U.S. veteran Toby Van Skike was wounded during the Vietnam War in 1968. It's been 50 years, and he's never forgotten the nurse who cared for him.
First Lt. Frances Cappadocia was a twenty-something nurse who saved the young soldier's life. According to Tuscon.com, she "helped the wounded, 19-year-old soldier crawl under his bed with his mattress wrapped around him. The bedding, along with crates full of dirt, provided additional protection during rocket attacks." She helped manage his PTSD, dressed his wounds, shaved his face when he got too "scruffy," and administered the penicillin shots that saved his leg from amputation.
Today, Fran is in her mid-70s. She herself has been diagnosed with a severe case of post-traumatic stress disorder, along with Alzheimer's disease. Someone so dedicated to caring for others now needs that same level of care in return. It's utterly heartbreaking and bittersweet to see life come full circle.
For nearly 50 years, Toby planned to find Fran someday. In early 2015, Toby's dream finally came true.
Keep reading to see what life is like now that Fran is back in Toby's life, and he in hers. If you're touched by this story, please SHARE it with your friends on Facebook.
Toby Van Skike was wounded during the Vietnam War. As the years passed, he never forgot about the nurse who cared for him.
First Lt. Frances Cappadocia helped the wounded, 19-year-old soldier. Toby still has a photo of them outside the hospital. “She was more of a friend than any of the other nurses that were there,” he says.
In 1967, Fran joined the U.S. Army as a registered nurse, the same year Toby volunteered for service. She spent one year in Vietnam, then served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force as a nurse practitioner.
Today, Fran suffers with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and Alzheimer's disease. Toby finally reunited with Fran in early 2015, and continues to make regular visits to see her. She squeezes his hand while he tells stories about Vietnam. He never leaves without telling her what she means to him; now, it's his turn to take care of her.
