Injury during boot camp

[Marilyn]

My daughter injured her left leg the week before she was to graduate, so she couldn't graduate. She is waiting for a bone or CAT scan which is scheduled for 4-20-10. The delay was due to the hospital running out of dye and also there have been a large number of left leg injuries. My daughter was told they are trying to figure out what is causing all of the injuries. Can anyone tell me what happens now?  Will they allow her to finish her PT testing and stay in the Navy once her leg is better? Any infinput would be welcomed.

[Marilyn]

Thanks for the input. Hopefully she will be able to call us to let us know the results of the MRI. She has written quite a few letters and seems to have a very positive attitude.

[TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom)]

Marilyn - My recruit has been in Ship 06 Div 2341 (RCU) since 3/19 due to an injury. He was 3 weeks out from graduation. Our letter written last Sunday, 4/11 said that he was back in training (had done damage control) and had a hand full of other stuff to do including gas Chamber, a test, pass his run (of course) and then Battle Stations. He was hopeful that it would be completed in "a couple of weeks" as long as his leg holds up. He will graduate, Lord willing, but not PIR. We're a little disappointed that we won't get to be there to see him PIR but this is the quickest route for him to complete his training and go on to A school.

We were not prepared for how down he was after he arrived at RCU. After the intensity of Boot Camp with his Division to go to RCU and be uncertain was a real blow to him emotionally. He had been a Section Leader in his division and a flag bearer and then had to miss his division's PIR and it dealt him a heavy blow. He's very upbeat now and looking forward to the future.

[Marilyn]

Thanks for replying to my question. It helps to know that other recruits are going through the same ordeal as my daughter. Hopefully we will hear from her this week as to the results of the MRI. I have a feeling it is a stress fracture of her left femur which will take several weeks to heal. She of course will have to redo her PT testing, not sure how she will do with the running, and Battle Stations. She is finished with everything else. She/we are very disappointed that she won't be having a PIR. We were packed and ready to leave the Wed before her April 9 graduation when we got her phone call about the leg injury. I believe things happen for a reason, we just have to wait and see what the reason is! She comes across in her letters as having a positive attitude, though I am sure she has down moments also. She really likes the Navy, so I am sure she will do whatever it takes to graduate from Bootcamp and go to A school. Right now she is bored because she is on medical restrictions so isn't doing as much marching etc. makes for long days. Glad your son is doing better and back to training. Thanks for listening!!!

[Marilyn]

An MRI done April 20 revealed a stress fracture of my daughter's hip. She was moved to RCU and is now doing physical therapy and swimming therapy. The physician is optomistic that that she will be able to pass the PT testing without any problems in 3 to 4 weeks. Sounds a little soon to me. She continues to have a positive attitude, is determined to graduate by the end of May. She is very homesick and looking forward to having liberty so we can visit with her. One nice thing for us is that she gets a phonecall every Sunday.

[TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom)]

Initially, my recruit THOUGHT he would get to call every Sunday but he's been in there since 3/19 and he has been allowed to call on Sunday twice. They were nice long calls but only 2 of them. Not to worry though, it still applies that no news is good news.

Except now for our household, he is supposed to do Battle Stations sometime this week so now we are praying for a phone call. Before, a phone during the week meant that there was a problem with his healing, now we look forward to a joyous phone call.

[Marilyn]

I know first hand about the phone calls. My daughter had written that they were to get a phone call, but it was "cancelled" because the PO found a candy wrapper in someone's bunk. We have learned to just "go with the flow". ( but it is still nerve racking when we don't hear form her!) Glad your recruit is ready for Battle Stations, hope you receive a happy phone call!

[TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom)]

he did Battle Stations Thursday night and I was on my way back to my office from the bank when my cell phone rang. I answered and it was him. "Hey mom, whatcha doing?" "Just left the bank and headed back to the office, what YOU doing" "Sitting at the NEX" "Son, are you finished" "Mom, I'm finished. Battle Stations last night. I did it. It's official. An officer called me shipmate"

I'm driving, talking and crying all at the same time. It's a miracle I didn't wreck or at least get a ticket.

It was hard work for him and he said that he worked every single day to strengthen his knee and had to fight his doctor every step of the way. An injury is not the end. I think God had to bring him down a peg and force him into self reliance since he didn't have us to lean on.

