Feelings Of Loss Amongst Amputees Of Ward 57

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Running head: FEELINGS OF LOSS Feelings of Loss and Fulfillment Amongst Amputees of Ward 57 Margaret Hoette Maryville University Feelings of Loss and Fulfillment Amongst Amputees of Ward 57 In Michael Weisskopf’s book Blood Brothers Among the Soldiers of Ward 57 the most prominent theme was the feeling of loss and finding fulfillment in an unexpected place. All of the characters that are introduced throughout the story are faced with devastating injuries and uncertain futures. Even though they all coped their own ways it was through this commonality they feel understood only by those who are residents of Ward 57. It is when they must face the world where they are not heroes but amputees that they realize the importance of finding hope again. Michael Weisskopf was the only member of Ward 57 who was not in Iraq to fight the war; rather he was there to write the Person of the Year story on the American soldier. Unbeknownst to him he would be returning without his dominant right hand and identity. He lost his journalistic abilities and his work was filled with frustrations. Weisskopf states (2006), “The telephone, a reporter’s principal tool, became a liability. Instead of holding it in one hand and jotting notes with the other, I had to resort to a headset that picked up every noise and spooked sources.”(p.175). Michael lost his quick ability to jot notes and type stories. A journalist is what he was identified by and he lost his ability to do his job. “I was anxious about my ability to work again with one hand and to parent my children, who lived with me half-time in Washington.” (p.13) He worried that he may also lose his most beloved role as a father too. Michael’s relationships with family is where he found fulfillment. The father of two suddenly he realized that his children would have to help take care

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