Her grandfather served in the military, as did her husband Chris’* grandfather and brother*. But it was her husband’s service to Australia that has taken such a toll on Libby and her four children: and most of all, on this brave former paratrooper.It is hard for anyone who has not served in a theatre of war to fully appreciate the long-term cost of war and service. Chris served our nation with distinction for 16 years. He deployed three times – and due to his service, he now lives with debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The couple’s children – Liam* (19), twins Ethan* and Mia* (16) and 13-year-old Ruby* – have also borne the cost of their father’s service to Australia.
Out of respect for her husband, Libby prefers not to go into detail about what her family has endured due to his service. But she does acknowledge that she was in a desperate situation when she reached out to Melbourne Legacy for help six years ago.
From the moment I reached out to Melbourne Legacy, they have shown genuine interest in my family’s wellbeing. Even from the earliest days, they would ring regularly and check in on me to make sure I was okay.
That emotional support is everything… but they’ve helped in some many other practical ways.”
When Libby was hospitalised suddenly due to a heart attack, the family was in a state of crisis. With Libby out of action, Melbourne Legacy stepped up to ensure Chris and the children were supported as Libby underwent emergency heart bypass surgery, providing emotional support and emergency financial relief to ensure Chris could still put food on the table.
Libby is incredibly grateful, and says knowing Legacy was there for her family gave her peace of mind during this most stressful time.
As Libby returned home and family life started to return to routine, Libby found that her children were in need of some extra support and a break from the challenges they face at home. When Libby and Chris heard about Melbourne Legacy’s youth camps, they felt it was important for their kids to be surrounded by others who understood their unique experience.
These camps are about so much more than giving children of veterans the chance to enjoy outdoor activities and personal development opportunities.
They are a place where Libby’s kids were able to connect with peers who truly understand what they have gone through. At camp, they could talk freely about the emotional stress of living with their father’s PTSD and lean on camp leadership for guidance and advice.
I know my children would have missed out on so much if it wasn’t for the ongoing support of our case manager and the team.
I don’t think ‘thank you’ expresses just how grateful our family is to Melbourne Legacy.”
With your support, we can reach more families like Libby’s with critical support when they need it most.
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