Wounded Warrior, Wounded Wife: Not Just Surviving But Thriving is written by Barbara K. McNally. Meet twenty brave women. “Strong, patient, giving women are the unsung heroes, standing on the sidelines after the medals have been awarded, the parades have ended, and our soldiers finally emerge from the hospital, their lives forever changed.” The author profoundly states, “caregivers are the silent strength behind our soldiers.” The author makes it personal by telling her story of the man she witnessed jumping off the bridge, which immediately grabs the reader’s attention and emotions, making the reader want to know more. The author brilliantly weaves in mental health issues about the hijacking of mind and memory. All single women can find nuggets in the chapter on “How often should we be having sex?” The exhaustive list of resources included in the appendix alone is worth owning the book. Other significant information worth knowing are the five stages of grief; why to tell your story; and six things to know and do if someone in your life seems at risk for suicide. A must-read energizing book.
In Wounded Warrior, Wounded Wife, the stories flow well with each starting from surviving the unexpected, then moving towards thriving after help from various resources. The author addresses one couple of same-sex marriage, telling the story of how two women went from surviving to thriving through perseverance and determination. The book has all the elements of a well-written story with authentic references and content. The author did a great job writing and telling their stories. I was pleased to see that Barbara gave some positive credit to the VA hospitals and professionals who give their all to help the returning soldiers and their families. The list of resources is incredible. Thanks for telling the stories of the wives as we often forget to thank them for their services to this country.