[Marilyn]

I am so happy your son finished Bootcamp!! We can't wait for that phonecall from our daughter. She continues to do rehab- they are really working with her so she can pass her PT. She has realized that it may take longer than she initially thought. She continues to be in good spirits- she had 1.5hours of "free" time on Sunday to make phone calls, get on the Internet and they were allowed to eat at Taco Bell at the NEX if they wanted to. She said the RTO was sick of looking at them !!! Thanks for "talking" with me- helps to hear from someone who is going through the same things.

[Roseann]

Oh my God, my daughter who is in this division told me the same thing. My daughter is in there for something with her leg that gave out during her run on March 18th, they just now did a bone scan last Thursday and we have not heard anything from her. She is totally depressed and wants to give up. I will support her in what ever choice she makes but staying and fighting a good fight and completing her PT and Battlestations which is all she has left would be the best choice. How do you tell her that when she is crying to come home? I can't believe how many of our daughters are there with each other and don't even know that we (mothers) are pulling together with all our support on the outside. My daughters name is Allison Franklin she speaks of a good friend named Stewart which they nickname Stewie. She said that they are Frankie and Stewie. This was a couple weeks ago I think. If anyone has a daughter that knows mine please write me.

[Roseann]

Hoppi (Angie), I am new too all this and I apologize for posting full name. I also realize that the choice of staying and fighting is completely up to her, which I will support her 100% either way. The reason I am on here is to locate other mothers who have daughters at the same ship and division to help find out a little about the process and the options that my daughter may have that she is not being imformed about as I gathered from our conversations. She is young, hurting and very confused along with being depressed. As a mother I hope you can understand that you would only go the furthest to help your daughter when she asks you for it and to protect her from any future disappointments. I sit here on pins and needles waiting for a call on what is happening with her and her medical status or whether or not they will keep her or send her home, and it's always I hear nothing. I hear nothing only due to the Navy's strict rules they we nor our children have no say so in.I know that others have been where my daughter is at and some were allowed to stay and heal and some were sent home. Thats what I want to find out for my daughter, whether or not she has a chance or not with her dream through this horrible storm she is in now with her injury. So Hoppi aka Angie, I am sorry if you thought I was forcing my opinion onto my daughters decision, which I'm not or would I ever do that for the fact that I would not want live with knowing I caused a mistake in my daughters life and hope you understand where I am coming from now.

[Marilyn]

Roseann- I know how difficult it is not hearing anything form your daughter. When my daughter had her MRI and it showed a stress fracture in the hip area she was transfered to RCU. Since being in RCU she has been able to call home almost every Sat or Sunday, last weekend she called both days. Whenever there is a change in status she gets a 10 minute call home.The Navy doctor has really been working with her and she hopefully will be declared Fit For Duty next Monday and then take her tests Tuesday/Wednesday. She has had ups and downs, but has generally been very positive. She does what she is suppose to do (was given an extra phonecall because she was one of five out of 60+ people who made their rack correctly). She goes to Chapel every Sunday, enjoys Bible Study and volunteers for special duties. Write to your daughter. My husband and I write to ours every day, even if it is just a note or a funny or inspirational card. The best part of her day is Mail Call!! My husband was in the Navy, so he knows what it is like not to receive anything in the mail. She also writes to us a few times a week. We race to the mailbox as soon as we get home form work. Receiving a hand written letter is so much better than an E-mail! My daughter mentioned that some recuits with injuries get sent home to heal, but I think that the recruit has some input and I am sure it depends on the severity of the injury. My daughter has been determined to stick it out because she has invested alot of time at BootCamp and doesn't want to start over which is what happens if they are sent home.
So... my advice is to support your daughter by writing to her. Tell her to keep a positive attitude and show the Navy that she really wants to complete her training. Some one my daughter and I met at Disney World on our Mother-Daughter getaway before boot camp told her to remember the phrase "This too shall pass"... I think it has helped both of us.

[Marilyn]

Just an update.... My daughter was released from RCU last Tuesday, passed her PFA ( did her run in 13min 30 sec, her best time ever)and Battle Stations on Wednesday and graduated on Thursday. She was granted liberty Thursday through Monday, we had a wonderful visit with her! She leaves tomorrow for A school in Meridian, MS alittle apprehensive, but excited to be moving on to the next step in her career with the Navy.