Who: Suzie What: Getting Robbie released Where: Hawaii When: April 1945
Robbie had been in the hospital for two months and had made remarkable progress, at least so far as his physical injuries were concerned. His wounds had healed as best as they likely ever would- there was still scarring, but Suzie could at least say that she and the rest of the hospital staff had given Robbie the best care they knew how. She'd stayed on his case, even against what might have been better judgment- she just couldn't know that he was back, alive, and not be involved, somehow.
It hadn't been long after he'd arrived, however, that the extent of his mental injuries had started to come into light. Battle amnesia was rather alarmingly common; Suzie had seen it before, but there was something much more striking, much more devastating in knowing someone who didn't know you at all.
Suzie wasn't surprised when she heard that Robbie was due to be discharged. Despite the lingering amnesia, he really wasn't a candidate for the intensive care ward any longer, and they needed the beds. What did surprise her, however, was learning that he would be honorably discharged from the Army as well, and returned home- to a home he didn't remember, and one where no one would be waiting for him. She couldn't bare the thought of that, of losing him all over again- she couldn't leave Hawaii, not now, and if he went back she might not find him again. She had to do something.
She begged a meeting with the head of the department, the one who had signed off on Robbie's release order. Suzie came armed with her own personal accounts of his care, wanting to demonstrate that, despite all their best efforts, Robbie wasn't able to properly care for himself- he might not be a candidate for intensive care, she agreed, but he was certainly not due for abandonment, either. The head of department seemed impressed by her testimony, but relatively unswayed- so Suzie, with no hesitation, brought forth a letter she'd kept to herself for three years. Dated June, 1942, it was from Robbie- in it, he detailed his wishes that she would care for his belongings while he was gone, including his home and his accounts. Suzie hadn't touched his money, despite everything else that had happened, but the letter seemed to prove her point. While not complying with the hospital's official policy, the head of department agreed that the situation was different, and agreed to release Robbie into her care.
Suzie couldn't have been happier- or more daunted. While it meant that she would get to continue to care for Robbie, something she desperately wanted, it also meant that she'd have to share more of herself with him. And that- while not exactly unwanted- would certainly be difficult.