Hard Times
This was a very emotional experience for Mandi and Tyler, an experience that adoptive parents and birth parents alike could relate to. The court hearing came after a long period of time during which Mandi and Tyler spent trying to prove themselves worthy as parents and keep their family unit in tact.
It seemed like it would take ages for the judge to speak and make a decision. However, most people sitting in that room would not have expected the toddler to be the one to break the silence. You might even shed a tear when you hear what he said.
Off To Fight
In 2010, Tyler Palmer paid his duties to the United States and enlisted in the Army. He served in the 101st Airborne division. Things progressed very rapidly with his service and not before long, he was sent on his first deployment to Afghanistan.
This came just a mere twenty days after he completed his basic training. This left little time for the soldier to process what was happening. The mission would be difficult for everyone around him, especially on Tyler.
A Pressing Experience
His unit would proceed to set records and receive many awards. Luckily for Tyler Palmer, he made it safely out of Afghanistan and returned home, unlike some of his fellow brothers. However, as with other soldiers who return home from war, Tyler was returning home with the emotional turmoil of his experiences.
He realized that while he had physically left the war, the war had not left him and he needed help. But, he was of course happy to be home with his loved ones. Plus, things were about to get all the better for him.
A Leap of Faith
In 2013, Tyler and Mandi met. It's safe to say that they fell for one another pretty much right away. Although Tyler was about to be sent to the Middle East for a second time, he was feeling confident about the start of his relationship with Mandi and knew that they were both very invested in one another.
Tyler's deployment would be very hard on Mandi, who was battling some health problems, but they both knew they wanted each other in their future.
Making it Official
Tyler would be away for nearly a year. Clearly, it would be hard on the couple in love. But, it was also a chance for the two to look at what really mattered in life. “He was deployed for nine months, and one month after he got home, he proposed and we got married a few weeks later,” Mandi later shared.
Tyler chose not to re-enlist in the Army again and decided it was time to put his Army days behind. He was diagnosed with severe PTSD in 2015 and decided to seek treatment at the VA medical center. He was also ready to begin a new life with his bride.