Wounded Marine's Momma Caregiver To All

Marine Finds Hope, Recovery With Caregiver
Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment
Story by Cpl. Lisette Leyva
March 12, 2014

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Marine veteran Cpl. Richard Stalder, a 23-year-old former machine gunner with 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, began suffering from kidney stones and full-body tremors in early 2010. Richard’s mother, Claudia Stalder, or “Momma,” has been his caregiver ever since.

Richard has times where he doesn’t want to be with me. He would rather be with Marines and people his own age. Richard has to have his space and I understand that. But, he also knows he needs help. He says we’re the “dream team” and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It happened here. I was driving down the road in a mine-resistant ambush protected vehicle doing some training. I couldn’t breathe. I tried to go to the bathroom but was screaming in pain. I knew something was wrong.

I didn’t want Momma to know. I tried to handle everything on my own. I called Momma and told her, ‘Hey, I got this.’ Humph … I didn’t.

I knew he didn’t “have it.”

Richard wasn’t able to stay with his unit; he wasn’t able to deploy with his Marines. Life as he knew it was over. He had a negative attitude and was getting worse. Something inside told me, “You need to go. You need to go help him.” Richard had given up and I wasn’t going to let that happen. He’s mine and I want him well.

One day Momma called and told me … she said… it’s like I cant even say it.

She just told me I needed to pick her up at the airport. After that, she never left my side. I went down a lot of dark roads — my guys left on a deployment and I couldn’t be there. Momma did what she did and kind of brought me back.

She brought him back.

Around here she isn’t Claudia or Mrs. Stalder or ma’am. She’s Momma. Some of the wounded warriors don’t have someone here to cheer them on or help them through these trials. But when Momma is here, they don’t have to worry about that. She helps make everything better. read more here