The Warrior Games celebrate the rehabilitation and recovery journey of wounded, ill or injured current and former-serving military men and women.
However, it is also important to acknowledge the pivotal role that family and friends play in this life-changing journey, providing strength, hope and encouragement during good days and bad.
To say the road to recovery and rehabilitation is long is an understatement, for it is marked by painstaking challenges and setbacks as well as highly welcomed triumphs.
But the triumphs, no matter how small, are so, so sweet.
Speaking of her husband Adam Jackson, a former Army avionics technician, Kate Jackson recalled the moment he said their daughters’ (Maddy, 12, and Layla, 10) names for the first time after suffering a massive stroke, which left him completely paralysed down the right side of his body.
“The one thing our girls wanted was for Daddy to be able to say their names again. The day he said that was the most heartbreaking day in the world, but yeah, God it was a good day,” she said.
As timing would have it, Mr Jackson had his stroke as the world began to shut down because of COVID-19, limiting his interactions with his tight-knit Sunshine Coast family.
Initially, the inability to see his family impacted his recovery but, once he was able to see his girls and his wife, his rehab came forward “in leaps and bounds” – and his personal cheer squad has been there every day since.
“So when he’s at the gym, I’m at the gym with him. Or he’ll be helping the girls in their other respective sports or they’ll come to personal training sessions in the school holidays,” Mrs Jackson said.
“It’s all in – he wouldn’t be able to do it if it wasn’t for the support of his girls.”
This is a sentiment echoed by Emma Griffiths, who has watched her husband, Navy Captain Doug Griffiths, come to terms with a diagnosis of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and AL amyloidosis.
“Sports have always been a large part of Doug’s life, so to see him have the opportunity to use sports as part of his rehabilitation has been incredible,” Mrs Griffiths said.
“We (family and friends) are behind the scenes every day – supporting them, keeping their spirits up, helping them stay focused, making sure they’re getting to do what they want to do.
“Having the opportunity to be here at the Warrior Games to share this experience with Doug after all the ups and downs we’ve gone through is amazing.”
Mrs Jackson eloquently explained the parallel path that family members and friends take with their loved one.
“I know we all have good days and we all have bad days, but I think to not have anyone there that you can trust and lean on and reciprocate all those things with would be beyond challenging,” she said.
“I know I need Adam when I’m having good days and bad days to share in the trials and the challenging moments. The same goes for Adam.
“I still remember when he was in hospital and he was going through rehab. Even though it was during COVID, when I could, I would be there with him and I’d either be holding a plank or a squat, sitting there, and putting myself in what is just the tiniest amount of discomfort compared to what he was in.
“But to just be there with him and sit beside him – sometimes you don’t even have to say anything – means a lot to that person. Just for them to know you’re there for support makes a world of difference.”
The Fisher House Foundation, who runs the Warrior Games Family Program, supported the 57 Team Australia family members and friends during their stay in Orlando, Florida.
The 2024 Department of Defense’s Warrior Games wrapped up on June 30.
