Thanks, Ray. I hope your recovery goes well, and you're back on the bike very soon.

BTW, Brent is no longer attached to D Company, 2-12N (as I indicated above), and is being attached to a new unit at Ft Carson, CO. He said to just use SFC Brent Fetters on your jersey. It's going to take awhile for all this to happen, so he will be in Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX, until he has orders to return to CO. His wife and sons are en-route to Texas right now to be with him.

Thanks again for doing this, Ray. Brent (and our family) deeply appreciate it, and he was very touched by your thoughtful gesture!

- Jerry

 

"I am riding for SFC Brent Fetters" will be displayed on the back of my jersey directly above my Rider No. The ride is scheduled for the last Saturday in Sept. I am so glad he knows this and I am so proud to do this for him and your family.

 

Thanks again, Ray. Keep on rollin', and have a safe ride!

 

Everyone.

Just thought I'd post an update regarding my son's current situation for those interested:

In mid-August, Brent contacted me from Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) near Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX, with a request. He had been at BAMC since early August, and his family (wife and two sons) had driven down from Colorado, and had been with him for the past couple of weeks. They were all staying at the Fisher House (for wounded warrior's families) while he was dealing with all the paperwork and meetings required to get transferred back to his home post at Ft Carson, CO. What he thought would be a few days at BAMC, turned out to be several weeks. Well, it IS the Army.

On the phone, he informed me that their 10-yr-old son needed to return to Colorado and resume school, and he wondered if I would drive to Colorado and stay with him until the family returned from Texas. After some last-minute scrambling, I loaded up the CR-V and headed to Colorado. I met my grandson at Denver International Airport, and we spent about a week together at their home in Colorado Springs. Then the plans changed again. Brent's wife and 2-yr-old son needed to return to Colorado also, and get their animals (2 dogs and a cat) out of the kennels, etc. I was to drive on down to San Antonio, TX, to be with Brent for the duration. Karen and I crossed paths in Amarillo, TX, then continued driving to our respective destinations.

I spent the next two weeks with Brent at BAMC. I found him doing well, and in a good frame of mind. We watched a lot of football, and I heard some war stories and saw photos that I'll never forget. He was taken from being an Infantry Platoon Sergeant working 24/7 to sitting in a room with no job in just a matter of days. It was (is) quite an adjustment!

I drove him to all his routine formations and appointments, and it was an unforgettable experience! This is where all the wounded warriors come from Iraq and Afghanistan, and there are some very sad sights to see. Many of the soldiers spend several months and/or years recovering there. Early every morning, the soldiers from all the various Companies report for Formation in their uniforms (if they can). They snap to attention...some on crutches, canes, leg braces, etc, and many in wheel chairs with missing arms, legs, hands, and feet. Some are burned over large portions of their bodies, but they do what they can to maintain dignity and professionalism. They aren't looking for sympathy, but just respect. Believe me, I definitely respect, support, and thank them all for their service, and the sacrifices they have made. Their young wives or a parent stand behind the wheel chairs, and everyone can tell a story that breaks your heart. They're healing and mending broken bodies and lives, and my heart goes out to them and their families. What a sight it is to see a young warrior learning to walk again with double prosthetics! His buddies cheer him on, and reach out to catch him when he falls. Everyone in this huge campus/facility has been impacted by the wars in one way or another, and there is a quiet camaraderie and reverence that permeates the place. I could go on and on, but words just don't do it justice. You have to experience it...and everyone in this Nation should. I will never be the same again.

After the extended Labor Day weekend, Brent finally received his Release Orders. Two days later, we left San Antonio at 20:15, and drove 950+ miles straight though to his home in Colorado Springs. He was cleared to drive, so we traded off and rolled non-stop (except for fuel and relief stops) for 15 hrs.

He has been home for nearly two weeks now (one week on leave), and will be starting his MS treatments soon. He will see the neurologist this Thurs, and we hope and pray his symptoms can be controlled successfully. He walks with a cane sometimes, and exercise seems to tire his legs. He also becomes dizzy when tired or stressed, and his left side has been numb since Saturday. He will be working with the Army to establish his Military Disability, then he will be discharged. This will probably take most of a year. He's very happy to be home in Colorado with his family, but will not rest until all his guys are safely back home.

Thanks for your time in reading this update, and for all your thoughts and prayers on my son's behalf. Having him home is truly a blessing, and I'm glad he will never be deployed again.

- Jerry

 

A bittersweet story, Jerry. Thanks for telling it. Best of luck to your son and his family. The Tough Mudder races (one of which the +1 ran a couple of weeks ago) benefit the Wounded Warrior Project - a worthy cause.

P.S. A relative by marriage has had MS for some time now. Not sure how much she would be willing to share, but let me know if you would like me to check.

 

Thanks for the update, Jerry. Hoping your son does well and glad there will be no more deployments for him.

 

 

Thanks for the update, Jerry. Glad your son is home and we hope for continued improvement with his medical issues.

He and his family are lucky to have Grandpa Jerry helping out.

 

^^ Thanks Deb. I agree that the "Wounded Warrior Project" is a very worthy cause. I was gratified by the way we were treated while staying at the Fisher House, and the WFSC (Warrior and Family Support Center) is amazing: http://www.bamc.amedd.army.mil/military/wfsc/ Almost every day either lunch and/or dinner was provided by them, and many local restaurants sponsor dinners at WFSC. The volunteers are wonderful, and genuinely care for the warriors and their families.

I cannot say enough about them and all the effort that is put forth to make the time spent at BAMC as pleasant and accommodating as possible. The grounds around the area are beautiful and well-kept. Although my son couldn't enjoy most of it because of the walking required, I spent some time in the beautiful gardens, and walking the gravel track that meandered among waterfalls, etc.

Thanks for mentioning your friend, but I'm hoping my son will keep me up-to-date on his prognosis and treatment. I know MS affects people in different ways, and it seems to be more aggressive in some than others. In the past three months, Brent's symptoms have increased considerably, but I've also noted that stress seems to aggravate them quickly. While I was with him, I did my best to help keep things as stress-free as possible without pampering him. Afterall, he is an E7 Infantry Platoon/Drill Sergeant, so he's not accustomed to being pampered...ha! His Profile indicated that he was cleared to drive, and I'll never forget the look on his face when I handed him my car keys, and said: "Let's go have a steak dinner." He loves driving, and his whole demeanor changed after that. Driving gave him independence and control, and he did very well...especially when he took his turns on the long drive home. I made sure he drove the final leg of the trip, and pulled into his own driveway. He was finally home...to stay!

 

Jerry, thanks for the update. There appears to be some very promising news regarding MS treatments. I actually just saw this info today.

Best of luck to your son