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"Hooah" from Fort Benning: White Phase: Determination
By Brandy Lewis
Tradgedy fell on Cade and it kills me to be so far away from him
because I cannot be by his side. Cade fell and broke his right
hand, creating a small hairline fracture over the knuckle of his pinky
finger. Now, the worry of being recycled is always on his
mind. Recycled is where you are forced to start over again.
He talks about making us proud. I'm quick to write back that we
will always be proud of him.
Cade admitted, "this is the hardest thing that I've done in my
life. I want to prove people wrong because I can do this. I
can make it because I am #ARMYSTRONG and #CADESTRONG. I will not
let this hand stop me from graduation."
He is in sick call and misses his PT test. Now, he can't do push
ups with a broken hand and everyone is worried about him getting out of
shape.
Then when you think things can't get any worse the phone call home that
was promised by the D.S. is cancelled. No reason is given why.
The next time we hear from Cade his spirits are up. He just
finished his shooting qualifications and states, "I found out I'm a
good shot after all." He also says, " Shooting is fun to me but I
don't want to shoot people but will if I need to." The harsh
reality of the Army on his mind.
His first job ever, he is excited about all the money he will
have. He now has over $1000 dollars in his account and states,
"That's a lot of money!" He wants to fly us over to Italy for the
holidays. I wrote him to save his money but I doubt that will
happen because money burns a hole in my son's pocket...lol.
Once again, upset about his lost phone call, he cleans his weapon and
then sneaks to the bathroom and goes to a stall for a nap. I
think he's pretty lucky he didn't get caught or he might not get a
phone call again!
Cade went to sick call and waited several hours to see the
doctor. He had removed the splint to write us against doctor's
orders. I had just written him to follow instructions so it will
heal quickly but know it will be over a week before he gets my
letter.
He goes to orthopedics the next day to get a cast. I'm upset to
hear about the cast because that means extended healing time and not
sure he'll be able to shoot with a cast on. I'm trying to stay
positive but worried he'll lose his duty assignment to Italy that he
wants so much.
My depression is erased with Cade's next letter. He wrote out the
Civilian Creed for us. He said he saw it at the doctor's office
and wrote it down for his family. He hopes it gives us motivation and
it did. We write in our letters #FAMILYSTRONG and that we
are. We always seem to know what we need to get through this
journey.
With family on our minds and he writes his sisters a letter. "How's
things at home and did you enjoy the summer without me," he asks?
"Probably more peaceful," (and that it was)! Then he gives them
words of wisdon from their older brother. He states, "You two
should stick together. It will make things easier. Two
heads are better than one." Then he asks, "if you have told your
friends that your brother is a tough guy in the Army who is going to
jump out of planes in Italy?" Then he finishes by saying, " I
love you Casey and Katelynn."
Upon his next visit to sick call they remove his cast. Cade says
his hand smells like rotten feet! They checked it out and he told
them it doesn't hurt so he's cleared to start training again. His
first thought is he doesn't have to worry about being recycled and
tells us he will be graduating on time.
With family day approaching he is constantly talking about seeing us
and wants us to bring his girlfriend, Lauren, along with us. We
encounter a problem because my car only holds five so we reserved a
rental car to drive her around safely. I'm bummed we will have to
split the family into 2 cars everywhere we go but he is beyond excited
to see Lauren. His solution was to have her ride on his lap for 3
days.
I don't think so!
Cade hopes the creed he sent helped. He writes we're
#FAMILYSTRONG, #ARMYSTRONG, #CADESTRONG and I add to all my letters
#ProudArmyMom!
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