Trusting God’s Plan: My Unexpected Army Discharge

Welcome to part two of the “God Writes Straight with Crooked Lines” series.

In the previous post, I discussed my unexpected injury, which led to my ultimate discharge from the Army. I mentioned that when I enlisted, I intended to serve twenty years. If our plans do not align with the Lord’s intention, they will never play out as we expect.

Picture a street parade with all the floats and entertainment coming by in a single procession. You can only see as far as your eyes can see. Now, think of God having a bird’s-eye view of that parade. Life is like this parade. We can see only so much, but God sees it all—from the beginning to the end.

For four weeks after my injury, I was placed on bed rest. I was in crippling pain. I wanted to reach inside my back and pull the nerves out. The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt. I could barely walk. The medications I was on were not working. My world was falling apart. In my tent back in Kuwait, while everyone slept at night, I lay awake writhing in pain. During the days when they went out to work, I tried to sleep. Everything was backward for me. I was a mess.

One night, the pain got so bad I lay on the floor because it was the only thing that brought some form of relief. The hard, cold stone pressed against my back gave enough support to take some weight off my back. I can’t remember exactly when I got my friend, Pete, to take me to the emergency room that night, but I knew I had to go. I could not survive on the medications I had. So, Pete and two other guys I had formed a friendship with during the deployment borrowed this busted-up truck from our motor pool and drove me to the emergency room.

Looking back, I can laugh hysterically about the entire experience. This truck was big, loud, dirty, and ugly! Now, picture me, who could barely walk at the time, being carried out and trying to get into a truck with a female half my height because the men weren’t allowed in our barracks. Thankfully, the ER was close by. The doctor on call told me there was only one thing left for them to try to help with the pain: ketamine. My knowledge of ketamine at the time was that it is a horse tranquilliser. At that time, I was about 160 lbs. They dosed me, and for the first time in my life, I hallucinated. I saw a kaleidoscope of colours floating in front of my eyes; I had visions while wide awake. I was floating. I was disassociated. I sang “Like I Loved You” because country music was a comfort even in a dissociative state, and it so happened to be playing on the radio. I was a goner! It was a comically horrible experience.

They did not keep me overnight, and once it was safe for me to leave, my three friends got me into that fitful truck. Once again, Pete carried me on her back to my bed once we got back to our barracks. I think I slept that night. To this day, Pete is an angel sent from God himself. I met her, and we instantly connected. Not only was she a fellow Jamaican, but we got each other. I would have never gotten through without her. Thank you to Espinal, Rahman, Simms, Mack, Morales, and Martinez. Captain Gerjoi and Lieutenant Bailey-my amazing doctors. Thank you. Thank you for getting me through. For making me laugh through the pain, keeping up with me, and just being there even after I was medevaced out. Thank you!

I volunteered for that deployment because I needed a change. I wanted to get away. Never would I have imagined the complete 180 my life would have taken. My ordeal changed me. It tested my limits physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The journey from then until now has been transformative, turning pain into strength and uncertainty into a renewed sense of purpose.

This experience has shown me that our plans are often just a starting point. The true path is revealed through trials and unexpected turns, guiding us to places we never imagined. As I look to the future, I carry these lessons, embracing the unknown with confidence and faith.

The Power of Faith and Support

During those nights in Kuwait, I often questioned why this happened to me. Why was I in so much pain? Why did my career have to end this way? It was during these moments that my faith was tested the most. I prayed for strength, relief, and understanding. Slowly, I realised that this experience was shaping me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. It taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of relying on a support system.

Embracing the Unexpected

My injury forced me to slow down and reevaluate my life. It made me appreciate the small victories, like walking a few steps without pain or having a good night’s sleep. These were things I had taken for granted before. I also discovered new passions and interests that I might never have explored if I had continued my military career as planned. I started focusing on my education (associate’s degree completed after five long years and bachelor’s in the works to be completed next May) and family and finding new ways to contribute to my community.

Looking Ahead with Hope

As I prepare to transition to civilian life, I am filled with hope and anticipation. My journey has been far from easy, but it has been gratifying. I have learned that while we cannot control everything that happens to us, we can control how we respond. I choose to face the future with optimism and faith, knowing that God’s plan for me is far greater than anything I could have envisioned.

This is just the beginning of my story. Thank you for joining me in this series. Stay tuned for more reflections on the unexpected paths that lead us to our true purpose.

Until next time,
Abby