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WOUNDED WARRIORS' WIVES BAND TOGETHER --

"He's lost two inches of his brain, he's lost hearing,

he's lost memory, he's lost a lot -- he's lost his identity."

 

 

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Be sure to watch the video at the link below.

Story here... http://www.nbcsandiego
.com/news/14045643/detail.html

Story below:

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Wounded Warriors' Wives Band Together

SAN DIEGO -- A group of local military wives, with husbands wounded in the line of duty, are among the first in the nation to band together with a support group for themselves.

NBC 7/39 medical correspondent Peggy Pico spoke with a Camp Pendleton woman who helped pioneer a group here in San Diego. It's called, "Wounded Warrior Wives."

Tonia Sargent is a member of the group. Her husband, Master Sgt. Kenneth Sargent, was shot during combat three years ago. The bullet entered through his right eye and exited the left side of his head.

"He's lost two inches of his brain, he's lost hearing, he's lost memory, he's lost a lot -- he's lost his identity," Tonia Sargent said.

Her husband is getting physical therapy for his wounds, but there was not one to help her or their children cope with the aftermath, she said.

"As a wife, it's very difficult to admit that you can't do it all," she said, fighting back tears.

So she teamed up with Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization to help families of sick or injured troops of all military branches.

"I'll open my hurt and pain and my 20 years of love as a Marine Corps wife and I'll be the vulnerable person for that family that just can't do that," Tonia Sargent said.

Tricia De La Paz is with Operation Homefront. She said those who attend the therapy group do not need to have loved ones with injuries received on the battlefield.

"For us an injury is an injury and an illness is an illness regardless of when it happens--and it still affects the family dynamics either way," De La Paz told NBC 7/39.

A licensed therapist attends the meetings, and their Web site offers a live chat-- and more. The whole point is to support spouses of the ever growing number of wounded warriors.

"Deployments are up, divorce is up, child abuse is up -- I don't want to see those increase. I want to see the support resources go up," Tonia Sargent said.

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Larry Scott  --