Thank you Anthony, we will certainly keep talking amongst ourselves, here upon the forum, and also to Colin, as much as we are able. With the advent of the internet we will have a great deal of contact with him. I am determined that nothing happen to him, in the way of PTSD that is. Physically speaking we cannot help him, however all of us in the family have made a commitment to his mental health, for now and for when he returns. Thank you for confirming our decision is correct.

The situation has turned out to be far more difficult than we imagined. Evie was worrying over it for several days before Colin departed, however Jim and I were feeling quite smug about it, telling ourselves we have handled deployment so often before. Up until this morning that is. Seeing Colin off at the base was incredibly painful, it then hit us I suppose, the reality of it. I won't speak for Jim as I don't wish to embarrass him, however Evie and I have both cried many tears off and on all day long. Jacob has been very out of sorts as well. Dinner was a silent affair, which is unusual for us. Evie then mentioned how sorry she felt for Colin, for the rude awakening he was going to have, and what he was going to see, being in a war zone. At that we all resumed crying.

At this point I am mentally exhausted.