Life as a Military Spouse: Nine months pregnant, husband deployed, hurricane on the way

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Donna T. Jeffries
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Not many people can say they've had a Humvee driven by an Army National Guardsman show up at their front door to provide taxi services, but that's a story that one Freedom wing spouse can tell.

Bernadette Branosky, wife of Lt. Col. Joel Branosky, 514th Civil Engineering Squadron, was pregnant and alone on the second floor of her 18-unit apartment building in Hoboken, N.J., when Hurricane Sandy struck.

Branosky's entire block was still surrounded by three feet of water days after the storm.

The water came in Monday and it started to rise by Monday evening, and then the power went out about 9:15 p.m., said the expectant military wife.

"The first night it was very windy and the force of the water coming through the doors of the first floor was crazy. Cars left on ground level were quickly submerged in water up to their hoods."

Yet, being nine months pregnant, with no electricity on the second floor of an apartment building with the bottom floor flooded and with husband serving his country on foreign soil wasn't too much for this stalwart military wife.

"I was physically fine and I have wonderful neighbors that checked on me. We talked by candlelight in the evening," she said. "It's amazing how dark your apartment is without power."

The key to surviving a storm is preparation, said Branosky, who stocked up on food and fluids before the storm. Her building still had running water, which was very important for someone due to give birth to her first child.

While Branosky said she was fine with her current situation, her family members did not agree with her.

As each day passed, the fumes from oil and other debris that had mixed with the flood waters grew stronger. Branosky knew she could go into labor at any moment, and with her ultrasound appointment cancelled, there was no way of knowing if the baby was still in the breech position, which would require delivery by cesarean section.

"My family was panicking about what if I went into labor and they couldn't get me out of the building," she said. "So my sister called the Army National Guard, told them about my situation and gave them my address."

The next thing Branosky knew, she was given instructions to pack a bag and shortly after, Guardsmen and medical services personnel arrived in a Humvee, ready to take her to the nearest shelter, located a few blocks away in a dry zone. From there, she was able to make arrangement to go to a friend's home.

Branosky's military family was also concerned about her well-being.

Judith Pates, director of the 514th Airman and Family Readiness office made contact with Branosky after the storm as part of her duties with the key spouse program, which is designed to provide support to the spouses of deployed Airmen.

Pates reached out to ascertain if Branosky was fine.

"I've come to know Bernadette very well since she began volunteering as a key spouse for her husband's unit," said Pates. "I was genuinely concerned about her during the hurricane, as I was about all the other members of this wing and their families. I was very happy and relieved to talk with Bernadette. It was great knowing she and her unborn baby were safe and doing well."

Looking back, Branosky said the worst things about the storm had nothing to do with the material items she lost, but rather more intangible things.

She said the hardest part was losing internet connection with her husband and with the loss of refrigeration, losing the top of her wedding cake, which we planned to share upon his return home in the spring. The newlyweds missed their first wedding anniversary on Nov. 5.

"Being without power in this day and age feels so unsettling," said Branosky.

She said she was used to talking to her husband one-to-two times a day using an online videophone, but once electricity and an internet connection became unreliable, she talked with him much less frequently.

Branosky said she feels grateful for the Guardsmen who came to her rescue and for the military in general.

"Since I married into Joel's family I'm much more aware of people in the military and I have gained much more respect for what they do for our citizens."

Several days after the hurricane, Branosky gave birth to her son. Colonel Branosky was able to view the birth via videophone. One day later, he held his son in his arms. He received special permission to return home from his deployment for a week to tend to his wife and newborn. Mom and son are doing well and are staying at the family's Ocean City, N.J., home that was untouched by the ravages of the historic storm. And now they have an unforgettable story to tell.