Wait...What???
Madi Is Back!
Notice the completed countertops in the galley? Notice the boatyard in the background? Notice Madi in the galley while were still on the hard? Isn’t she supposed to be in Great Lakes, IL at Basic Training? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you are correct. So…wait…what…why is Madi back so soon?
On February 5th (Madi’s 18th birthday) we got our first call from Mads from Basic. My heart is pounding out of my chest and my mind is racing. It was an unexpected call as, according to what we’ve read and heard, calls home usually start happening at week 3. It was too soon…so why is she calling, what’s wrong.
One early morning, Madi woke startled from her bed as she thought she was going to be late to her shift standing watch. Although she wasn't actually going to be late, in her sudden sleepy movements, she jumped out of her top bunk and landed funny on her knee tweaking it. In pain, scared and worried, she was sent to medical and put into a separate training program for her knee to heal. Unfortunately, when it came time for her to complete the run portion of the physical assessment, she was not completely 100%. She finished the run, but was too slow on her time which led to her failing the physical assessment.
Scared, disappointed, and homesick, she faced the possibility of being separated from training…getting sent home. She spent the last several weeks pleading her case to her superiors in order to get another chance to make her run time, but unfortunately, not all her requests made it up the chain of command in enough time or even at all.
Yesterday, Madi flew home to us…separated from the Navy. She was told to come home, heal and regain strength and in 6 months she can start the enlistment process again. Her knee is feeling better as she has spent the last few weeks in the Separations Division, which means no physical training, so she defiantly doesn’t feel stronger.
Even though we are saddened by this turn of events, selfishly, our home feels more complete having her here with us. Mads has decided that she will stay with us, for now. She isn’t sure what her future will hold, but she gained so much in such a short time at Basic Training. I think she is mentally stronger now than she was when she left, and she’s definitely more grown up…I feel like she left a scared little girl (because that’s how a mom would see it) and came back a more independent, stronger, woman! So, where ever her path may take her, I know she’ll be able to conquer the world…I’m happy this part of the path she’s chosen to start it with us!