it’s still forever long! Imagine what the real version is like!).
We had really wanted to get Garret into the Warrior Transition Brigade (WTB) so he could solely focus on getting better, have a primary care manager, and a little guidance through the maze that is the Army. Long story short that isn’t going to happen. Why? Two reasons. The first is that the packet of paperwork we turned in two and a half months ago to his company to fill out their portion and then submit it to Tripler, is now lost. That’s right no one knows where it is. Although, Garret and I, and a few of the other SGT’s in his company believe that it is still in his Platoon SGT’s car who is gone to the NTC right now and won’t be back until next week. The second reason is that one of the requirements to get into the WTB is that you have to need six months of complex medical care. Two and half months ago he needed that much care, now he doesn’t because he’s already two and a half months into his treatment, and therefore would not meet the necessary and mandatory requirement.
So, what are our options now? That’s a good question, and if someone figures it out, would you be so kind as to let me know!!!! One of the most frustrating things about the Army is that if you ask 3 different people a question, you will get 3 different answers! Too bad in our case it’s been more like talk to 20 different people who have power and authority and are supposed to know what the hell they’re talking about, and get 20 varying, some even ridiculous, stories/answers! How can anyone accomplish anything with this sort of behavior? Seriously, I don’t know how the military functions (at a worldwide level) with so many people like this in it!
We realized a long time ago that his Chain of Command would be absolutely zero help and essentially worthless to us in our quest to find a solution. This realization has been confirmed time and time again, just like it was yesterday when we found out the WTB packet was lost. It’s really rather pathetic actually. As an NCO you’re whole focus is on the mission and the welfare of the soldiers beneath you. Well quite obviously, in our case, they failed miserably on maintaining and aiding in the welfare of this soldier, and if that’s true then their mission cannot succeed either. Don’t you feel better knowing that the security of the country lies in the hands of people like this?
To be fair, not all of the Army is like this. There are some truly amazing people and leaders within the Army community. Unfortunately for us, they’re just not part of our unit.
Then yesterday we get a call saying he had to be back at Tripler today to talk about his med board. WTF? Are you kidding me? You mean the one that was started and then abruptly stopped because the profile that initiated it wasn’t even approved? But, when the Army calls you have to go and so he did. The outcome for today was once again to toss it out, this time supposedly officially, unlike last time apparently.
The NCO handling Garret’s case today (another completely new person, might I add) also said that if he was put in for another med board anytime in the near future, he would most likely be honorably discharged due to medical reasons. This is the last thing we want. Especially since Garret is finally getting better. Very, very slowly, but getting better none the less, and that’s all that matters! Even though he may not be able to do all of the physical aspects of a mechanic he would be able to do so many other jobs in the Army. Ultimately that would be our goal, for him to get well enough that he might be able to do a ruck march and qualifying (both include carrying or having on you very heavy items) so that he can get a P2 Profile instead of a permanent one and re-class to a different MOS (job). So we’re trying to bide time and make that happen, all the while trying very hard to avoid being sent up for another med board, because this time it would most certainly be the end of Army life for us. There are some other rather remote options, that probably wouldn’t work anyway, but we' re keeping them on the back burner just in case, because really you never know what’s going to happen.
In a nutshell we have absolutely no idea what is going on, what’s going to happen and when it will happen. For that matter we don’t have a clue as to how to make it better either! So, in the meantime, we’re just taking it one day a time, focusing on the good like Hawaii, our 
friends, and each other. Resting on the fact that was is meant to be will be, and it will be for the best. I may not have any faith in the Army, but I do have faith in the Universe and in God’s plan for us, and I will trust in that whole heartedly.
Last weekend Garret got up @ 3:30 in the morning to go fishing with his friend Carbone. Considering this plan was formed after 11:00 the night before, I thought he had completely lost his mind and was sure he wouldn’t actually succeed in waking up at the designated hour. I was even more sure that Carbone wouldn’t be at our house to pick him up at 4:00 like they had planned. Carbone’s a good guy, but he’s not the most reliable tool in the shed. I was wrong (not about Carbone being a good guy, but about them not being able to successfully wake up before dawn on a Saturday morning) who knew fish were so motivating? This information could prove quite useful later! :)
Here are the pictures that were taken in the early hours of the morning at the Kaneohe Marine Corp. Pier where they found themselves shortly after 4:30 AM. I know I’m biased, but my hubby is developing quite the eye for picture taking!
They didn’t catch a whole lot of fish, but they made up for it in some great shots of Hawaii at it’s finest.
Garret’s been fishing with his friends a few times over the last few weeks. It’s one activity he can do considering it’s not very physically demanding. Although there can be and have been times when he’s not even up for this, as of late he’s been feeling a tiny bit better (and we will happily take any improvement) and celebrating it by getting out of the house and throwing a line in with his buddies!
Here are a few pictures of his last fishing trip at Kaneohe Bay. Unfortunately he’s not in any of them because he was the designated photographer that day, but still he wanted to share them just the same.
