My name is Semeli Toilolo and I am 41 years old. I was born and raised in American Samoa in the village of Vailoa (vuh-ee-lo-ah). I met my high school sweetheart, Margaret Toilolo and we got married in 1998. We have 4 boys and one girl, one grandson and another grandchild on the way. I joined the U.S Army in 2000 as an Infantryman and I was medically retired in 2015. I am a Army Veteran who served for 15 years. Four of those years and three months was the time I deployed away from my family to Iraq. We are now settled in Texas, and my two older boys are now serving in the Army, one stationing in Ft. Lewis and the other in Fort Bragg. I am a stay at home dad and grandpa, trying to make up for the times I have lost with my family. In 2007, when we were stationed in Fort Lewis, Wa, I was deployed with to Iraq with 4-9 Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division to Baquoba, Dyala Province. In one of our dismounted patrols in a crowded market street, a female suicide bomber walked in our formation and blew herself up, and wounded my whole squad, including myself. We were air MEDEVAC out to the nearest CASH in another base in Iraq called LSA Anaconda. They were able to operate and take some of the shrapnel out but left some inside my arm. I was then doing physical therapy and recovery and 6 months later I was deployed with the 1st CAV Division 1-8 CAV, 2nd Brigade, to Iraq 2009-2009, and 2011-2011. In 2014, I was diagnosed with severe PTSD and the ARMY Medboarded me out, after 25 years of service. I had been through several inpatient treatments for PTSD like PRRP, and also had been involved in small groups and wounded warrior peer support group. My injuries are both physical and mental, and it is affecting my family. My kids don't even come to me and they only call and text their mom. I feel as if I am the bad guy in our house and nobody seems to understand me. So we are taking it one day at a time, trying to keep everything together. So I enrolled online to take some courses and I have been reading my Bible, trying to stay close to God and I meditate through prayer. I feel that is helping me to change my way of thinking and take away anxiety and depression. My plan for the future is to stay healthy and be a counselor for those veterans who are going through the same problem as me. I also plan to graduate from GCU with a BA in Christian Studies, which I am currently taking. Right now, my mother-in-law, she is 76 years old is staying with us, we are taking care of her, and my daughter and her son, my two boys and my little dog. My oldest son is deployed to Iraq. My wife doesn't work, she is my caregiver. I also plan to graduate with my BA in Christian Studies from GCU online and use that degree to help someone battling PTSD or similar, despite if they are veterans or civilians. We have always wanted to go to Disney World but financially we can't. If this wish comes true this will be our first family outing vacation ever. I think it would help me to get out of the house and reconnect with my family in that way. It would be a dream come true especially for my kids, but a healing therapeutic retreat for me and my wife as well. Thank you and God bless.
U.S. Army (Severely Wounded Veteran)
2000 - 2015
Wish Fulfilled By:
- Melissa in Honor of Pasquale De Angelis, WWII veteran donated $25.00
- Kimberly donated $50.00
- Andrew donated $20.00
- Erin in Honor of Lawrence Ford donated $100.00
- Mark Cole donated $50.00
- Adrian donated $25.00
- Travis donated $10.00
- Joseph donated $100.00
- A Generous Person donated $20.00
- Danielle donated $200.00
- John in Honor of All Hero’s donated $100.00
- Chris donated $20.00
- Christopher donated $680.00
- Remainder of Wish fulfilled by the Veteran Tickets Foundation General Hero's Wish Fund.
Thank You Message from the Hero:
On behalf of my family, my wife and I, and our children and grandson, would like to say THANK YOU for making this possible. Our words are NOT ENOUGH to express how much we are THANKFUL for your gracious donation. Thank YOU Melissa, who in honor of Pasquale De Angelis donated to make our wish come true. Thank YOU WWII veteran, who chose to be anonymous, Thank YOU Kimberly, Thank YOU Andrew, Thank YOU Erin in who graciously donated honor of Lawrence Ford, Thank YOU Mark Cole, Thank YOU Adrian, Thank YOU Travis, Thank YOU Joseph, Thank YOU Jason, Thank YOU Danielle, Thank YOU John who graciously donated in honor of All Hero's, thank YOU Chris, Thank YOU Christopher, and Thank YOU Hero's. All we can say is may God bless you all abundantly for making our wish come true. Blessings, Semeli, Margaret Toilolo and children.
- Semeli Toilolo and family
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