Carl

When Carl fought for his family, SSAFA stood beside him.

Carl knew that joining the RAF would secure his family's future, but for partner Sian and children Connor (13) and Kayla (8), swapping civvy street for a life on base hundreds of miles from home was tough.

Finding out Sian was pregnant brought the joy they desperately needed; it cemented their new chapter.

Those first few months whizzed by amidst the excitement of sharing the news, choosing names, and counting down to the first scan.

On the day they waited to hear the sonographers’ congratulations, but it didn’t come. Instead, the room fell silent and still.

Told their baby son was gravely ill with only a 10% chance of survival, they struggled to hold on to hope.

As surgeons operated on Sian to save the baby, Carl, crippled by fear, had to maintain normality for their other children. Each day worrying that it would be their son’s last.

But tragedy doesn’t stop the bills rolling in; on an entry-level wage, Carl fought to make ends meet.

New to the military, far from his parents, he felt alone.

It was when the pressure threatened to engulf him that his Flight Sergeant insisted, he contact SSAFA.

SSAFA knows how hard it is for those who serve to be away from their families in their darkest time.

Carl was assigned a caseworker who provided a listening ear and took time to understand what the family were going through.

SSAFA knew that alleviating the financial strain would allow Carl to focus on the important things, like supporting his wife. Funding Carl’s petrol, his hospital parking fees, and the family's food bills took a weight off his shoulders.

‘It was a comfort to know there was someone there to help.’

In time Baby Harvey was born, and after life-saving surgery and two weeks in intensive care, he came home.

He is now a happy and healthy little boy who, thanks to the military, has seen more of the world than most! Carl now knows he definitely made the right decision joining the military but in those early days of doubt, SSAFA were there.

When Carl called for help, we answered.

When he was alone, we were his Co-pilot

When he was overwhelmed, we relieved the pressure.

Because no one should ever battle alone.