Northern Connection magazine is proud to salute the men and women from the North Hills area who are serving in the military.

January 2008: Reach Out and Touch a Hero Wounded Warriors Project: Ted and Sarah Wade

By Paula Green

“Some people say that professional football and basketball players are heroes, but they are not.  The true heroes are the men and women who serve our country and fight for our freedom.”

—Senator Jane Clare Orie

This is the message that Senator Jane Clare Orie wanted to convey on Thursday, Dec. 6, as she presented her 4th Annual “Reach Out and Touch a Hero” press conference.  The event was held at the Ross Park Mall in Ross Township.

Several area local schools, students and various charitable organizations with military ties were in attendance.  Military guest speakers included: MSgt Ron Heitzenrater, 171st Air Refueling Wing; Spc Robert Kaminski, Army National Guard; Staff Sergeant Kevin Thompson, 171st Air Refueling Wing; Paul Cusik, Commandant, 3-River Leatherneck Detachment #310, Marine Corps, League; PFC Jordan Fox, Army, 1st Calvary 3rd Brigade, 1-12 Bravo Company.

Also in attendance was student speaker 8-year old, Tyler Kautzman of McCandless Township (center, photo at right).  Tyler is a second grade student at McKnight Elementary.  This past summer, he had a special request for his eighth birthday, instead of presents he asked for donations for the troops.  He received 400 pounds worth of items.  (Kautzman was featured in our November 2007 issue.)

The packages were sent overseas to local area soldier Sgt. Eddie Greiner and the members of his troop the 82nd Airborne Division.  Tyler received help shipping the packages from the Yellow Ribbon Girls, who are a trio of dedicated sisters that reside in Ellwood City.  This group is comprised of Bonnie and Patti Phillippi and Vicky Henley.  They were in attendance and spoke at the press conference.

Other guest speakers included: Operation Pittsburgh Pride and Sasha Riffe from Perrysville Elementary School, who runs a “Soldiers Angels” program.  The Presentation of Colors and the Retiring of Colors was conducted by the North Allegheny JROTC.  Deer Lakes Chamber Singers sang the National Anthem.  The Pledge of Allegiance was lead by St. Alexis School students.  Father Peter Murphy, pastor from St. Alphonsus Parish in Pine Township gave the opening prayer.  Other schools that participated in the program included: Marshall Middle School and North Catholic High School.  Additionally, the National Flag Foundation presented each member of the audience with a small souvenir American flag. 

The ceremony honored service personnel in attendance as well as those around the world.

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Wounded Warrior Project
Warrior Spotlight: Ted and Sarah Wade

By Jennifer Boyce

Sarah Wade rattles off her to-do list like any other harried woman trying to find time. You might expect squeezing in a haircut or meeting a friend for coffee, but Sarah’s list is different. She’s trying to find time to write an e-mail to an admiral on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, draft an appeal for her husband’s medical review board, coordinate medical referrals for insurance approval, check in with an amputee case manager, pack for an adaptive ski trip and still get her husband to his many medical appointments.

Life for Sarah and her husband Ted hasn’t followed the typical storybook ever-after. While they were dating, Ted’s Army unit was sent to Afghanistan in 2002 and then to Iraq in 2003. On Valentine’s Day 2004, Ted’s unit was part of a convoy in Iraq. Although most of the convoy passed unharmed, an improvised explosive device (IED) hit Ted’s Humvee.

The blast amputated Ted’s arm and caused many injuries, including brain damage that put Ted in a coma. Doctors transferred Ted to a specialized civilian hospital in Germany, initially refusing to send him back to the States, believing that he would never survive the trip. Ted surprised doctors by living through surgery and becoming stable enough to transfer to Walter Reed Hospital, where he spent three months in a coma. Doctors never expected Ted to wake up.

Three years after his injury, Ted continues to surprise doctors. Not only did he wake from the coma, but he also regained the ability to walk and speak. Sarah, Ted’s constant companion at Walter Reed, supervised his care and campaigned for the best treatment available. Despite the grave prognosis, Sarah refused to believe doctors’ predictions. The week Ted was finally released from the hospital, the couple married.

Ted and Sarah credit much of Ted’s recovery to their never-ending quest for the best treatment and their refusal to give up. After Ted’s injury, Sarah put school on hold to be a full-time caregiver and advocate. She continues to endlessly appeal treatment decisions to get the best specialists to continue Ted’s rehabilitation.

“Ted was injured three years ago, and he’s still making improvements. Until that starts to slow down, we’re not slowing down,” Sarah said. She adds, “Take every prognosis with a grain of salt. Don’t give up on a loved one too soon.” At the same time, Sarah cautions family caregivers to pace themselves.

“The battle is always going to be there. People tend to be frantic. The most difficult part is the uncertainty in knowing what the future will be like. There’s a terrible fear, and part of the urgency to get them into rehabilitation quickly is because you want to know what will happen. I think a lot of people believe that if they miss even a moment, then that person is not ever going to get better— that this is your one chance, and if you don’t seize the moment, then it will pass you by. There’s a danger in pushing yourself and your loved one too hard early on. This is a long haul, and no one’s a super hero. The best thing you can do for your family member is take care of yourself, because they need you to stay in the fight, too.”

In addition to working on recovery full-time, Ted and Sarah have teamed up with Wounded Warrior Project to bring attention to veterans coping with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Sarah’s hoping that by sharing their story, they can help improve the situation for others who face the never-ending complexities of life after a brain injury. Sarah explains, “There’s a big feeling of isolation for TBI patients. People need to know that they’re not alone.” 

Support Our Troops Archives - click to read about the service men and women previously honored in Northern Connection magazine.

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