Some Facts:
- 1.5 million troops have fulfilled 3 million deployment billets to Iraq & Afghanistan with most service members serving at least two and some as many as nine combat tour of duty.
- Between 30-40 percent of returning veterans today show symptoms of PTSD or report conditions of TBI.
- Since 2000, over 180,000 service members have been diagnosed with TBI.
- Each service member’s war experiences and injuries directly impact at least three and as many as 10 immediate family members and friends. This means that at least 4.5 million and as many as 15 million close family members and friends are deeply impacted by combat stress, PTSD and/or TBI from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan alone. This figure doesn’t include the lingering effects of war on the families of WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War or the first Persian Gulf War veterans.
Wounded Warrior,Wounded Home gives hurting families a look inside the minds and hearts of wounded warriors and guides them in developing their own personal plan for physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness in the wake of war.
My thoughts:
As you have already guessed, this is not my usual light-hearted, fun read. It was, in all honestly, probably the hardest book for me to sign up to review. It meant acknowledging that I needed this book. Our family is one of the thousands damaged by the effects of war. And it wasn't an easy read either. To be totally honest, there are some places I skimmed though because I am simply not in a place to take them any deeper.
The authors have done a great job covering topics like grief, compassion fatigue, finding a new normal and forgiveness. They talk about things that only someone who has been there can know: the pain, the exhaustion, the fear...
Interspersed in the pages are comments from real people, trying to live in the midst of the mess and being real and transparent. It is great to know that you are not alone, not the only one who has felt those feelings or thought those thoughts.
Included at the end of each chapter are questions for reflection, a chance to go deeper with yourself and with God.
Where will this journey end and what will it look like when we get there? I don't know. But thankfully, God does. And I will learn to be content with that...
About the authors:
Marshele Carter Waddell served with her husband, CDR (ret)
Mark Waddell, a career Navy SEAL, for 26 years around the world. Together with
their three children, the Waddells have endured many lengthy separations and
frequent deployments for combat duty, special operations training and real
world conflicts. Today, her husband is a disable combat veteran with PTSD and
multiple TBIs. Her son is currently serving in Afghanistan. 
Waddell is the founder of Hope for the Home Front and a frequent media guest on military issues. She has been featured in Time magazine, the BBC, the LA Times, the Washington Post, Fox News, the Armed Forces Radio Network and Focus on the Family's radio broadcast.
When Marshele’s husband retired, they moved to Colorado Springs where she began seeing Kelly Orr, a clinical psychologist and Vietnam veteran, as her therapist. Kelly has his Ph.D. from Biola University and completed a fellowship in Clinical Health Psychology in 1993.
If you are a spouse of a Wounded Warrior, find out about Hope for the Homefront and what they offer at their website.
The fine print:
Wounded Warrior, Wounded Home is available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed are all mine and I was not required to give a positive review.
Note: Sorry, but there won't be a giveaway this time! Due to lack of funds, I cannot continue to mail books out. Hopefully in the future, I can do a big giveaway to clean off my shelves. If you have a minute, would you please pray for a job for our family? Thanks!
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