The “new normal” for the Allen family began in January when Staff Sgt. Chaz Allen stepped on an improvised explosive device, with the blast immediately amputating both legs of the 32-year-old squad leader.
“I got the call every Army wife fears,” recalled his wife, former local resident Jessica Collins Allen, recalling she was notified by phone. “That was the beginning of the new normal.”
The new normal at first required Jessica to travel back and forth between the family home in Clarksville to Washington D.C., balancing care of her two small daughters, Deryn and Ryann, and support of her husband who was under care for his injuries at Walter Reed Hospital. Through help of family and friends and with the help of transport by the Wounded Warrior Foundation, the family was able to weather the logistical challenge although, adding insult to injury, Jessica noted she was once warned by school officials one of her daughters had missed more than the five days allowed by the school system.
“You can’t believe how mad that made me,” Jessica admitted, noting the bout with the school system prompted her to decide to home school her daughters.
The new normal has included the family moving from their longtime home in Clarksville to Washington D.C. where they can be by the side of Chaz as he continues to undergo rehabilitation and learns to adjust to using his two prosthetic legs.
Most recently his adjustment has included the family participating in the New York City Veterans Day Parade in which Chaz rode on one of the many veteran floats. They were joined by friends including Jessica’s childhood friend and local resident Demetria Hale who runs the Team Allen website which helps raise money to someday build a new handicapped-ready home for the Allens when they return to Clarksville.
However, during her visit, Jessica said Demetria got to see first-hand some of the “new normal” things she experiences daily.
“They got a crash course into our reality,” Jessica said of their day with them at the veterans parade.  “There are the pity stares, the frowns, and my favorite the pity smiles. You can feel all the stares as you walk by. Chaz and I have gotten used to this. When we’re out and about that is constant because people are always staring. The girls even noticed it at the beginning but we’ve taught them to just move on and now it is a part of our new normal.”
Jessica admitted Chaz is must more adept to adapting to this attention than anyone else.
“In Central Park one child pointed and laughed at Chaz. Chaz looked at the little girl and said, ‘Yeah my legs look funny huh?’” Jessica said. “Chaz always handles those moments with such grace and style.”
While having challenges confront them each day of their new normal, the family has also seen its adventures in a whirlwind of activity.
The whirlwind included an appearance by the Allens at the Train concert at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Chaz and Jessica were selected to appear on stage during the singing of Train’s hit song “Marry Me” in what was a vow renewal for the couple who has been married 10 years. Their selection came over numerous entries in a contest Train held leading up to the concert. Once on stage, the Allens, including their daughters, were given a standing ovation by the thousands in attendance after Jessica tearfully told them about the event half a world away that forever changed their lives.
In the past month, Chaz has participated in an Army 10-miler where he powered a recumbent bicycle with a hand crank in the fundraiser. He helped raise $10,000 for the Fisher House, which provides a residence for outpatient wounded warriors such as Chaz. The plan is to start a Fisher House in Murfreesboro to help Middle Tennessee’s wounded warriors.
Jessica said she and Chaz are trying to help with organizations such as Fisher House and Wounded Warriors which have helped them. She noted the sad fact there are new soldiers needing help from the organizations every day.
During their time in Washington, the Allens have met many celebrities and dignitaries including President Barrack Obama who dropped by Chaz’s hospital room but with bad timing.
“Chaz was at the doctor at the time,” Jessica recalled, noting despite being a life-long Republican she was quite impressed by the visit at Walter Reed by the president.
The Allens have also gone to the White House, both for a tour and for the premiere of the movie “A Dolphin’s Tale” which is about a dolphin that receives a prosthetic tail. The Allens have also gone to the U.S. Capitol where they met with numerous members of Congress.
Most recently, before returning to Washington, they were special guests of the “Daily Show with Jon Stewart” where the comedic newsman, who had visited Chaz during his recovery at Walter Reed, gave his favorite hero a tour behind the scenes before giving him a choice spot in the studio audience.
While adapting to the new normal in Washington D.C., the family is looking forward to the day when they can begin their new normal back home in Clarksville, something which they hope will be possible next year.