TJ with his first White Belly Jack
AJ’s Mom, AJ, and his wife Karis
While TJ sits and waits for a bite, Carbone is in the background catching bait fish
AJ’s Dad catches a Puffer Fish
Everyone gathers around the Puffer AJ’s Dad caught
Close up of the Puffer Fish (Icky, but aren’t all fish really)
TJ with his first Hammer Head Shark
They always catch crabs!
Garret always invites me to go, but lately I’ve said no each time because the thought of being away from my laptop for that long of a period of time gives me separation anxiety. We’re complete opposites, but what can I say, it totally works!
I saw this video in one of my AFTB instructor classes and there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
I am proud to be the wife of an Army Soldier.
I found this this video on YouTube and I was moved to tears. I just wanted to say to ALL the Soldiers out there, thank you. Whether you've deployed or not, you made a huge sacrifice to protect me and my freedom, and I cannot express how grateful I am for men and women like you. To the wives and families of Soldiers, thank you for all that you endure in the name of freedom.
Angela - The proud wife of an Army Soldier
I found this awesome photo while I was stumbling through cyber land using StumbleUpon. It's from Wikipedia and it was titled "Peacekeeper Missile Testing"
It can be tricky at times inter-weaving two blogs for one family. I've debated back and forth on the best way to handle this dilemma, and I've recently decided to make a change. From now on all things pertaining to me will be found on Angela's Soliloquy. All that Garret and I do together and all things pertaining to Garret will be found here. I'm going to it try this way for a while and see how it goes. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and I hope you keep reading!
As of today Garret has completed his physical therapy. I wish I could report it worked wonders and he's feeling a huge improvement, but not so much; and the quality of his physical therapy treatments have been a little questionable. He said that after he'd check in they'd just send him off to corner do his exercises, and that's pretty much the extent of it.
As a girl who has been in physical therapy several times (some of which completely restored my quality of life after traumatic injuries) I have some experience here. Not to mention I was the Front Office Manager of a physical therapy clinic, so again, I have more experience in this area than say, the average Joe. That said, my physical therapists were a lot more involved in my treatments. I mean how do they know if you're doing the exercises right if they're not checking in with you, and what, the exercises you learn the first day are it. That's all you'll be doing the whole time? Not in the clinics I've known.
To be fair, maybe therapy would be different for his type of injury. Still I've seen (and even had) a variety of injuries, and all of them require more interaction than he got. Maybe it's not the therapists at all, maybe it's the Army's regulations pertaining to physical therapy, although I would imagine in a profession where injuries, and severe injuries at that, are prone to occur they would have a fairly good program developed.
Also, in the civilian world, the therapist contacts the primary care or referring doctor once the prescribed amount of treatments had been completed to see if further therapy is needed. But, Garret doesn't have a primary care doctor, and the referring doctor was just one of many doctors that all the soldiers see, in place of primary care. In fact the doctor that finally ordered Garret's physical therapy (five months after the initial recommendation had been made by his surgeon) was just filling in and not even a regular member of the treating staff.
Whatever the case may be, the bottom line is, it was of little help. Fortunately Garret is still in aquatic therapy, in fact those treatments have been increased from one to three times a week. Additionally, he's still going to the chiropractor and pain management as well. There's still hope, it's just so unbelievably frustrating wading through the drama to find it.
Ok, so remember how a couple of weeks ago I said that Garret's WTB packet had been signed and was going for review, just kidding. Turns out his packet was JUST sent off a couple of days ago. Are you freaking kidding me????? All his Chain of Command had to do was sign one document, of an already completed packet, and still it takes them over a month to sign it and send it off to the appropriate people. It's ridiculous! It could take up to another 30 days to be reviewed!!!!!
His Chain of Command has clearly shown that they are not interested in making Garret's healthcare and rehabilitation a priority, and this is just another prime example. Given that his Chain of Command is the only channel we have to go through to get things done, we have a serious problem here. So what the hell are you supposed to do, when the people who are there to help you, aren't?
Meanwhile he still continues to have no Primary Care Physician, no one to coordinate and facilitate all facets of his therapy and care. Basically he's just floating in the wind, and whenever a strong breeze comes along he get's blown in a different direction. That sounds like the right way for the Army to be taking care of their soldiers, doesn't it. This delay is tremendously impacting his chance at rehabilitation (we've long since given up hope for "speedy" recovery).
One last little morsel of food for thought, Garret's pain management doctor had to fill out a matrix, which the Army use's in deciding whether or not a soldier should be transferred to the WTB. The score for his matrix was >1000 Failure to assign or attach Soldier to WTB likely to result in poor medical or psychiatric outcome, administrative delay, poor transition (back to the civilian world), or decrement in unit readiness. You would think the Army would be a little concerned about this, but I can tell you with all certainty his Chain of Command is most definitely not.
Recently my Mom came to visit us for about a week and a half. We had so much fun while she was here! We did lots of touristy stuff around the island and captured much of it in photos. I will post slide shows of the different places we went as my schedule allows.
Me and my Mom at the airport after her arrival in Hawaii
Garret with my Mom at the airport after her arrival in Hawaii
