The wife of a military veteran suffering from a terminal illness is soliciting calls from strangers to brighten her husband's last days. Lee Hernandez, an 18-year Army veteran who served in Iraq, is dying of an undiagnosed medical condition in hospice care at his home in New Braunfels, Texas, sight, and cognitive abilities are deteriorating despite three brain surgeries, asked her one day to hold his phone "in case someone calls." When no one did, Lee said, "I guess no one wants to talk to me." "It broke my heart," says Ernestine. "[Lee's] speech is not very well, so many people didn't take much interest or want to talk to him."
Ernestine reached out to a wounded warriors support group, and after the Arizona Veterans Forum posted about Lee's situation on Facebook on July 11, Lee has received numerous calls and texts. Those who would like to reach out can contact the Hernandezes at 210-632-6778. Ernestine says the best time to call or text is between 5pm and 9pm EDT. Lee is alert then, she says, despite being under the influence of heavy medication. (More Army veterans stories.)