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Joe Lorenzo Armijo
Joe Armijo provided the strength and substance to the theme of "the other ultimate sacrifice" by refusing to give up on himself and his family through while dealing with self-criticism, shame, and ...view moreJoe Armijo provided the strength and substance to the theme of "the other ultimate sacrifice" by refusing to give up on himself and his family through while dealing with self-criticism, shame, and hopelessness catalyzed by schizophrenia and physical illness. He was raised in a difficult environment where drugs, violence, neglect and abuse were commonplace. He chose to change his life - for himself and his future family. His plan for a happy marriage and providing better opportunities for his children than he had encouraged him to finish high school, the first ever in his family, to work hard, nurture himself spiritually, and eventually serve his country. He has accomplished his dreams, but it hasn't looked anything like what he thought it would. Well except that he now has a totally hot granny for a wife, and the cutest granddaughter ever. Joe wasn't a soldier; he was a sailor. He appeared whole when he came home from war, but he and his fellow shipmates all struggled with Gulf War Illness, and drifted apart, not trusting each other and gradually enjoying each other less and less. Joe never experienced combat, but was affected by sarin gas. The onset of delusions and a chronic GI bleed which has limited blood supply to his brain stumped us, and Joe struggles to maintain his footing in reality. This book has been a vulnerable experience for Joe, but he has supported me, read the manuscript over and over, and even contributed several pages. He has a generous heart and hopes his life can help someone else. He mourns the loss of who he was, but is thankful for who his is now (sometimes) and for our boys who have carried us, along with God, our families, friends, complete strangers, and my employers and co-workers, who sometimes had to let me hop on the phone or zip home to comfort or tend to Joe in his distress.view less
Books by Joe Lorenzo Armijo
Home of the Unknown Soldier: How Coming Back Became the Other Ultimate Sacrifice