Bob Herbert of the Times tells the tragic story of Bobby Rosendahl, a 24-year-old Army corporal from Tacoma, Washington.  Corporal Rosendahl was injured on March 12 in Iraq.  He has lost one leg to amputation and is struggling to keep the other, not least, his mother says, because he is a passionate golfer.  Corporal Rosendahl has now had 36 surgeries.

Herbert makes this important point

Families forced to absorb the blow of a loved one getting wounded frequently watch other pillars of their lives topple like dominoes. What is unusual with regard to this war is the absence of a sense of shared sacrifice. While families like Ms. Olson’s are losing almost everything, most of us are making no sacrifice at all.

One way to share in the sacrifice is to support Fisher House Foundation.  Fisher House donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times – during the hospitalization for an unexpected illnes, disease, or injury.

There is at least one Fisher House™ at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment.

Annually, the Fisher House™ program serves more than 8,500 families, and have made available more than 1,500,000 days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990.

[I]t is estimated that families have saved nearly $60 million by staying at a Fisher House™ since the program began.

To learn more about Fisher House: here

To give online: here

References

Herbert, Rob.  2005.  Lives Blown Apart.  New York Times. August 15, 2005. here.