Today hubby had an appointment that could determine our future. It was a Med Board appointment. (For all of you non military people, that is basically an appointment to decide if he can be medically retired instead of finishing up his enlistment.) Since his enlistment is almost up, and it could mean receiving a percentage of his pay once he gets out, we were hoping they would go for it.
Well, it didn't end up that way. Because the issue he has is treatable, they can't med board him. Of course we don't have the results of his TBI screening, so it could still change. But they did figure out the doc they sent him to before was a joke, so they are sending him to see an orthopedic surgeon for his knee, which may end up in surgery. So I'm gonna call that a win! Time will tell, but he gets out in less than a year, so there isn't too much time.
At first I was disappointed. Then I realized that maybe what we thought we wanted wasn't such a good idea. Yeah, it could mean a few decent benefits for him. But would they make up for difficulty in finding a job due to his disabled status? I know a lot of people hire "disabled vets". Or they claim to. But his issues are something he works through every day. For him not to be hired for a job because of it, even though he could perform the duties associated with it would be worse! He isn't the type who can sit at a desk. He needs to work outside and stay active. He can't be sentenced to a desk job because of his back pain and knee problems. He will deal with them like he always has.
I guess my point is: Be careful what you wish for. Or if you get a response you didn't want, look at it another way. It may turn in to just the response you needed!
No matter what the outcome, I know we will manage. We will make the best of whatever life throws at us, and we will do it together. I am proud of my husband's military service and I always will be, but it's time for us to be a civilian family. He has earned it. And I will be just as proud of him no matter what job he has next.
P.S. The song Unanswered Prayers came to mind and was the inspiration for this. And it is also because a friends Dad pointed out that hubby looks like Garth Brooks! HAHAHA I hadn't thought about it, but he kinda does. (A younger Garth, that is!)
