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Thursday, March 28, 2024 - 06:04 AM

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

First Published in 1994

INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE VOICE OF
UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA

ORLANDO -- Sustaining a military marriage is difficult, especially when deployments keep a family separated for prolonged periods. The strain is intensified when there is an injury. According to the PTSD Foundation of America, an estimated two-thirds of marriages fail for troops suffering from combat trauma. Carlos and Rosemarie Evans know first-hand. In "Standing Together: The Inspirational Story of a Wounded Warrior and Enduring Love" (Kregel), they share their story of facing severe injury, rehabilitation, PTSD and addiction.

Like many others, after 9/11, Carlos yearned to do his part to serve his country and joined the Marines. During his fourth deployment, Carlos stepped on an IED. As a result, he lost both legs and his left hand. As his fellow Marines attended to him outside of camp in Afghanistan, Carlos' fight for his life was just beginning. For the next two years, he and his wife, Rosemarie, went through the rehabilitation process together. As a nurse and mother of two young children, Rosemarie was used to caring for people, but the task of taking care of her triple-amputee husband brought new challenges every day.

"Before leaving to go to Afghanistan, Carlos and I talked about what should I expect if I saw the Marines at the front door, but we never talked about him coming back home seriously injured," Rosemarie shares. "We didn't expect that and weren't aware of how many service members were injured in the war. When I stepped into Bethesda Hospital, it was eye opening to see how many wounded service members came back and how many families were affected."

In addition to his limb loss, Carlos faced PTSD and developed an addiction to painkillers. Unlike the majority of marriages put under similar strain, Carlos and Rosemarie stayed together. With the help of family, friends, and-most importantly-a strong faith, they've built a solid marriage and discovered a ministry they never expected.

Their story, which began in devastation, has turned into one that draws in and lifts up more people than they could have dreamed. Not only will disabled veterans and their loved ones find help in reading "Standing Together," their journey also speaks to those who long for stronger marriages, care for loved ones with disabilities, or are facing a new normal in their own lives.

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SOURCE Audra Jennings PR

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