A hero’s journey home

Life Changes - Sergeant Brian Eisch is many things – a soldier, a single father and an AdvoCare Advisor. When he was deployed to Afghanistan last year, his role as a soldier was at the forefront of his life. He and his children left upstate New York, and his two sons went to live with relatives in Wisconsin, being pulled away from the comforts of home and everything they knew.

Six months later Sergeant Eisch came home for a two-week leave. During that time, he and his boys were inseparable. When it came time for Sgt. Eisch to go back and finish his tour, it was heart-wrenching for both him and his boys, not knowing what he would face in Afghanistan.

Just six weeks later Sgt. Eisch came face-to-face with the reality of how precious life is. He was shot three times in the legs while helping a wounded Afghan police officer. After emergency surgeries in Afghanistan, he was flown to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for continued treatment.

AdvoCare and Operation Homefront – Joining Forces
While in the hospital, Sgt. Eisch received a box of AdvoCare products from AdvoCare President and CEO Richard Wright and Sales Vice President Mike Wade. “One day, I come back up to my room and there are two boxes and there’s the big A on the box, and I was like oh yeah! At this point I had been in the hospital for 40 days. I tear open this box like a kid at Christmas and I call (Diamond Distributor Terry Paulson) Terry to tell him thank you for the AdvoCare,” Sgt. Eisch said.

“He texted me back and said, ‘I didn’t send you that. Richard Wright, the CEO of AdvoCare, and Mike Wade sent those.’ I was speechless… that meant a lot!”

Sgt. Eisch says his goal is to prove doctors wrong. “I’m walking without a cane and my leg looks great. Most people think I got shot over a year ago. I was shot [more than] three and half months ago, and nobody can believe that I’m on my feet and walking up and down stairs without hanging on to a handrail.”

Brian made the decision to attend AdvoCare Success School in Fort Worth, TX. Committed that nothing would keep him from the event, he was honored during the Opening Session and welcomed with a standing ovation.

As a Platinum Sponsor of Operation Homefront, AdvoCare contacted their national office to share this family's story. During the week of Success School, Operation Homefront COO Amy Palmer personally called Sgt. Eisch. “We talked about some of the ways we could help meet needs for his family and that we would help ensure he gets the benefits he’s entitled to. He’s just an all around great guy and father.”
Following that call and Success School, he returned to Wisconsin to pick up his two sons to take them back to Fort Drum in New York.

Operation Homefront mission to support our troops and their families has been evident since the very first phone call from Amy Palmer. Upon learning that Sgt. Eisch’s oldest son Isaac qualified for the state spelling bee in Wisconsin, Operation Homefront began working on arrangements, including airfare, for Isaac to return to Madison, Wis. to compete in the spelling bee on March 25, 2011. On their way back to New York, Operation Homefront paid for their stay at a hotel in Ohio. And, when they arrived at Fort Drum it was a week before their new home would be move-in ready. Operation Homefront took care of their stay at a hotel for the week. When it was time to move in, there was someone there to help unpack and carry boxes. Both boys also received backpacks filled with school supplies to get started in their new school.

In addition to the efforts of the national office, the New York/New Jersey chapter of Operation Homefront quickly got involved. They coordinated a Parade of Flags via Facebook during Sgt. Eisch’s trip to welcome him home. Supporters gathered at several points along his route with encouraging signs, banners and flags.

"Operation Homefront's mission thrives on helping those who so selflessly defend our nation. We are grateful for the selfless courage of these men and women, and this is just one way we, as a company can give back and show our support," says AdvoCare President and CEO Richard Wright.
You can stand together with AdvoCare and Operation Homefront today. To find out more about opportunities to support this worthy mission visit operationhomefront.net.