Danielle Ferguson
Treasurer
Independent Voting Member
I am Danielle (Weir) Ferguson, wife of Joshua Ferguson, mother of (3) three children and a woman of enduring strength and fortitude. Before I met my husband, I had already lived as an independent young woman for several years. Because of severe dysfunction and instability, it became necessary for me to make a conscious choice; Do I survive or thrive in this journey called life?
These adolescent choices began the development of the woman I have become today. Joshua and I made the decision, when the children were born then I would be a stay-at-home mom. Our firstborn, Joshua Jr., was in 2003. By this time, we had received orders to report to Ft. Richardson, Alaska.
I put my husband and my children first and worked diligently to provide interactive playtime with the kids and do my best to be available for my husband. I struggled with taking time for “me” and always putting others’ needs before my own. This was the way my life would continue for most of our 17 years of marriage. Let me get back to “me” at a later time while I deviate toward the tragedies of 2007.
March 25th, 2007 our third child was born, and Joshua was home on leave for the baby’s birth and family support. Joshua would return to active duty in Iraq, where he had been stationed, shortly after our daughter was delivered.
On April 22nd, 2007 our world turned upside down with the news of Joshua’s Humvee being hit by an IED. I went into automatic mode adrenaline pumping and focusing on what needed to be done to get information on Joshua’s injury(s), who needs to be contacted, how do I get to him and where is he. The process really is still a blur with so much happening and so many unknowns and with a brand-new baby and two toddlers. I felt my choice, at this time in my life, needed to be concentrated on the immediate condition of my husband and where he would be medevacked out for his best chances of recovery.
Life for us forever changed with the tragedies of war that had infiltrated our family. The focus was on my husband and what I needed to do to best support him. My life has not been very balanced seemingly always surrounded by some type of tragedy or chaos; not just in our life but in the lives of our friends and families. My husband’s brother would suddenly pass away from colon cancer in January 2009, my mother-in-law would suffer from severe mental health issues and physical ailments which led to paralysis of the lower extremities.
I believe it is safe to say I have coped well with the life we have been dealt with. I have begun to take time for “me” (which has been a work in progress). The need for me to continually be mindful of my husband’s well-being is a lot. It is so hard to see Joshua struggle with the aftermath of the effects of war. I will remain strong, positive and open to new ideas and ways of healing for not only myself but my husband and our children.
I know life as a military family and the many changes and adjustments. I have been involved with the organization Operation First Response for many years. I have been and continue to be a mentor to new military wives. I’ve been actively involved in the children’s after-school activities, sports, cheer, and church. As I uncover the cloaks of caretaking and try on new ways of showing my love and devotion to my husband and children, my voice and my actions will always be directed toward all possibilities.