They’ve been together for 12 years and married for 7 of them. They promised each other to stick together through thick and thin – and right now is the really thin part.
Angelo was in the Guard and was just about to join the Army when his unit was activated. Candy had their second child, who is autistic, while he was overseas. He spent 3 days with his first child before going to boot camp. He spent a tour in Kuwait and then went to Iraq to fight in Operation Iraqi Freedom. That’s where everything changed and the “thin” began.
Angelo sustained severe injuries – his HumV overturned in a canal when it was attacked. He suffered a cracked skull (which resulted in brain surgery), several fractured vertebrae (which resulted in back surgery that left him paralyzed for 8 months), and an infection in his spinal cord – not to mention his PTSD. He was placed on medical hold.
For a while, he worked as a recruiter, fighting the medical discharge he was offered. You see, Angelo had always been a hard worker – always provided for his wife and children, but his injuries were such that he just couldn’t do it.
As of now, Angelo, Candy, Angelo, Jr., and Christopher are surviving on 70% disability. For a long time, he was receiving 40%. Then the Guard told him they had overpaid him by $18,000 and they needed it back – now.
They are appealing, but there’s another part to this story. Angelo and Candy are expecting their third (and last) child. Candy is due in March and they had bills galore, no car, no living room furniture and not a single thing for the new baby coming and no way to get it.
Candy’s Mother spent her savings to get them a car and they VA got them a sofa. The VA referred the family to Operation Homefront Hampton Roads. The first priority was to bring the Bencivenga family current with some of their outstanding bills and since that original referral, Operation Homefront Hampton Roads has been able to provide Angelo, Candy and the kids a gift card for groceries, and tons of items for the baby – crib, car seat, clothing, toys, furniture for the kids room and more. Each visit to drop off more items elicits excited cries from the kids and parents alike.
Things aren’t quite as “thin” as they were, but they are a long way from “thick”. Angelo is excited to be able to spend time with his newborn son when he arrives. Candy will go back to work as soon as possible.
When they were asked what the help Operation Homefront Hampton Roads has given them has meant, Angelo replied, “You saved us. You saved us worry. You saved us money we didn’t have. You saved us”.