In February 2024, Sgt. 1st Class Manuel "Tony" Antonio Martino was a few weeks into a five-week senior leaders’ course at Fort Bliss, Texas when he started to feel unwell. Over the next two weeks, his symptoms worsened: his speech became slurred, and he sent odd text messages, yet he persevered through the course. On graduation day, his wife Shawnna, who remained at Fort Liberty, North Carolina where they are based, insisted that he go to the hospital.
Her insistence likely saved his life. Within two hours, he underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain and insert a stent. If Tony had attended the graduation ceremony and flown home, he might not have survived.
Two days after the surgery, Shawnna, along with Tony’s mom Elizabeth and Elizabeth’s wife Adriana, traveled from North Carolina to be by his side. Being there for Tony was non-negotiable for Elizabeth.
“We couldn't get on a plane fast enough,” she said.
Elizabeth and Adriana had always believed it was important to be near Tony and Shawnna. They moved from California to Raeford, North Carolina, just outside of Fort Liberty, in 2022 to support them through frequent deployments and training exercises. Elizabeth shared that their presence during Tony's recovery from surgery meant a lot to him.
“I was very pleasantly surprised when he found out we came,” she said. “He's been telling us that the whole time we’ve been here, ‘I'm so glad you guys came, I'm so glad you came.’”
The Martino family was able to stay at the Fisher House as soon as they arrived at Fort Bliss, thanks to a unit liaison who made their arrangements.
“It’s been amazing. The accommodations have been great,” she continued. “Just to see how beautifully maintained it is and how welcoming it is. The rooms are really staged like you're at home. It doesn't feel like a hotel.”
She also expressed gratitude toward the staff and volunteers.
“The staff has been absolutely great. We had a couple of small questions, and we would just call or text Alice, and she would respond quickly,” she said.
The Fisher House relieved many of the burdens associated with a hotel stay. Shawnna explained that it helped them to cook their meals and have a safe and comfortable space where Tony did not have to climb stairs. Most importantly, it alleviated the financial and logistical burdens that would come with staying at a hotel.
“We really appreciate it. It removed so much stress for the moms. When we realized we were going to be able to stay somewhere like a home, all the stress we were going through, everything we were dealing with knowing it was going to be covered and we didn't have to stress about paying for it and booking the hotel and all that stuff was just the biggest thing. It took all the thinking out of everything for us. We could just go to sleep and go to the hospital every morning with no stress,” she said.
Having his family nearby and knowing that they were taken care of meant a lot to Tony as well.
“This has definitely been a relief. I can imagine it is for anybody, but especially for my wife. She's not a very good traveler. She gets anxiety, so this feels like a home,” explained Tony. “It makes her feel comfortable. It doesn't feel like someone else’s home that you don't know. I've also been very relaxed since I've been here.”
Two weeks after his initial hospital visit and surgery, Tony was well enough to return home. He and his family made the long drive back from El Paso to Fayetteville. According to his mom, while Tony is still recovering, he is doing well and hopes to return to his regular duties with his unit.
