If you were reading this then, you got quite a shock. If you're reading this for the first time now, you can get some perspective on what a wonderful person I married. My wife wrote this hours after being notified that I was wounded. She knew then that this blog was an important thing for me, that I actually had readers (Hi Mom!) and she believed that efforts to show people the real and tangible sacrifices my soldiers made every day were important.
Life can change for anyone in an instant. You are never ready for that change. You never expect it, and how you handle that change is the surest marker of your character. I handled it with lots and lots of drugs.
All below was posted 21 June, 2005.
This is Carren writing to tell Chuck's faithful readers that he has been injured, but is in stable condition. I won't give details for fear of misinformation (and the fact that this can be accessed by millions of people).
In general... Chuck sustained shrapnel wounds to his legs and arms from an IED. He and an Iraqi civilian were the only ones injured. The Good Lord above was looking out for him in a BIG way! He is probably in Landshtul, Germany by now and will be back in the states in the next week to 10 days (as far as I know right now). He still has his eyesight and has not sustained internal injuries that I know of. I have not talked to him yet... they have kept him sedated for his trip to Germany, as well as for pain management. He also has some injuries to his face, but I think it is just bruised/scratched up quite a bit.
On the homefront, we are all hanging in there. I have incredible support from family and friends and I feel very blessed. The fact that Chuck is still alive makes this bearable, all things considered. I hope to hear from him in the next 24-48 hours. I will keep you all posted as often as possible.
I ask your prayers for Chuck... strength, courage, quick recovery, his mental state, etc. For me, I just need strength to get through the unknown road ahead. The hardest part so far was telling our 5 year old son Creighton that his daddy was injured. He has a lot of questions, obviously, and I answer them the best way I know how. He is too smart to lie to, but definitely does not need all the details.
Just so everyone knows, Chuck did not lose his humor in all of this mess... I was told the first thing he asked when he was pulled from the canal (the blast blew him into a canal) was: "Be honest with me, guys. Do I still have my face and my 'package'?" That is sooooo Chuck. Always worried about his "manliness."
That's all I have for now. Please keep him and all of our deployed men and women in your prayers. I never thought my husband was immune to injury, but this was definitely a shock to the whole family.
Take care and God Bless,
Carren (a.k.a. The Mrs.)
