ABOUT
Life can change in a moment’s notice; and so I found out as a military spouse turned wounded warrior spouse in April 2011, when my husband was shot by a snipers bullet in the Zhari District of Afghanistan. The 7.62 bullet from an AK-47 rifle penetrated SSG Jarboe’s spine, leaving him a quadriplegic and paralyzed from the chest down, SSG Jarboe never gave up the fight on the battlefield nor did I as his wife, once they returned to American soil. Jamie & I spent the next 11 months inside 7 different hospitals trying to heal what the sniper so viciously tore apart physically for SSG Jamie Jarboe. It was the fight inside of us, the love for our country and fellow service members that kept our dream of one day going home to Kansas and living happily ever after alive. That dream was shattered on March 10, 2012 when doctors relayed the information that my husband SSG Jamie Jarboe was terminal and needed to be placed in Hospice care for the remainder of his life.
As Jamie and I held one another, we not only embraced the hardships we had endured for the last 11 months of fighting for life, we embraced the reality of the end of a soldier’s life. Jamie asked Me to get a pen and paper to write down what he was about to tell me. He said “We might as well use the rest of my life to help plan the rest of yours.”
“The first thing he told me to write was, I love you and don’t you ever forget that, immediately I began to sob uncontrollable, the second thing was don’t ever forget how much I love you and the girls, tell them every day. Third, keep helping my soldiers and their families, take care of my soldiers and don’t ever let them forget they have our support. Promise me this last request, Melissa." Jamie quietly said. As I looked into Jamie’s eyes, I could see tears, as he said “promise me you will love again, promise me that you will not be bitter or heartbroken because you are the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life and I wouldn’t change this for anything. God gave me you and I have no regrets in my life because it all led me to our life together.” -Insert from Melissa Jarboe’s book "Sacrificed" due in stores spring of 2014.
In months preceding Jamie’s death, Melissa launched the Jamie Jarboe Foundation now named the Military Veteran Project a 501c3 Nonprofit which honors and empowers Military Veterans.
The mission statement of the foundation is:
The Military Veteran Project is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury to assist with suicide prevention for PRE & POST 9/11 Veterans. www.militaryveteranproject.org
Each day I choose to wake up, give thanks to God for creating such a man to show me what true selfless sacrifice is, what dedication to country meant and open my eyes to a world of caring for others.
Awards & Achievements
2012 Distinguished Kansan of Year
2012 Inspiration Award Active Heroes
2013 AHA Moment - Mutual of Omaha
2013 NHRA Honorary Starter
2013 Topeka Business Top 20 Under 40
2013 Marine Corps League Distinguished Service Award
2013 Kansas Character Recognition Award
2013 Eagle Rare Life Nomination
2013 Military Spouse of the year nomination
2013 5 Hour Energy Amazing People Award
As Jamie and I held one another, we not only embraced the hardships we had endured for the last 11 months of fighting for life, we embraced the reality of the end of a soldier’s life. Jamie asked Me to get a pen and paper to write down what he was about to tell me. He said “We might as well use the rest of my life to help plan the rest of yours.”
“The first thing he told me to write was, I love you and don’t you ever forget that, immediately I began to sob uncontrollable, the second thing was don’t ever forget how much I love you and the girls, tell them every day. Third, keep helping my soldiers and their families, take care of my soldiers and don’t ever let them forget they have our support. Promise me this last request, Melissa." Jamie quietly said. As I looked into Jamie’s eyes, I could see tears, as he said “promise me you will love again, promise me that you will not be bitter or heartbroken because you are the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life and I wouldn’t change this for anything. God gave me you and I have no regrets in my life because it all led me to our life together.” -Insert from Melissa Jarboe’s book "Sacrificed" due in stores spring of 2014.
In months preceding Jamie’s death, Melissa launched the Jamie Jarboe Foundation now named the Military Veteran Project a 501c3 Nonprofit which honors and empowers Military Veterans.
The mission statement of the foundation is:
The Military Veteran Project is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury to assist with suicide prevention for PRE & POST 9/11 Veterans. www.militaryveteranproject.org
Each day I choose to wake up, give thanks to God for creating such a man to show me what true selfless sacrifice is, what dedication to country meant and open my eyes to a world of caring for others.
Awards & Achievements
2012 Distinguished Kansan of Year
2012 Inspiration Award Active Heroes
2013 AHA Moment - Mutual of Omaha
2013 NHRA Honorary Starter
2013 Topeka Business Top 20 Under 40
2013 Marine Corps League Distinguished Service Award
2013 Kansas Character Recognition Award
2013 Eagle Rare Life Nomination
2013 Military Spouse of the year nomination
2013 5 Hour Energy Amazing People Award
