Inside Walter Reed

Chris Matthews Host of 'Hardball' • Profile

WASHINGTON D.C. - Fisher Houses are residences that provide temporary lodging for members of U.S. Armed Services, veterans, and their families during a medical crisis. They provide a warm environment where families and friends can stay close to one another and nurture one another in time of need.

Hardball visited the Fisher House in Walter Reed Army Medical Center to see how America’s bravest are doing there. As soldiers and their families spend their holidays rehabilitating, Chris Matthews shares two amazing stories about life in the Fisher House, the long road to recovery, and the soldiers' hopes for the future.

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center has treated 150 amputees from the Iraq war. American millitary hospitals collectively have had 200 amputees from Iraq and Afghanistan, three of them triple amputees. By mid-November this year, 10,369 American troops are known to have been wounded in battle in Afghanistan or Iraq.

There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. These sites were selected by the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, Air Force, respective Surgeons General and Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Annually, Fisher Houses serve more than 8,500 families, and have made available nearly 1,750,000 days of lodging to family members since the program originated.

Here is the story of one of America's Bravest:

FREE VIDEO Soldier's story Capt. Dawn Halfaker discusses how she was wounded in Iraq and her rehabilitation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. MSNBC

More Links:

Walter Reed Army Medical Center
http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/

Fisher House
http://www.fisherhouse.org/

Who are the Fishers?
http://www.fisherhouse.org/aboutUs/fisherBio.shtml

About the Fisher Foundation
http://www.fisherhouse.org/aboutUs/aboutUs.shtml

How you can help
http://www.fisherhouse.org/#anchor

If you want to donate to the soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Call the Family Assistance Center at 202-782-2071

USO
http://www.uso.org/

How to support the troops this holiday season
Click here to find out more

Eric Felten will be playing music for the troops
Here's a link to the band's website
http://www.ericfelten.com

More from MSNBC.com health
New life and limbs for Iraq war amputees

Hardball wishes to thank the following for making this visit possible:

The staff, soldiers and families of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Fisher House
USO
The Eric Felten Band
NBC Universal
The NBC Experience Store
MSNBC
Microsoft
Pampers
Toys R Us
Target

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