Karie Fugett is homeless and living out of her car when her boyfriend Cleve proposes marriage. Shortly after they exchange vows Cleve's Marine unit is deployed to Iraq. Then Karie received a call that Cleve is severely injured. His Humvee was hit an IED.
Karie heads out to Walter Reed and discovers that Cleve's survival is a miracle and that the date of his survival will be known as Happy Alive Day since it's the day he was given a second chance at life.
Karie is forced into a role as a caregiver for Cleve. She has to learn to navigate the complex military bureaucracy on top of dealing with Cleve's increasing dependency of opiates that the doctors hand out like candy.
Karie's story isn't unique to the thousands of military spouses in particular young woman who are put into a caregiver role for their spouses. Many who are poor and uneducated. Her story and that of other spouses is a hidden story that many outside the military are unaware of. Fugett bares her soul and you easily become invested in her story. Be prepared to be angry as you read what is done do our military members and their families. How they receive such little care for mental health and addiction.
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