What Has the Army Done Right?!

On Team Allen we try to share as much positive information and as many news stories that we can find.  But it seems so much easier to find the bad and negative then to find the good and positive. So I wanted to talk about what is going right with us and the military. Please keep in mind I am only telling our story. I can find other families that will back up my claims. I cannot talk about PTSD and TBI therapies because Chaz is not being treated for those, but I can find you families who are. Also I can only speak about what I have seen as an Army wife. I am ignorant to all of the struggles of the spouses and caregivers from other branches. Although I know our lives and struggles are very similar.

First Army medicine has come a very long way. To me we are sitting amongst the best of the best. The Army took the time to train our medics and make them better. They want to get these soldiers home to their families. Bottom line is the battlefield medicine is saving lives! 6 years ago Chaz would have died and 3 years ago Chaz would have lost his arm. Think about that. Look how far they have come in such a short amount of time. Yes we have an increased number of amputees. It's because we've learned how to save their lives. I'll happily take my hubby the way I have him as opposed to not having him at all, no doubt about that! I am so not alone in this statement!

Second the surgeons and nurses who work on our soldiers are just incredible. If you sit and listen to what they are doing and then see the results. WOW! Most people don't even know Chaz's right arm doesn't move. His skin flap is amazingly beautiful. I'll never forget listening to them tell us what they were doing. It was wild. These surgeons and nurses try to think, "What would I want? Or what can I do to make their lives better?" Then they apply that to their patients. The nurses and surgeons are our soldiers brothers and sisters in arms and instantly become attached to your family and want to help you succeed.

Third the hospital is full of people who are fighting for these guys and gals. Everyone on our team is there for the right reason. Sure I had to fire a few medical people and a squad leader to build our team right. Smiles, hope and positivity are required to be on Team Allen. If you are a Debbie Downer or Nicholas Negative-Ninny you need not apply. And yes I have helped fire people for other families' teams. You cannot succeed with the wrong players on your team! I am proud to help find you a job that is more suitable. I have zero problems with helping you go down another path. Some people do not need to be helping our families directly. They are better suited for a desk job with little people interaction. We still need your help, we just may not need your commentary.

Fourth, the prosthetic and equipment people are so passionate about helping these guys it will bring tears to your eyes. I listened to one of our wheelchair people tell me his story about fighting to get parts to specially build these chairs for the guys. It made me want to cry. They love our warriors and want to see them succeed. They take so much pride in what they are doing.

Fifth, we have these great non-profits that constantly ask, "What do you need?" Seriously they would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. I think the meanest question I have been asked is, "Which one is your favorite?" I love them all, I could never pick just one. They are all ran by incredible Americans who want to help heal the families.

So long story short, we are very well taken care of. Yes sometimes we have to fight for things, but that's because some individuals do not get it!!! Yes I haven't threatened physical violence and I am not afraid to admit it. I told a full bird Colonel I would slam his head into a family picture on a wall until he realized that we are healing families here, not just the soldier. Fortunately command had a little chit chat with him and I won without having to hurt him.

Yes we have merger pains at Bethesda, I will not deny that. The Department of Defense told two major (and awesome) hospitals and branches to go share a bunch of buildings and to get along. That just doesn't happen over night. The bottom line is we have a bunch of people thinking that they know what is best, but they are not asking the people they are serving. That's where I come in and raise a little hell to show that it's not about what you think, it's about what our families need. Things are moving in the right direction because our leadership now is putting the right people into the right positions.

But please do not believe everything you read in the media or from some crazy drama queens who are just too afraid to deal with their anger and reality of their situation. The military is truly trying to help our families. But the military is ran by humans and they will mess up, just like you and I have and will. Please understand I am not trying to bash them, instead I want to show them our side of it and try to work with them to make it all better for our families. I hope you see that yes I am frustrated, but it's because I want to help and when you are just one person taking and are so outnumbered you can't help but be frustrated. God has put the right people on our path and together we are making things better for these families. Most importantly I want people to know our leadership cares. They care a lot! They are trying, but sometimes no matter how hard you try for some people it will never be good or fast enough. We live in the world of instant gratification. People want it their way now. I have a news flash, this is not Burger King and you are not always going to get it your way on demand. Sometimes you way is not the best way. Sometimes you have to sit down, breathe and be patient and let time help heal your all of your wounds.

In my experience with all of this, the ones who are yelling and crying the loudest are the ones who are usually the most inaccurate. Most importantly please remember you are only a victim if you choose to be. You have the power inside of you to rise up and make it better you just have to focus on that power inside and step in faith. God puts the stepping stones in front of you, you just have to step forward and know you may take a step back, but you will come out victorious in the end. Some people would rather sit down and whine and make you feel sorry for them. Chaz and I want the opposite. We want you to see that God is doing great things. We want you to celebrate life with us. We want you to see things are only as bad as you let them become. We got kicked down pretty hard in January 22. But since then God has blessed us again and again and again and I know there are more blessings to come.