Cheryl Gansner is the wife of a severely injured soldier. On July 28, 2006, Bryan Gansner was hit by an IED that ripped his legs apart and left him with a TBI and PTSD. That day, he nearly died. He spent 20 months in rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Cheryl and Bryan have been married for eight years. Throughout their 10-year relationship, they were separated for more than two years due to Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 and 5. Bryan also deployed to Bosnia before Cheryl met him.
Cheryl received her BS in social work in 2005 from Austin Peay State University and she works for Operation Homefront's Hearts of Valor Program. She has volunteered with a therapeutic riding academy that assists those with disabilities by riding horses.
Bryan was active duty army for 12 years and was medically retired in 2008. Currently, he works on bomb robots with a defense contractor.
The couple spent two years struggling through infertility and welcomed a baby girl into the world in September 2013.
Cheryl says, “Our life has been a series of ups and downs. I have waited on him to return from war, learned how to accept our new normal after injuries, processed grief, and made some of the most amazing friends because of our tragedy. Our story is one of love, loss, hope, and perseverance.”
You can contact Cheryl at wifeofawoundedsoldier@yahoo.com or you can read her blog here.