To akbound:

I too was millitary and I know how money can be a real crunch. I also know what it's like to lose someone you love. True, i don't know what it's like to lose a son, I can honestly say that I don't know how it feels. But I lost my little brother (6 years my junior) almost 2 years ago to the day. There are some people who would argue (I know, because it's been done to me) who will say that it's harder to lose someone in an accident; or they'll say it's easier when they have a terminal disease. That's BS! There is NO "easier" way, as you well know... it's damn hard. My brother, God rest him, was my best friend. He was picking up a buddy and he simply tripped over his own two feet, happens to me all the time. He hit his head on a stair and got knocked out... he never woke up. He died 20 hours later in the hospital. In the first year without him, I regretted that he didn't have some terminal disease. I regretted that I didn't have time to say the things I wanted to say... but then I realized what I was saying.
I'm sorry, the story of your son really hit me as I found out my wife and I were going to have a baby shortly thereafter. Anyway, you and your family are in my prayers and I'd like to say one thing that may make things a tiny bit easier: Your son is in perfect health now. On top of that, my brother is up there with him right now. Hunters can't stay apart so your son undoubtedly has a hunting partner in my brother. You know what I tell my son when he starts crying during a thunderstorm? He doesn't understand, as he's only 16 months old, but I tell him that it's just his Uncle Mike hunting geese. That's something that helps me get through the rough times. Now I look forward to every thunderstorm, because I know hunting season is back on!
Sorry to get all emotional here, everyone on this board has problems that are as bad or worse than mine. What I really came on here to say, before I read akbound's post was this: Someone should write to Buckmasters Whitetail Magazine and tell them about this board. Buckmasters is very active with disabled hunters and I think they would either mention the board on TV or would put it in their magazine... maybe both. I'd write to them myself, but I think they'd like to hear from someone who knows what it's like to be a disabled hunter. I too am disabled... but it's just that I am disabled to hit the damn target half the time