In Their Own Words - Mark Moody
First Lieutenant, Mark Moody, U.S. Army, was a proud member of the National Guard for 13 years when he was injured in 2006.
When he came home, he needed support keeping his family together and with life’s expenses. CSAH heard of Moody’ problems and stepped in. “It is unbelievable how much they have been willing to help and then they tell you ‘thank you’ after they help you,” he said.
Like so many other families, Moody’s family was strained after the war. His first-wife and his three daughters live in Mississippi where he was originally stationed for his rehabilitation. However Moody had to move to New York to be to closer to the James J. Peters VA hospital, a place that could better suit his rehabilitation needs. Since his move there Moody has been forced to be away from his family. “I would do anything to be close to my daughters, I just have to have this medical treatment right now,” Moody said.
Due to Moody’s great medical needs, he has little extra money to spend to visit his family in Mississippi. So when The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes heard that Moody had been apart from his children for over six months, they funded a trip for him to see his family. “My family is so important to me and I would do anything to stay close with them. The Coalition understood that missing them was an additional pain that I did not need on top of my physical conditions and they helped me out,” he remembered. “If it had not been for the Coalition, it would have been a lot longer before I could have seen my girls.”
CSAH continued to say “thank you” through financial support
In addition to the Coalition funding Moody’s trip to see his family, the Coalition helped Moody once he moved to New York. “I was living in an apartment that was not sanitary. It was small to begin with and then my wife, Rosalia, and I had a baby and it became even more cramped,” Moody recalled. “There were rats and mice in that apartment. Not to mention the heat and ventilation were unbearable. It was bad for my medical conditions.” The Coalition learned of these hardships for the growing Moody family and answered their prayers. The Coalition provided the Moody’s with several months’ rent at a new apartment that is only two blocks from the hospital. The apartment is much larger than the Moody’s previous apartment and sanitary, which will facilitate a quicker recovery for his medical problems.
In addition to keeping Moody’s family in Mississippi as close as possible, the Coalition has helped Moody’s new family with a Wal-Mart gift card for food and making several of his car payments.
Since his injury Moody stays at home daily with his five-month old daughter, Savannah. When he does leave it is for his extensive medical treatments at the VA hospital down the street.
Moody’s injuries were incurred in 2006 when an I.E.D. hit. He does not recall much of the incident. Following the incident Moody tried to hide his injuries so that he could stay with his troops, however he suffered such traumatic brain, back and neck problems that it has been an ongoing problem since returning home to receive care. Moody currently suffers from Traumatic Brain Injury, Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, lung and leg problems. His headaches and memory loss from these injuries prevent him from returning to work to replace his civilian salary.
“CSAH helps you and then they tell you ‘thank you’”
A soldier that served beneath Moody, contacted the Coalition on his behalf. “He was worried about me,” Moody recollects. “He knew that I was having trouble and that the Coalition was a wonderful organization that wanted to help me.” It was true; the Coalition wanted to help him. “It is hard for someone like me to ask for help, but they are a group of people who obviously really care about me as an individual and my family. I can’t thank them enough.”