Family is Key

Interviewer: I sit here thinking about your mom and dad, and you know they had two young sons who made the choice to both go in the military and unfortunately both become injured. How do they see that as parents and acceptance and willingness to help?

You know it was tough but they are very strong and I think they instilled in my brother and I the motivation to keep on going and despite any adversity that you feel there’s ways around it and to keep on going. They are very supportive. They are very proud parents and, you know, without them raising us and I can’t imagine now that I am a parent receiving those phone calls or knocks on the door of what’s going on, you know, it’s got to be tough. But they’ve been strong and they’ve been steadfast supporter of my brother and I throughout. It’s going to be challenging at times for sure.

For me, I met my wife after I was injured so she’s been great in accepting me for who I was and my children now, they’re young and now they’re starting to ask the questions about military service and what happened and very inquisitive about it. The support there for me, my family is one of those escapes from those challenges, you know, if I am having a bad day and I just go see my kids and play around with them a little bit it turns everything. It’s another look at things like so you know when I go do Remembrance Day ceremonies I used to go and do them at local cenotaphs or what have you but I have started going to my kids school and I find it so pure and innocent about their knowledge of the wars and remembering those who have passed for the country, you know, I find it really touching and a great way to share that with my kids. Now they are starting to see, yah my dad served and my uncle served and all that so they have been very supportive. Family is the key and you are right, if you are an injured or ill member it’s not that member that’s only life has changed, it’s the whole family.