Lisa Sommers is ready for her son to come home.
Her son, Corporal Josh Sommers, 24, is recovering from injuries sustained in Afghanistan. Today, he’s being released from the hospital.
‘It’s been challenging, scary, worrisome,” Lisa said. “It’s unbelievable. We never thought this day would come.”
Josh was a member of the 101st Airborne Division, also known as the Screaming Eagles.
In June 2010, a rocket-propelled grenade hit Josh in the head. The injury left him partially paralyzed on his left side and blind. He also has about 40 percent of his hearing. He’s been hospitalized at Louis Stokes Veterans Administration Medical Center in Cleveland
“My left side doesn’t work, I’m practically blind and my hearing is terrible,” Josh said, just moments leaving the hospital. “I tried to control everything with my right side. I’m slowly learning to use my left side more than I used to.”
Josh is excited to go home. As for what he looks forward to the most, there are a couple things on his mind.
“A nice home-cooked meal. Being able to work out on my own, whenever I want,” he said. “Oh, and ham loaf.”
As he and his family made way through the place he called home for more than a year, they were greeted by a sea of red, white and blue.
“It means a lot. It’s very overwhelming,” Lisa said. “It’s awesome that all these people out there are supporting us that we haven’t even met.”
The crowd cheered and flags waved in Josh’s honor, as he was taken to the minivan.
“This guy is working 24 hour days in a war zone,” said Charlie McGeever, a police dispatcher. “This is the least I can do, take off some time.”
McGeever was one of 25 Patriot Guard Riders who escorted the family the 68 miles back to their home in Ashland.
“This is the good mission. This is the great mission,” McGeever said. “We get to take somebody home, back to their families.”